[Partial sympathectomy for treating palmar hyperhidrosis with VATS].
OBJECTIVE
To review the experience with partial sympathectomy for treating palmar hyperhidrosis with VATS.


METHODS
Between July 1995 and June 1999, 50 patients with palmar hyperhidrosis (26 males and 24 females, mean age 26.7 years) were operated. The major symptom was excessive sweating of hands, feet, and axcillaries, sometimes in drops. Thoracoscopy was performed under general anesthesia with a standard single-lumen endotracheal intubation with the patient in a semi-sitting position and arms stretched at 90 degrees. The approach through two small ports on the chest wall was done using VATS. As the lung was depressed by CO(2) insufflation in a low pressure, an excellent view of the upper mediastinum was obtained. Ganglia T(2) through T(4), sometimes T(5) were resected with a electrocautery probe. Bilateral procedures were completed in the same position.


RESULTS
All patients after operation became dry immediately after sympathetic denervation with a few minor complications. Occasional side effect was moderate compensatory sweating of the trunk. One case had recurrence but sweating was much less than before operation.


CONCLUSIONS
Because of excellent view of the upper mediastinum for sympathetic denervation of the hand and axcillaryies, the effect of partial sympathectomy for palmar hyperhidrosis is satisfactory and permanent.
Yan
Z
Z
Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Zhejiang Provincial People's Hospital, Hangzhou 310014, China.
Zhu
L
L
Ni
K
K
Ni
X
X
Qian
W
W
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D003714:Denervation; D004724:Endoscopy; D005260:Female; D006225:Hand / Q000294:innervation*; D006801:Humans; D006945:Hyperhidrosis / Q000601:surgery*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D013562:Sympathectomy; D020775:Thoracic Surgery, Video-Assisted