title: Thoracoscopic sympathicotomy for hyperhidrosis--surgical technique, complications and side effects.
abstract: Thoracic sympathectomy is a very effective treatment of palmar hyperhidrosis. The described endoscopic technique has given good primary results in 99% of patients. After another session with this type of "minimal invasive surgery" 100% of the hands were satisfactorily dry. The hospital stay is just one post-operative day and the sick-leave is about a week. The drawbacks are minimal. Pain is tolerable and only eight patients needed a post-operative Bülau-drainage because of pneumothorax or bleeding. About 50% of patients experience a compensatory increased sweating of the trunk, but this is related to a warm environment and regulation of body temperature and seems to decrease with time. This technique makes it possible to treat all those suffering from palmar hyperhidrosis which can be a substantial, but underestimated handicap. To meet this kind of patient after a successful operation is extremely satisfying even for the surgeon. The post-operative wet and cold hand has immediately post-operatively become warm and dry.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatric Surgery, East Hospital Göteborg, Sweden.
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Göthberg
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Drott
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Claes
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D006225:Hand / Q000294:innervation*; D006801:Humans; D006945:Hyperhidrosis / Q000601:surgery*; D007902:Length of Stay; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011183:Postoperative Complications; D013562:Sympathectomy / Q000379:methods*; D013906:Thoracoscopy