Abstract
Reasons for failure of lumbar sympathectomy in 50 patients with far-advanced peripheral sclerosis are given. Once tissue death supervenes, the outlook following sympathectomy is slim, and subsequent major amputation is required. Arteriosclerosis obliterans diabetica had poor results twice as often as simple arteriosclerosis obliterans. The prophylactic value of lumbar sympathectomy in asymptomatic extremities remains to be demonstrated.