title: Bilateral retroperitoneoscopic lumbar sympathectomy by unilateral access for plantar hyperhidrosis in women.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Primary focal hyperhidrosis is a disorder of excessive, bilateral, and relatively symmetric sweating occurring in the axillae, palms, soles, or craniofacial region. Armpits are affected in 51% of patients, feet in 29%, palms in 25%, and the face in 20%. There is a wide range of nonsurgical and surgical treatments available for patients with focal hyperhidrosis. Surgical treatments for plantar hyperhidrosis include thoracic and/or lumbar sympathectomy. In this article, we report on a new technique of bilateral retroperitoneoscopic lumbar sympathectomy by unilateral access for plantar hyperidrosis.
  
  
  METHODS
  The sample consisted of female patients who presented with plantar hyperhidrosis at the time of surgery and received bilateral retroperitoneoscopic lumbar sympathectomy by a unilateral access technique at our hospital. All patients had already been submitted to a previous thoracic sympathectomy with no improvement of the plantar hyperhidrosis.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Five procedures were performed successfully from January through March 2009. Mean operative time and mean estimated blood loss were 59 minutes and 54 cc, respectively. We had no intraoperative complications, and patients were discharged home 12.8 hours after surgery. Immediate warming of the feet was observed at the end of all procedures. On follow-up consultations, all patients referred a complete resolution of the plantar hyperhidrosis and 1 case of compensative hyperhidrosis on the back.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Retroperitoneoscopic lumbar sympathectomy by unilateral access seems to be feasible when performed by a surgeon with experience on advanced laparoscopy. Larger series comparing unilateral to bilateral access are necessary to establish the real benefits and potential disadvantages of this new technique.
authors: Department of General Surgery, Vita Batel Hospital, Curitiba, Paraná, Brazil.
authors: Marlos
authors: M
authors: Coelho
authors: William
authors: W
authors: Kondo
authors: Luciano Carneiro
authors: LC
authors: Stunitz
authors: Alcides José
authors: AJ
authors: Branco Filho
authors: Aníbal Wood
authors: AW
authors: Branco
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D005260:Female; D005528:Foot; D006801:Humans; D006945:Hyperhidrosis / Q000601:surgery*; D010535:Laparoscopy / Q000379:methods; D008160:Lumbosacral Plexus / Q000601:surgery*; D012187:Retroperitoneal Space; D013562:Sympathectomy / Q000379:methods*; D055815:Young Adult