Effect of thoracic sympathectomy on arm and leg exercise capacity and on lung function.
BACKGROUND
Thoracic T(2-4) sympathectomy (TS) relieves palmar hyperhidrosis. These same roots innervate the heart and the lung. Thoracoscopic TS minimizes damage to the chest wall so that the effect of sympathectomy itself on these organs can be studied. We attempted to determine whether attenuated sympathetic output affects arm or leg exercise tolerance and lung function in young adults who underwent this operation.


METHODS
Seven subjects, aged 17-30 years, had lung function tests (water spirometer, Godart, Holland), and leg and arm maximal exercise (CPX, MedGraphics, USA), before and 3-6 months after TS.


RESULTS
After TS, resting and exercise heart rate and blood pressure were reduced. Baseline leg and arm peak O(2) uptake, 2.08 (0.6) and 1.44 (0.5) liters/min, respectively, were not different from the post-TS values, 2.06 (0.7) and 1.54 (0.5) liters/min (nonsignificant). Post-TS lung functions were not significantly reduced.


CONCLUSIONS
Thoracoscopic T(2-4) sympathectomy does not lead to a clinically important fall in lung function and does not compromise arm or leg exercise capacity. Therefore, TS can be done safely in young subjects with palmar hyperhidrosis.
Pulmonary Institute, Chaim Sheba Medical Center, Tel Hashomer, Israel. bendovi@post.tau.ac.il
I
I
Ben-Dov
N
N
Chorney
M
M
Gaides
D
D
Shachor
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001132:Arm / Q000503:physiopathology*; D006225:Hand; D006439:Hemodynamics / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D006945:Hyperhidrosis / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery; D007866:Leg / Q000503:physiopathology*; D008168:Lung / Q000502:physiology*; D010101:Oxygen Consumption / Q000502:physiology; D010807:Physical Endurance / Q000502:physiology*; D013126:Spinal Nerve Roots / Q000601:surgery; D013562:Sympathectomy; D013909:Thorax / Q000294:innervation*