Spirin Y. Surgical treatment of the patients with Raynaud"s phenomenon.

In the course of this investigation has been proved that the cause of the recurrence development of Raynaud's phenomenon during the postoperative period was insufficient removing of the sympathetic tissues and leaving of the lateral branch Th2 of the sympathetic ganglion. The peculiarities of the surgical anatomy of the lateral branch Th2 of sympathetic ganglion have been described in details. It was proved that this sympathetic branch plays an important role in the recurrence development after the standard thoracic sympathectomy. The original technique of the videothoracoscopic sympathectomy has been developed. The three-staged diagnostic algorithm of Raynaud's phenomenon was developed. The program of the operative therapy of patients with Raynaud's phenomenon has been improved, indications and contraindications to the videothoracoscopic sympathectomy have been determined. From the standpoint of the long-term results was proved, that this technique possesses more effectiveness in comparison with traditional open technique and conservative treatment only.