Abstract
Background
Primary hyperhidrosis is a disorder that is characterized by excessive sweating in disproportion to that required for thermoregulation. In most cases, this is aggravated by emotional factors and by heat. Hyperhidrosis can be seen in the palms of the hands, armpits, soles of the feet and face. The principal characteristic of this disease is the intense discomfort of patients, which affects their social and professional life. Treatment modalities include topical application of aluminum chloride, iontophoresis, anticholinergics, botulinum toxin injection, liposuction, excision of sweat glands, and thoracic sympathectomy.
Methods
Between January 1998 and August 2007, a prospective study of endoscopic thoracic sympathectomies for palmar hyperhidrosis was undertaken based on case histories and a prospective pre- and postoperative questionnaire survey. The sample comprised of 322 patients with a mean age of 24 years. At Apollo Hospital, New Delhi, India, bilateral video-assisted thoracoscopic T3 level sympathectomies were performed in all cases.
Results
All patients had immediate cessation of palmar hyperhidrosis. The mean postoperative stay was 1.1 days. A questionnaire was completed based on their response to a telephone conversation or e-mail. A paired t test and Wilcoxon test was performed on these data and it showed significant improvement in quality of life. Compensatory sweating was found to be the most troublesome side effect for all patients. It was seen in 63% of the patients. This is similar to other reports of compensatory sweating; however, the figure decreases to 29% if we disregard the percentage of patients who reported only mild compensatory sweating.
Conclusion
In view of the low morbidity and zero mortality rate of this surgical technique, we recommend it as a method of treatment for palmar hyperhidrosis. Thoracic sympathectomy eliminates palmar hyperhidrosis with minimal recurrence (1% in our series) and produces a high rate of patient satisfaction.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Stolman LP (1998) Treatment of hyperhidrosis. Dermatol Clin 16(4):863–869
Moschella SL, Hurley HJ (1992) Dermatology, vol 25, 3rd edn. Saunders, Philadelphia, pp 1514–1524
Thomas MD (1996) Thoracoscopic sympathectomy. Chest Surg Clin N Am 6(1):69–83
Sacher D, Jedeikin R, Olsfanger D, Bendahan J, Sivak G, Freund U (1994) Endoscopic transthoracic sympathectomy in the treatment of primary hyperhidrosis. Arch Surg 129:241–244
Ro KM, Cantor RM, Lange KL, Ahn SS (2002) Palmar hyperhidrosis: evidence of genetic transmission. J Vasc Surg 35(2):382–386
Scout W, Thomas M (2000) Thoracic thoracoscopic sympathectomy. Gen Thorac Surg 43:579–582
Amir M, Arish A, Weinstein Y, Pfeffer M, Levy Y (2000) Impairment in quality of life among patients seeking surgery for hyperhidrosis (excessive sweating): preliminary results. Isr J Psychiatry Relat Sci 37(1):25–31
Drott C, Claes G, Gothberg F, Paszkowski P (1994) Cardiac effects of endoscopic electrocautery of the upper thoracic sympathetic chain. Eur J Surg Suppl 572:65–72
White JW Jr (1986) Treatment of primary hyperhidrosis. Mayo Clin Proc 61:951–956
Holzle E, Alberti N (1987) Long-term efficacy and side effects of tap water iontophoresis of palmoplantar hyperhidrosis—the usefulness of home therapy. Dermatologica 175(3):126–135
Hexsel AM, Hexsel CL (2003) Toxina Botulínica no Tratamento das Hiperidroses. In: Almeida ART, Hexsel DM (eds) Hiperidrose e Toxina Botulínica. Know-How, São Paulo, pp 145–227
Chung IH, Oh CS, Koh KS, Kim HJ, Paik HC, Lee DY (2002) Anatomic variations of the T2 nerve root (including the nerve of Kuntz) and their implications for sympathectomy. J Thorac Cardiovasc Surg 123(3):498–501
Kux E (1951) The endoscopic approach to the vegetative nervous system and its therapeutic possibilities; especially in duodenal ulcer, angina pectoris, hypertension and diabetes. Dis Chest 20(2):139–147
Dumont P, Hamm A, Skrobala D, Robin P, Toumieux B (1997) Bilateral thoracoscopy for sympathectomy in the treatment of hyperhidrosis. Eur J Surg 11:774–775
Horgan K, O’Flanagan S, Duignan PJ, Hederman W (1984) Palmar and axillary hyperhidrosis treated with sympathectomy by transthoracic endoscopic electrocoagulation. Br J Surg 71:1002
Johnson JP, Ahn SS (1997) Thoracoscopic sympathectomy. In: Loftus CM, Batjer HH (eds) Techniques in neurosurgery, vol 3. Lippincott-Raven, Philadelphia, pp 308–314
Lardinois D, Ris HB (2002) Minimally invasive video-endoscopic sympathectomy by use of a transaxillary single port approach. Eur J Cardiothorac Surg 21:67–70
Reardon PR, Preciado A, Scarborough T, Matthews B, Martik JL (1999) Outpatient endoscopic thoracic sympathectomy using 2-mm instruments. Surg Endosc 13:1139–1142
Vanaclocha V, Saiz-Sapena N, Panta F (2000) Uniportal endoscopic superior thoracic sympathectomy. Neurosurgery 46:924–928
Wahlig JB Jr, Welch WC, Weigel TL, Luketich JD (2000) Microinvasive transaxillary thoracoscopic sympathectomy: technical note. Neurosurgery 46:1254–1258
Weights CS, Raitt D, Barrie WW (2000) Thoracoscopic sympathectomy: a one-port technique. Aust N Z J Surg 70:800
Drott C, Gothberg G, Claes G (1993) Endoscopic procedures of the upper-thoracic sympathetic chain: a review. Arch Surg 128(2):237–241
Gossot D, Toledo L, Fritsch S, Célérier M (1997) Thoracoscopic sympathectomy for upper limb hyperhidrosis: looking for the right operation. Ann Thorac Surg 64(4):975–978
Hsu CP, Shia SE, Hsia JY, Chuang CY, Chen CY (2001) Experiences in thoracoscopic sympathectomy for axillary hyperhidrosis and osmidrosis: focusing on the extent of sympathectomy. Arch Surg 136(10):1117–1118
Kux M (1978) Thoracic Endoscopic sympathectomy in palmar and axillary hyperhidrosis. Arch Surg 113(3):264–266
Reisfeld R, Nguyen R, Pnini A (2002) Endoscopic thoracic sympathectomy for hyperhidrosis: experience with both cauterization and clamping methods. Surg Laparosc Endosc Percutan Tech 12(4):255–257
Riet MV, Smet AA, Kuiken H, Kazemier G, Bonjer HJ (2001) Prevention of compensatory hyperhidrosis after thoracoscopic sympathectomy for hyperhidrosis. Surg Endosc 15(10):1159–1162
Zacher J, Imhof M, Huber ER, Plas EG, Herbst F, Jaskesz R, Függer R (1999) Video assistance reduces complication rate of thoracoscopic sympathectomy for hyperhidrosis. Ann Thorac Surg 68(4):1177–1181
Neumayer CH, Bischof G, Fugger R, Imhof M, Jakesz R, Plas EG, Herbst FR, Zacher J (2001) Efficacy and safety of thoracoscopic sympathectomy for hyperhidrosis of the upper limb: results of 734 sympathectomies. Ann Chir Gynaecol 90:195–199
Hashmonai M, Assalia A, Kopelman D (2001) Thoracoscopic sympathectomy for palmar hyperhidrosis. Ablate or resect? Surg Endosc 15:435–441
Lin TS (2001) Endoscopic clipping in video-assisted thoracoscopic sympathetic blockade for axillary hyperhidrosis. An analysis of 26 cases. Surg Endosc 15:126–128
Lin TS (2001) Video-assisted thoracoscopic “resympathecotomy” for palmar hyperhidrosis: analysis of 42 cases. Ann Thorac Surg 72:895–898
Riet M, Smet AA, Kuiken H, Kazemier G, Bonjer HJ (2001) Prevention of compensatory hyperhidrosis after thoracoscopic sympathectomy for hyperhidrosis. Surg Endosc 15:1159–1162
Prasad A (2008) Endoscopic thoracic sympathectomy for hyperhidrosis: technique and results. J Min Access Surg 4:23
Naruse H, Moriyasu K, Yokokawa H, Ohkura T, Kamio Y, Suzuki K, Suzuki S, Kitami A, Tanaka H, Suzuki T (2001) Endoscopic transthoracic sympathectomy (ETS) with a fine 2-mm thoracoscope in palmar hyperhidrosis. Kyobu Geka 54:555–559
Li X, Tu Y-R, Lin M, Lai F-C, Chen J-F, Dai Z-J (2008) Endoscopic thoracic sympathectomy for palmar hyperhidrosis: a randomized control trial comparing T3 and T2-4 ablation. Ann Thorac Surg 85:1747–1751
Yazbek G, Wolosker N, de Campos JR, Kauffman P, Ishy A, Puech-Leão P (2005) Palmar hyperhidrosis—which is the best level of denervation using video-assisted thoracoscopic sympathectomy: T2 or T3 ganglion? J Vasc Surg 42(2):281–285
Li X, Tu YR, Lin M, Lai FC, Chen JF, Miao HW (2009) Minimizing endoscopic thoracic sympathectomy for primary palmar hyperhidrosis: guided by palmar skin temperature and laser Doppler blood flow. Ann Thorac Surg 87:427–431
Acknowledgments
We are grateful for the support given to us by the Department of Anesthesiology, Apollo Hospital, New Delhi without which the study would not be possible. Also of note is the role played by treated patients in counseling new patients regarding the expectations, results, and side effects of the procedure.
Disclosures
Drs. Arun Prasad, Mudasir Ali, and Sunil Kaul have no conflicts of interest or financial ties to disclose.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Prasad, A., Ali, M. & Kaul, S. Endoscopic thoracic sympathectomy for primary palmar hyperidrosis. Surg Endosc 24, 1952–1957 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00464-010-0885-5
Received:
Accepted:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00464-010-0885-5