Percutaneous bipolar radiofrequency T3 sympathicotomy in Raynaud's disease -A case report-.

A 54-year-old female was suffering from cold-induced Raynaud's attacks in her both hands with symptoms most severe in her left hand. As the patient did not respond to previous medical treatments and endoscopic thoracic sympathectomy, we performed percutaneous bipolar radiofrequency thoracic sympathicotomy at the left T3 vertebral level. After the procedure, the patient obtained a long duration of symptom relief over 3 years. Percutaneous bipolar radiofrequency T3 sympathicotomy is minimally invasive and effective technique by creating large continuous strip lesion.

The methods of thoracic sympathectomy include chemical neurolysis [1], radiofrequency (RF) thermocoagulation [2], and surgical technique [3]. After Wilkinson [4] reported that RF thermocoagulation of T2, T3, and T4 sympathetic ganglions could minimize complication in 1984, this method grew into greater extent. However potential disadventages of a partial block due to a missed ganglion caused by discontinuous and limited RF lesioning still exists. Recently benefits of bipolar RF thermocoagulation creating a larger lesioning by continuous strip lesion are reported [5-7]. We report a case of percutaneous bipolar RF T3 sympathicotomy in Raynaud's disease which achieved long-term good clinical results.

Case Report

A 54-year-old female suffering from cold-induced Raynaud's attacks in her both hands visited our department of pain clinic after 8 months of treatment of nifedipine per oral. She also underwent endoscopic thoracic sympathectomy in the department of cardiothoracic surgery 2 months prior to her visit. But, the symptoms recurred 2 days after the surgery. Laboratory results showed nothing specific. On physical examination, no lesions such as skin ulcers or edema on her both hands were found. After excluding the secondary causes such as arterial occlusive disease, artery disorder, and connective tissue disease, the patient was diagnosed with Raynaud's disease. The written consent was given for percutaneous T3 sympathicotomy using bipolar RF thermocoagulation.

In the operation room, an 18-gauge intravenous catheter was placed in the right foot and the back of the patient was draped with povidone-iodine in a prone position on the radiographic surgery table. Operating room temperature was kept between 23-24℃ during the whole procedure. The patient was monitored with a non-invasive arterial blood pressure monitoring, an electrocardiogram and arterial oxygen saturation. The skin temperature sensors (66S, Hewlett-Packard, USA) were attached to the both palms in order to observe the changes of skin temperature. C-arm fluoroscopy was adjusted to place the spinous process of the T3 vertebra in midline and rotated to visualize superior and inferior endplates of vertebral body in a straight line. Before the procedure, the anatomical relation of the vertebra body and pleura of lung was identified by computer tomography scan of the thoracic spine. The insertion point and angle to prevent pneumothorax while placing the needle tip in the center of T3 vertebral body were measured to be about 3 cm lateral from midline and medial angle of 15 degrees. After the local infiltration of 2% mepivacaine 2.0 ml on the skin, 22-gauge, 10 cm RFK (Racz-Finch Kit, Radionics®, USA) cannula with a curved 10 mm active tip was inserted from 1/2 point of T3 vertebral body on posteroanterior (PA) fluoroscopic view (Fig. 1). The cannula was advanced toward the lateral edge of the T3 vertebral body on PA view. A lateral fluoroscopic view confirmed the position of the tip in the midline of the T3 vertebral body. The second cannula was inserted 5 mm inferior and placed in a parallel position with the same method. Radiopaque contrast 1.0 ml was injected through the each cannulae to rule out spread into the vessels, epidural space and intercostal nerves. After inserting an electrode into the needle, we confirmed there was no intercostal pain at 50 Hz and 1 volt stimulation, and no intercostal muscle contraction at 2 Hz and 3 volts stimulation. Before lesioning, 2% mepivacaine 1.0 ml was injected by each cannulae. The lesion was generated at 80℃ for 90 seconds simultaneously by both cannulae. After rotating RF cannulae 90° for each time, 3 times of additional lesions were generated. At the end of lesioning, triamcinolone acetate 5 mg was injected by each cannulae and the back was cleansed. The skin temperature of the left and right palms, measured before the operation, was 28.0℃ and 35.3℃, respectively. At the end of the lesionings, the skin temperature of the left and right palm the temperature of the both palms showed no significant change. Fifty minutes after the end of the lesioning, the skin temperature of the left and right palm was 31.0℃ and 35.0℃, respectively. Two hours after the operation, the skin temperature of the left and right palm was 35.3℃ and 35.5℃, respectively. The average gap of the skin temperature of both hands was changed from 0.53℃ to 2.71℃ when we performed infrared thermographic imaging before and after the procedure (Fig. 2).

Fig. 1

These images show the needle positioning dur ing percutaneous bipolar T3 radiofrequency lesions. (A) shows upper cannula inserted from 3 cm lateral from the midline of T3 vertebral body. Lower cannula is inserted 5 mm below the upper cannula. (B) shows a tip of canulla positioned 1/2 point of of T3 vertebral body on a lateral image. (C) and (D) show the spreading of radiopaque contrast material.

Fig. 2

This images show the infrared thermographic images before and after the percutaneous bipolar thoracic radiofrequency sympathicotomy. The average gap of the skin temperature of both hands was changed from 0.53℃ to 2.71℃.

The patient was discharged from the hospital two days later without particular side effects or complications such as pneumothrax or intercostal neuralgia. Visual analog scale of the cold induced vasospastic pain was 7-8/10 to 0 after the procedure. She complained mild compensatory sweating at her back and it was tolerable. The patient showed continuous improvement on the follow-ups performed two months and 3 years later.

Discussion

The treatment for Raynaud's phenomenon is aimed to decrease the frequency and the degree of spasm and to protect tissue from injury; for these purposes, lifestyle modification and vasodilators are first line of therapy. However, in case the frequency and the degree of spasms worsen to the point of disturbing daily life, or in case continuous pain or a skin ulcer occurs in spite of the medication, a sympathetic nerve block [8], chemical nerve destruction [1], or operative sympathectomy [3] could be considered. Indications of thoracic sympathectomy include hyperhidrosis, Raynaud's disease, and various painful conditions of the upper extremity including Complex Regional Pain Syndromes (CRPS types I and II), other neuropathic pain conditions.

Percutaneous RF thoracic sympathectomy of thoracic ganglion has been widely used after Wilkinson [4] reported that RF thermocoagulation of T2, T3, and T4 sympathetic ganglions could minimize complication in 1984. However Yarzebski and Wilkinson [9] reported variations of T2, T3 sympathetic ganglions found by dissecting 24 cadavers. They reported that right ganglion of T3 was located 20 mm (range 9-31 mm) posterior from the anterior side of the vertebral body and the left 19.5 mm (range 9-30 mm). Others reported that thoracic sympathetic trunks lie on the necks of the ribs immediately lateral to their heads [10]. These anatomical variations of the ganglions of T2 and T3 could cause a partial block due to discontinuous and limited RF lesioning.

Yoon and Rim [11] described that sympathicotomy, in which only the chain that connects the sympathetic ganglion is servered, in an effort to reduce side-effects such as Horner's syndrome or compensatory hyperhidrosis. They also reported that selective T3 thoracoscopic sympathicotomy resulted in a decrease in the rate of disturbing side effects compared to conventional T2, T3 thoracoscopic sympathicotomy without recurrence of symptoms.

Recently, many reports have focused on bipolar RF thermocoagulation that can create larger and more predictable lesions than monopolar RF thermocoagulation [5-7]. Ferrante et al. [12] reported the case of bipolar RF thermocoagualtion in sacroiliac syndrome that appropriate lesions were created over 90℃ and more than 90 seconds of RF thermocoagulation within 1 cm intervals of the two electrodes. To create strip lesion with a bipolar RF thermocoagulation, using egg white as a medium, it is reported by Choi et al. [13] that a 5 mm active tip needed more than 80℃ in temperature and 90 seconds in time within 6 mm intervals, and a 10 mm active tip 90℃ and 120 seconds within 8 mm intervals. In the present case, sufficient interval between the two electrodes, temperature and time was applied for a successful creation of a strip lesion. To the best of our knowledge, the present case is the first report of percutaneus technique of sympathicotomy using RF thermocoagulation.

In conclusion, the authors suggest that creating continuous strip lesion with bipolar RF thermocoagulation could make larger lesions than monopolar RF thermocoagulation and this leads to higher success rate. Percutaneous bipolar RF thoracic sympathicotomy is minimally invasive, effective technique and could be applied for other disease such as hyperhidrosis, vascular diseases, and sympathetically mediated pain.