Sympathectomy is considered tobe the most effective treatment for Raynaud's disease in drug resistant patients. But this operation is not performed on enough number of patients with thoracoscopic technique in our country. Until 1997 all patients who needed sympathectomy were operated on by conventional method but since 1997 thoracoscopic aproach has been used 60 times in 30 patients successfully in our clinic. We investigated our results for, operation time, stay in intensive care unit, ambulation, need for thoracal drainage tubing system, cosmetic and comfortability for patients.
Our initial results indicate that the thoracoscopic sympathectomy approach to Raynaud's disease is a safe, economic, and effective treatment. It should be a first choice also in our country for appropriate patients.