New Approaches to Pathogenesis and Management of Hypertension

[摘要] Upon the initiative of Smithwick and Thompson (1) of the Massachusetts General Hospital, resection of the splanchnic nerves through a posterior infradiaphragmatic approach plus removal of the sympathetic chain from the level of the eighth dorsal ganglion to the second lumbar ganglion had been used with relative frequency in cases of desperate hypertension at the time when antihypertensive medication was not yet available. In the hands of other investigators, the results were spectacular in a minority of patients but not quite satisfactory in many patients (2,3). Despite improvement of headache, reversal of papilledema in malignant hypertension, etc., the long-term reduction of BP was quite variable and the 5-yr mortality remained approximately 40% (2). A 10-yr follow-up compared 100 patients who were subjected to thoracolumbar sympathectomy with 1500 patients who received symptomatic therapy. Lasting BP reduction was seen only in one third of the patients (4). Whereas the average BP levels were reduced, occasional BP spikes were not. The average difference of preoperative to postoperative systolic BP values was 21 mmHg. The authors saw reduction of cerebrovascular accidents and less progression of proteinuria and renal dysfunction, but 10-yr mortality was still 41%. Against this background, once effective antihypertensive medication was available, this relatively crude procedure fell out of favor and remained a sleeping beauty.

[学科分类] 泌尿医学

[关键词] Bone marrow necrosis;Sickle cell disease;Hyperhemolysis syndrome