title: Long-term results of endoscopic sympathetic block using the Lin-Telaranta classification.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Endoscopic thoracic sympathectomy has been used successfully in the treatment of blushing, excessive sweating, and social phobia. However, the adverse effects of endoscopic thoracic sympathectomy are more severe and frequent than the adverse effects of endoscopic sympathetic block (ESB). The use of different blocking levels for different indications in ESB according to the Lin-Telaranta classification further decreases the postoperative adverse effects. However, there are few data on the long-term results of ESB performed using the Lin-Telaranta classification.
  
  
  METHODS
  Ninety-five patients (55 men, 40 women) were interviewed by before the surgery using our routine questionnaire, and the same questionnaire was answered postoperatively by the patients. In addition, a long-term follow-up questionnaire was sent to all patients whose address was known. Forty-seven patients (24 men, 23 women) answered to this questionnaire. The Davidson brief social phobia scale and the Liebowitz quality of life scale were used. Patients were divided to 3 categories: category 1, patients with sweating problems; category 2, patients with blushing; and category 3, and patients with symptoms other than sweating or blushing.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Among patients in category 1, social phobia decreased from 12.43 to 6.71 (p = 0.004), in category 2 from 13.97 to 7.69 (p < 0.001), and in category 3 from 13.18 to 9.64 (p = 0.007) during long-term follow-up. Among patients with severe sweating problems preoperatively, sweating decreased from 2.50 to 1.29 (p = 0.003) among patients in category 1 and from 1.86 to 1.16 (p < 0.001) among patients in category 2. Among patients with unbearable blushing, blushing decreased from 4 to 1.80 (p < 0.001).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Patients got a clear help from ESB performed using the Lin-Telaranta classification to treat blushing, excessive sweating, and social phobia with and without physical symptoms. In addition, compensatory sweating increased only slightly.
authors.affiliation: Privatix Clinic, Tampere, Finland, tuomora@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Tuomo
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Rantanen
authors.forename: Timo
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Telaranta
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001340:Autonomic Nerve Block / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000379:methods*; D001342:Autonomic Nervous System Diseases / Q000145:classification* / Q000601:surgery; D001821:Blushing / Q000523:psychology; D004724:Endoscopy / Q000379:methods*; D005145:Face / Q000294:innervation; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D005728:Ganglia, Sympathetic / Q000601:surgery; D006801:Humans; D006945:Hyperhidrosis / Q000523:psychology / Q000601:surgery*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010698:Phobic Disorders / Q000209:etiology / Q000601:surgery*; D011183:Postoperative Complications; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D013525:Surgical Instruments; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D060726:Torso / Q000294:innervation; D055815:Young Adult