Thoracoscopic Sympathectomy (CPB 0310, reviewed 2026-05-20)
Aetna considers thoracoscopic sympathectomy medically necessary for causalgia, for catecholaminergic polymorphic ventricular tachycardia in persons who remain symptomatic despite maximal medical therapy, for long QT syndrome in persons who have failed medical therapy and have frequent implantable cardioverter defibrillator shocks despite medications, for Raynaud's disease, for shoulder-hand syndrome, for some types of visceral pain such as chronic pancreatic pain and cancer-derived visceral abdominal pain, for ventricular tachycardia or ventricular fibrillation storm, for vascular occlusive disease, and for intractable, disabling axillary or palmar primary hyperhidrosis that meets specific criteria. The procedure is considered experimental, investigational or unproven for other indications, including acne vulgaris, craniofacial or plantar hyperhidrosis, and left thoracoscopic sympathectomy for cardiac denervation in persons with heart failure, and it is considered cosmetic for excessive spontaneous facial blushing because that does not result in functional impairment.