PREDICTING THE SUCCESS OF A SYMPATHECTOMY - PROSPECTIVE-STUDY USING DISCRIMINANT FUNCTION AND MULTIPLE-REGRESSION ANALYSIS

  • 1 January 1980
    • journal article
    • research article
    • Vol. 87  (2) , 216-221
Abstract
A prospective study of 72 limbs treated with phenol sympatholysis for inoperable peripheral arterial occlusive disease was carried out to determine which factor or combination of factors could most accurately be used to predict the success or the failure of the sympathetic interruption. Variables [7] were recorded prior to phenol sympatholysis and the patients were followed up to 3 yr to determine the degree of success or failure of the sympathectomy. The most important variables in predicting the outcome were the level of ankle systolic pressure, the presence or absence of a neuropathy and the extent of the ischemic damage. The correct outcome was predicted in 87% of the cases. Using these 3 variables, multiple regression analysis was performed to construct a table showing the percentage chance of a successful outcome from a sympathectomy. A phenol sympathectomy is likely to be successful in the management of a patient with peripheral arterial occlusive disease if there is no evidence of a somatic (and hence autonomic) neuropathy, if the ankle systolic pressure is about 30 mm Hg and if the tissue damage is not too extensive (i.e., only rest pain, night pain or digital gangrene is present).