Thoracoscopic sympathectomy for hyperhidrosis: indications and results

Hyperhidrosis is an idiopathic condition characterized by excessive sweating occurring in up to 1% of the population, with an apparent increased prevalence in countries of the Far East [1]. Hyperhidrosismost commonly occurs spontaneously, or in response to temperature and emotional changes, or as a result of increased sympathetic activity [2]. Secondary causes include central nervous systemconditions such as disorders of the hypothalamus or pituitary glands, or chronic diseases such as tuberculosis, lymphoma, diabetes, thyrotoxicosis, or pheochromocytomas. The areas of the body commonly affected in hyperhidrosis in order of frequency include the palms, feet, axilla, head, or face. These symptoms usually begin in childhood or adolescence, often representing an incapacitating and embarrassing disorder that can interfere with social and professional activities.

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Bilateral thoracoscopic sympathectomy: results and long-term follow-up

Primary hyperhidrosis is an extremely disabling condition with an estimated prevalence of 1% in the western world [1]. It can be defined as sweating in excess of the body's homeostatic requirements. It most often affects the palms of the hands, the axillae, or the face and may be a severe professional, psychological, and social burden to many patients. Medical treatment is often frustrating, and the response is usually transient. Surgical therapy is effective and is based on interruption of transmission of impulses from sympathetic ganglia to the eccrine sweat glands.

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Long-term results of endoscopic thoracic sympathectomy for upper limb hyperhidrosis

More and more patients with severe palmar hyperhidrosis (HH) are referred to the surgeon for endoscopic thoracic sympathectomy (ETS). The dramatic efficiency of surgery on hand sweating hasmade ETS popular among patients and physicians. Complications such as Horner’s syndrome (HS) or adverse effects such as compensatory sweating (CS) have been reported, but according to most authors are supposed to vanish with time [1–3] and are sometimes considered as a minor drawback. However, very few studies do report a long-term follow-up [4] because following these patients is difficult. They are usually young, thus relocate frequently, and do not see the need for surgical control once they have been treated. When patients are seen 1 or 2 months after surgery, they are usually amazed by the result. Thus, some consequences of the operation remain in the background, for example, postoperative pain or hand dryness. Conversely, side effects like CS are often not perceived. Evaluating the global result of the operation is therefore difficult.
The aim of this study was to check whether patients, after some years, were satisfied or dissatisfied in terms of efficiency and side effects. The study did not aim at dealing with the initial results and postoperative complications that have been recently reported in this journal [5].

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Clinical Experience in 397 Consecutive Thoracoscopic Sympathectomies

Minimally invasive thoracic surgery has evolved significantly over the last decade and has become a mainstay in the technical repertoire of the modern thoracic surgeon. Division of the thoracicsympathetic nerves, or dorsal thoracic sympathectomy, has been described for treatment of a wide array of disorders including relief of hyperhidrosis, facial blushing, and reflex sympathetic dystrophy among other indications. Although large series have been reported from Europe or the Far East, few such reports have originated from North America. In this paper, we reviewed the data of one North American academic institution performing large volumes of video-assisted thoracic surgery procedures to analyze the indications, success, and safety of thoracoscopic sympathectomy.

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Endoscopic Thoracic Sympathectomy for Severe Hyperhidrosis: Impact of Restrictive Denervation on Compensatory Sweating

Endoscopic (trans)thoracic sympathectomy (ETS) from ganglion T2 to T4 has evolved into an effective treatment for severe hyperhidrosis of the upper limb in the last two decades. Complicationslike hemorrhage or Horner's syndrome are rare, but side effects such as compensatory (reflex) and gustatory sweating may occur frequently.

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Health-Related Quality of Life After Thoracoscopic Sympathectomy for Palmar Hyperhidrosis

Palmar hyperhidrosis is a benign functional disorder regarded as a psychological and social handicap. Improvement of the quality of life is a major goal of treatment. However, little attention has been given to quality of life after thoracoscopic sympathectomy, which is the first line of treatment for palmar hyperhidrosis. This study investigated the impact of thoracoscopic sympathectomy on subjective health-related quality of life (HRQoL) and psychological properties.

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Outpatient Microthoracoscopic Sympathectomy for Palmar Hyperhidrosis

Sympathectomy for palmar hyperhidrosis has been performed for more than 80 years with excellent long-term results.

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Dr. David Nielson San Antonio Texas Micro ETS Procedure FEATURED ON FOX NEWS

Amazing NEW Procedure from Dr David Nielson San Antonio Texas

If you have ever traveled to San Antonio, Texas or visited Texas in the summer, then you know it can be hot. FOX NEWS reported that "San Antonio Texas was recently ranked as the SWEATIEST CITY IN AMERICA!" Did you know that over 8 million American's sweat all the time, even when they are cold? They suffer from Hyperhidrosis. Check out this eye opening FOX NEWS REPORT!