title: Wet and dry hands after video-assisted thoracoscopic pleurectomy.
abstract: Damage to the thoracic sympathic chain is a rare complication of video-assisted thoracic surgery (VATS) pleurectomy. We report our experience with a patient who underwent parietal pleurectomy and bullectomy by VATS and postoperatively suffered from palmar anhydrosis and compensatory controlateral hyperhidrosis. The possible mechanisms of nerve damage and various techniques of performing pleurectomy are discussed.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Canisius Wilhelmina Hospital, Nijmegen, Netherlands.
authors.forename: Thomas J
authors.initials: TJ
authors.lastname: van Brakel
authors.forename: Wouter B
authors.initials: WB
authors.lastname: Barendregt
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D006801:Humans; D006945:Hyperhidrosis / Q000209:etiology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D007007:Hypohidrosis / Q000209:etiology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D008297:Male; D059348:Peripheral Nerve Injuries / Q000209:etiology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D011030:Pneumothorax / Q000601:surgery*; D012008:Recurrence; D013546:Sweating; D013900:Thoracic Nerves / Q000293:injuries*; D020775:Thoracic Surgery, Video-Assisted / Q000009:adverse effects*