title: Skin depigmentation: could it be a complication caused by thoracic sympathectomy?
abstract: Primary hyperhidrosis is an idiopathic disorder, and its definitive treatment is obtained through thoracic sympathectomy. However, this procedure is not exempt from complications and compensatory sweating is the main inconvenience described. In this article, 2 patients were submitted to video-assisted thoracoscopic sympathectomy, and after approximately 8 months they noticed depigmentation of the region corresponding to the blockage of sympathetic stimulus. This fact could be explained by the possible effect of the nervous system on the melanocytes of human skin. Thus, patients with primary hyperhidrosis, who are candidates for thoracic sympathectomy and have brown skin, must be made aware of this possible complication.
authors.affiliation: Division of Thoracic Surgery, Federal and State University of Amazonas Medical School, Manaus, Brazil. f.l.westphal@uol.com.br
authors.forename: Fernando L
authors.initials: FL
authors.lastname: Westphal
authors.forename: José R M
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: de Campos
authors.forename: Jonas
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Ribas
authors.forename: Luís C
authors.initials: LC
authors.lastname: de Lima
authors.forename: José C
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Lima Netto
authors.forename: Márcia S
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: da Silva
authors.forename: Danielle C
authors.initials: DC
authors.lastname: Westphal
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D006801:Humans; D006945:Hyperhidrosis / Q000601:surgery*; D017496:Hypopigmentation / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology*; D008297:Male; D011183:Postoperative Complications; D013562:Sympathectomy / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000379:methods; D013900:Thoracic Nerves / Q000601:surgery*; D020775:Thoracic Surgery, Video-Assisted / Q000009:adverse effects