title: Transaxillary endoscopic sympathectomy--a report of experience in 150 patients with palmar hyperhidrosis.
abstract: We report our 1-year experience with transaxillary endoscopic sympathectomy in 150 patients with palmar hyperhidrosis (PH). The double-puncture technique of video laparoscopy was used in a transaxillary approach to perform the sympathectomy by either electrocautery (EC; 93.3%) or electroresection (ER; 7.7%). The procedure was successfully completed in 299 operated limbs and required conversion to open surgery in 1 operated limb because of extensive pleural adhesions. The mean operative time of EC was significantly less than that of ER. In a total of 29 procedures, there were three technical complications. Most patients (92.7%) were discharged after an overnight hospital stay. On the seventh postoperative day, the cure rate was 99.3%. During the mean follow-up period of 200.1 days, there was no recurrence in 130 patients. Apparent compensatory hyperhidrosis occurred in 28 patients (21.5%). In conclusion, transaxillary endoscopic sympathectomy offers a simple and effective treatment to patients with PH, resulting in a shorter hospital stay and convalescent period.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Naval General Hospital, Kaohsiung, Taiwan, R.O.C.
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Chao
authors.forename: C T
authors.initials: CT
authors.lastname: Tsai
authors.forename: H C
authors.initials: HC
authors.lastname: Hsiao
authors.forename: W C
authors.initials: WC
authors.lastname: Wu
authors.forename: C K
authors.initials: CK
authors.lastname: Lee
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001365:Axilla; D002648:Child; D004564:Electrocoagulation; D004598:Electrosurgery; D004724:Endoscopy / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000379:methods; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D015171:Ganglionectomy / Q000379:methods; D006229:Hand Dermatoses / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D006945:Hyperhidrosis / Q000601:surgery*; D007902:Length of Stay; D008297:Male; D013562:Sympathectomy / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000379:methods*; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome