title: Anatomical redistribution of sweating after T2-T3 thoracoscopic sympathicolysis: a study of 210 patients.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The cutaneous influence areas of the different sympathetic ganglia have not been fully established to date. The aim of this study was to define the cutaneous influence area of sympathetic ganglia T2-T3.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 210 patients with primary hyperhidrosis (PH) underwent 420 thoracoscopic sympathicolysis procedures of ganglia T2-T3 in a prospective study. All completed a preoperative questionnaire and a second questionnaire 12 months after the operation. The questionnaires evaluated perspiration in the different body areas. Only the zones of anhidrosis were considered in delimiting the cutaneous expression of sympathetic ganglia T2-T3.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Redistribution of perspiration as reported by the patients comprised significant reduction in the palms, axillas, and soles, and an increase in the abdomen, back, and gluteal and popliteal regions. Regarding the incidence of anhidrosis by anatomical location, statistically significant changes were recorded in the head, hands, axillas, and soles (p < 0.001).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Bilateral upper thoracic sympathicolysis is followed by redistribution of body perspiration, with a clear decrease in the zones regulated by mental or emotional stimuli, and an increase in the areas regulated by environmental stimuli, though we are unable to establish the etiology of this redistribution.
authors.affiliation: Department of Thoracic Surgery and Unit of Human Anatomy and Embryology, Hospital Universitari de Bellvitge, School of Medicine, University of Barcelona, L'Hospitalet de Llobregat, Barcelona, Spain. ricardramos@ub.edu
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Ramos
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Moya
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Macia
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Morera
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Escobar
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Perna
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Rivas
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Masuet
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Saumench
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Villalonga
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D005728:Ganglia, Sympathetic / Q000601:surgery; D006801:Humans; D006945:Hyperhidrosis / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000601:surgery*; D007007:Hypohidrosis / Q000503:physiopathology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies; D013546:Sweating; D013562:Sympathectomy; D013900:Thoracic Nerves / Q000601:surgery; D013906:Thoracoscopy; D016896:Treatment Outcome