Analysis of clamping versus cutting of T3 sympathetic nerve for severe palmar hyperhidrosis.
OBJECTIVE
Endoscopic thoracic sympathectomy can predictably eliminate the disabling symptoms of palmar hyperhidrosis. Debate has ensued over competing techniques, in particular, cutting versus clamping of the sympathetic chain. We subjectively assessed the sweat severity in different areas of the body and evaluated changes in the quality of life in patients undergoing either the cutting or clamping technique.


METHODS
Patients examined between June 2003 and March 2007 were asked to quantify the severity of their symptoms before and after endoscopic thoracic sympathectomy. The interviews were conducted approximately 1 year after the procedure. Only the patients undergoing sympathectomy at the T3 level for a chief complaint of palmar hyperhidrosis were included in the analysis (n = 152). In 45% of these patients, clamping of the sympathetic chain was performed, and the remaining 55% had the chain cut.


RESULTS
After surgery, no patients had continued excessive sweating of the hands. Of all the patients, 95% were satisfied with the results after the cutting procedure and 97% were satisfied after clamping. No difference was seen in any outcome between the patients undergoing clamping versus cutting of the sympathetic chain, including sweating on the hands, face, armpits, feet, trunk, and thighs or in the quality of life.


CONCLUSIONS
We found high rates of success and patient satisfaction when T3 sympathectomy was performed for palmar hyperhidrosis, with no differences found between the cutting and clamping techniques.
Department of Neuroscience, Medical Scientist Training Program, Columbia University, New York, NY, USA. tky2102@columbia.edu
Ted K
TK
Yanagihara
Ali
A
Ibrahimiye
Catherine
C
Harris
Joy
J
Hirsch
Lyall A
LA
Gorenstein
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002648:Child; D003250:Constriction; D005260:Female; D006225:Hand / Q000294:innervation*; D006801:Humans; D006945:Hyperhidrosis / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D017060:Patient Satisfaction; D011788:Quality of Life; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013546:Sweating; D013562:Sympathectomy / Q000379:methods*; D013906:Thoracoscopy; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D055815:Young Adult