[Retroperitoneoscopic lumbar sympathectomy].

The development of revascularization techniques of the distal lower extremity dramatically diminished the need of lumbar sympathectomy. Which is indicated when patient with rest pain or with a profound gangrene of toes (which does not exceed the line of metatarsal articulation) could not be treated by vascular reconstruction. Lumbar sympathectomy could be done surgically or chemically, the efficiency of which is about 50%. The second to the fourth lumbar sympathetic ganglion could be resected with minimal invasivity, retroperitoneoscopically. This approach to lumbar sympathectomy opens further possibilities for operating in retroperitoneal space. Retroperitoneoscopy is well tolerated by patients.