title: A new target of percutaneus sympathic radiofrequency thermocoagulation for treatment of palmar hyperhidrosis: T4.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Hyperhidrosis is thought to result from a functional impairment of the sympathic nervous system. In this study, percutaneous T4 sympathic radiofrequency (RF) thermocoagulation was used to treat palmar hyperhidrosis which does not respond to conservative treatment. The results were evaluated in terms of safety, efficiency and patient satisfaction.
  
  
  METHODS
  In this study, 15 patients aged 16-48 years were retrospectively evaluated from prior records. Patient satisfaction scores (very satisfied, satisfied, not satisfied), after treatment of the hand condition (dry, mild dry, no improvement), and whether the most common complication and most patients expressed by the compensatory hyperhidrosis (CH) degree (none, mild, moderate, severe) were analyzed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  No complications were observed except a coughing crisis that lasted for 2 hours in one patient, transient bradycardia in 1 patient and transient injection site pain in all cases. Two patients 1 per week and three patients 1, 2 and 6 months developed recurrence.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Sympathic T4 ablation with RF thermocoagulation was found to have long term (6 months) patient satisfaction (80%). It was also effective in reducing the hand sweating (80% dry or mild dry). The CH rate was 27%. According to our results, sympathic T4 ablation with RF thermocoagulation is a safe and effective treatment with a high degree of patient satisfaction.
authors.affiliation: Department of Anesthesiology and Reanimation, Gülhane Military Medical Academy, Ankara, Turkey. tpurtuloglu@mynet.com
authors.forename: Tarık
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Purtuloğlu
authors.forename: Süleyman
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Deniz
authors.forename: Abdülkadir
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Atım
authors.forename: Şükrü
authors.initials: Ş
authors.lastname: Tekindur
authors.forename: Sedat
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Gürkök
authors.forename: Ercan
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Kurt
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D004564:Electrocoagulation; D005260:Female; D005727:Ganglia, Spinal / Q000601:surgery; D006225:Hand / Q000294:innervation*; D006229:Hand Dermatoses / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D006945:Hyperhidrosis / Q000601:surgery*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013562:Sympathectomy; D016896:Treatment Outcome