sympathectomy

American  

[sim-puh-thek-tuh-mee] / ˌsɪm pəˈθɛk tə mi /

noun

Medicine/Medical.

plural

sympathectomies

1. surgery that interrupts a nerve pathway of the sympathetic or involuntary nervous system.

2. Also called chemical sympathectomy.  a like interruption by chemical means.

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sympathectomy British  

/ ˌsɪmpəˈθɛktəmɪ /

noun

1. the surgical excision or chemical destruction ( chemical sympathectomy ) of one or more parts of the sympathetic nervous system

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Etymology

Origin of sympathectomy

First recorded in 1895–1900; sympath(etic) + -ectomy

Example Sentences

For people with severe Raynaud’s, a physician may recommend a sympathectomy, a procedure performed by incision or injections that destroys the nerves that trigger narrowing of the blood vessels.

From Washington Post

“There are a select group of patients who really after trying everything, they don’t get relief from sweating, and it’s these patients that come for a thoracic sympathectomy,” he says.

From US News

The Evidence: Scientists agree that malfunctioning sympathetic nerves contribute to chronic pain but sympathectomy remains controversial.

From Scientific American