The use of digital artery sympathectomy as a salvage procedure for severe ischemia of Raynaud's disease and phenomenon.

We retrospectively reviewed the effectiveness of digital artery sympathectomy as a last resort to prevent amputation in severe cases of Raynaud's disease and phenomenon. Seven patients underwent digital artery sympathectomy as a salvage procedure to prevent amputation. The patients developed cold intolerance secondary to atherosclerosis or collagen vascular disease. The results were analyzed using the criteria of ulcer healing and the prevention of amputation. In 6 of the 7 patients, the digital ulcers healed and amputation was avoided.