Hyperhidrosis Treated by Thoracoscopic Sympathicotomy.
- Author:
Yong Han YOON
1
;
Doo Yun LEE
;
Hae Kyoon KIM
;
Kyo Joon LEE
;
Hwa Gyun SHIN
;
Jung Sin KANG
Author Information
1. Department of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery, Respiratory Center, Yongdong Severance Hospital, College of Medicine, Yonsei University.
- Publication Type:Original Article
- Keywords:
Sympathicotomy;
hyperhidrosis
- MeSH:
Axilla;
Drainage;
Ganglion Cysts;
Humans;
Hyperhidrosis*;
Mortality;
Pneumothorax;
Sweat;
Sweating;
Sympathectomy
- From:The Korean Journal of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery
1999;32(2):171-174
- CountryRepublic of Korea
- Language:Korean
-
Abstract:
BACKGROUND: Hyperhidrosis of the palms, axillae and face has a strong negative impact on social and professional life. The present existing non-operative therapeutic options seldom give sufficient relief and have a transient effect. A definitive cure can be obtained by upper thoracic sympathectomy. However, this is offset by the occurrence of a high rate of side effects, such as embarrassing compensatory sweating. MATERIAL AND METHOD: From Sep. 1997 to Feb. 1998, 89 cases of the needle(2 mm) thoracoscopic thoracic sympathicotomy were performed. The second thoracic ganglion was resected by cutting with a endoscissors. RESULT: A bilateral procedure takes less than 25 min and requires just one night in hospital. There have been no mortality or life-threatening complications. One patient(<2%) required intercostal drainage because of pneumothorax. Primary failure occurred in one cases(<2%) and recurrent hyperhidrosis occurred in no cases. The patients with failure was successfully re-sympathicotomy. At the end of postoperative follow-up(median 3 months), 96.6% of the patients were satisfied. Compensatory sweating occurred in 57 cases(64.0%) with fourteen of those cases classified as either embarrassing in 10 cases(11.2%) or disabling in 4 cases(4.5%). CONCLUSION: Endoscopic transthoracic sympathicotomy is an efficient, safe and minimally invasive surgical method for the treatment of palmar and craniofacial hyperhidrosis.
