Selective block of grey communicantes in upper thoracic sympathectomy. A feasibility study on human cadaveric specimens.

Background: Sympathetic chain interruption is the gold standard treatment for essential hyperhidrosis. Postoperative compensatory hyperhidrosis, the main reason for patients' dissatisfaction, is reduced by selectively lesioning white and grey rami communicantes (ramicotomy).Objective: To develop an endoscopic surgical technique that interrupts only T3 and T4 grey rami communicantes to minimize compensatory hyperhidrosis.Material and Methods: T3 and T4 grey rami communicantes ramicotomy in fifteen cold-preserved cadavers through a uniportal axillary endoscopic approach. The sympathetic chain, its ganglia, and white rami communicantes were left intact. On opening the chest, the sympathetic chain, rami communicantes and ganglia were dissected, photographed, measured and excised for histological examination.Results: Dissecting the grey rami communicantes is feasible as they consistently lie between the intercostal nerve and the homonymous sympathetic ganglion. At some levels, Kuntz nerves, as well as more than one grey ramus communicans, can be found. White rami communicantes are more medial, therefore damaging them can be avoided. Intercostal veins can be obstructive, but these can be controlled via coagulation or clipping if necessary.Conclusion: Uniportal endoscopic selective excision of the T3 and T4 grey rami communicantes is feasible without damaging the white rami communicantes, the sympathetic chain or its ganglia. Clipping the grey rami communicantes is technically possible but not reliable due to their thin diameter. This study confirms that T3 and T4 grey rami sympathetic block is technically feasible. Its application might reduce compensatory hyperhidrosis, but clinical studies are needed.

Sudden Death Due to Thoracic Aortic Dissection in Young People: A Multicenter Forensic Study.

INTRODUCTION AND OBJECTIVES: Thoracic aortic dissection (TAD) is infrequent in young people and its characteristics differ from those in the adult population. This study aimed to analyze the clinical and pathological characteristics of sudden death due to TAD in people aged 1 to 35 years. METHODS: Multicenter population-based study based on forensic autopsies conducted in the provinces of Biscay (1991-2016), Valencia (2000-2016), and Seville (2004-2016). RESULTS: We identified 35 individuals with sudden death due to TAD (80% males), with a mean age of 29±5 years. The incidence was 0.09/100 000 inhabitants/y. Eighteen persons had at least 1 risk factor for TAD, and this figure increased to 29 when postmortem findings were included: congenital heart disease (n=16), suspicion of familial TAD (n=11), cocaine use (n=6), and hypertension (n=5). Twenty-four individuals, 12 with at least 1 risk factor, had prodromal symptoms, and 16 of them visited their physician, but TAD was not suspected in any of them. The most frequent symptom was chest pain (n=12). The main autopsy findings were cystic degeneration of the media (n=27), dilatation of the ascending aorta (n=21), cardiac hypertrophy (n=20), and bicuspid aortic valve (n=14). CONCLUSIONS: The incidence of sudden death due to TAD in young people was very low. The most frequent risk factors were congenital heart disease followed by suspicion of familial TAD and cocaine use. TAD should be included in the differential diagnosis of chest pain in young people, mainly male patients with at least 1 risk factor.

Muerte súbita por disección de aorta torácica en jóvenes: estudio multicéntrico forense / Sudden death due to thoracic aortic dissection in young people: a multicenter forensic study

Introducción y objetivos: La disección de la aorta torácica (DAT) es infrecuente en jóvenes y presenta características diferentes que en la población adulta. En este estudio se analizan las características clinicopatológicas de la muerte súbita por DAT de personas de 1-35 años. Métodos: Estudio poblacional multicéntrico basado en autopsias forenses realizadas en las provincias de Vizcaya (periodo 1991-2016), Valencia (2000-2016) y Sevilla (2004-2016). Resultados: Se recogieron 35 casos (el 80% varones), con una media de edad de 29+/-5 años. La incidencia fue de 0,09/100.000 habitantes/año; 18 sujetos tenían algún factor de riesgo y 29, 1 o más factores de riesgo o hallazgos post mortem asociados con DAT: cardiopatía congénita (n=16), sospecha de DAT familiar (n=11), consumo de cocaína (n=6) e hipertensión arterial (n=5). En 24 casos, 12 con algún factor de riesgo, ya habían presentado síntomas previamente; 16 acudieron al médico, pero nunca hubo sospecha de DAT. El dolor torácico (n=12) fue el síntoma más frecuente. Los hallazgos autópsicos principales fueron: degeneración quística de la media (n=27), dilatación de la aorta ascendente (n=21), cardiomegalia (n=20) y válvula aórtica bicúspide (n=14). Conclusiones: La incidencia de muerte súbita por DAT fue muy baja. Los factores de riesgo más frecuentes fueron las cardiopatías congénitas, seguidas de la sospecha de DAT familiar y el consumo de cocaína. Se debería incluir la DAT en el diagnóstico diferencial del dolor torácico en jóvenes, principalmente varones, con factores de riesgo asociados

Introduction and objectives: Thoracic aortic dissection (TAD) is infrequent in young people and its characteristics differ from those in the adult population. This study aimed to analyze the clinical and pathological characteristics of sudden death due to TAD in people aged 1 to 35 years. Methods: Multicenter population-based study based on forensic autopsies conducted in the provinces of Biscay (1991-2016), Valencia (2000-2016), and Seville (2004-2016). Results: We identified 35 individuals with sudden death due to TAD (80% males), with a mean age of 29+/-5 years. The incidence was 0.09/100 000 inhabitants/y. Eighteen persons had at least 1 risk factor for TAD, and this figure increased to 29 when postmortem findings were included: congenital heart disease (n=16), suspicion of familial TAD (n=11), cocaine use (n=6), and hypertension (n=5). Twenty-four individuals, 12 with at least 1 risk factor, had prodromal symptoms, and 16 of them visited their physician, but TAD was not suspected in any of them. The most frequent symptom was chest pain (n=12). The main autopsy findings were cystic degeneration of the media (n=27), dilatation of the ascending aorta (n=21), cardiac hypertrophy (n=20), and bicuspid aortic valve (n=14). Conclusions: The incidence of sudden death due to TAD in young people was very low. The most frequent risk factors were congenital heart disease followed by suspicion of familial TAD and cocaine use. TAD should be included in the differential diagnosis of chest pain in young people, mainly male patients with at least 1 risk factor