title: Video-assisted thoracoscopic sympathectomy for palmar hyperhidrosis: results in 102 cases.
abstract: The purpose of this retrospective study was to evaluate the immediate and long-term outcome of video-assisted thoracoscopic sympathectomy for idiopathic palmar hyperhidrosis. Between January 1996 and December 2000, a total of 67 patients underwent 102 sympathectomy procedures with excision of the sympathetic chain between the second and fourth sympathetic ganglion. The mean duration of hospitalization was 1.7 +/- 0.6 days. Five patients were lost to follow-up. Mean duration of follow-up for the 96 sympathectomy procedures in the remaining 62 patients was 38 +/- 6.3 months. Patient outcome showed that video-assisted thoracoscopic sympathectomy is the treatment of choice for idiopathic palmar hyperhidrosis. Long-term patient satisfaction is excellent.
authors.affiliation: Service de Chirurgie Thoracique et Vasculaire, Hôpital Arnaud de Villeneuve, 12 rue du Cheval Vert, 34000 Montpellier, France. cinacs@mcmaster.ca
authors.forename: Pierre
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Alric
authors.forename: Pascal
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Branchereau
authors.forename: Jean-Philippe
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Berthet
authors.forename: Philippe
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Léger
authors.forename: Henri
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Mary
authors.forename: Charles
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Mary-Ané
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002572:Cervical Plexus / Q000601:surgery; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D006945:Hyperhidrosis / Q000150:complications / Q000601:surgery*; D007902:Length of Stay; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D017060:Patient Satisfaction; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000209:etiology; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013562:Sympathectomy; D013900:Thoracic Nerves / Q000601:surgery; D020775:Thoracic Surgery, Video-Assisted; D016896:Treatment Outcome