A new surgical procedure for palmar hyperhidrosis: is it possible to perform endoscopic sympathectomy under deep sedation without intubation?
OBJECTIVE
Palmar hyperhidrosis (PH) is a common dysfunctional disorder, with endoscopic thoracic sympathectomy (ETS) being the most popular treatment method. However, until now, there is little improvement to this technique. In this paper, we present a new alternative to the conventional surgical method.


METHODS
We performed ETS with flexible thoracoscopy under deep sedation without intubation in 13 patients. All patients were followed up until today.


RESULTS
During surgery, the vital signs of the patients remained stable and no intubation was necessary. The operative times ranged between 30 and 40 min. The symptom of PH disappeared postoperatively, and no complications occured. All patients were discharged from the hospital on the second postoperative day.


CONCLUSIONS
ETS with flexible thoracoscopy under deep sedation without intubation is a safe and effective method.
Department of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery, Shanghai Changzheng Hospital, The Second Military Medical University, Shanghai, China.
Hua
H
Tang
Department of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery, Shanghai Changzheng Hospital, The Second Military Medical University, Shanghai, China.
Bin
B
Wu
Department of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery, Shanghai Changzheng Hospital, The Second Military Medical University, Shanghai, China.
Zhifei
Z
Xu
Department of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery, Shanghai Changzheng Hospital, The Second Military Medical University, Shanghai, China.
Lei
L
Xue
Department of Respiration, Shanghai Changzheng Hospital, The Second Military Medical University, Shanghai, China.
Bin
B
Li
Department of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery, Shanghai Changzheng Hospital, The Second Military Medical University, Shanghai, China zhaoxw@yahoo.com.cn.
Xuewei
X
Zhao
D000771:Anesthesia, Intravenous; D054810:Deep Sedation / Q000379:methods*; D004724:Endoscopy / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006945:Hyperhidrosis / Q000601:surgery*; D008297:Male; D013562:Sympathectomy / Q000379:methods*
Endoscopic sympathectomy; Intravenous anaesthesia; Palmar hyperhydrosis