title: Minimally invasive thoracic sympathectomy for palmar hyperhidrosis via a single unilateral incision approach by the pleura videoscope.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Palmar hyperhidrosis is a common disease that causes intense significant embarassment for patients. Bilateral single-port thoracoscopic sympathectomy is an effective surgical treatment with high success rates and improvement in quality of life. In order to reduce surgical invasion and to seek better cosmetic results, we describe a novel protocol for thoracic sympathectomy in the treatment of palmar hyperhidrosis.
  
  
  METHODS
  Between January 2012 and September 2012, bilateral thoracic sympathectomy was performed through the anterior mediastinal pleura using the pleural videoscope with a single unilateral skin incision in 10 men and 6 women.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In total, 16 patients were cured, and the skin temperature increased by a mean of 2.7±0.6°C. The average operation time was 67.9±15.8 minutes, with a postoperative hospital stay of 1.9±0.6 days and operative bleeding of less than 20 mL. All operations were successful, with no severe complications or perioperative mortality. Follow-up of 9.8±2.3 months (range, 7-14 months) showed that palmar sweating improved in all patients, and the effective rate was 100%.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  A single unilateral incision for two-sided thoracic sympathectomy through the anterior mediastinal pleura is an effective, feasible, safe, and minimally invasive procedure with excellent cosmetic results.
authors.affiliation: Department of Thoracic Surgery, First Hospital, College of Medicine, Zhejiang University , Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China .
authors.forename: Yunhai
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.forename: Liping
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Zeng
authors.forename: Zhou
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: An
authors.forename: Luming
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Jian
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Hu
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D005240:Feasibility Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006945:Hyperhidrosis / Q000523:psychology / Q000601:surgery*; D007902:Length of Stay; D008297:Male; D061646:Operative Time; D010994:Pleura; D011030:Pneumothorax / Q000209:etiology; D011788:Quality of Life; D013562:Sympathectomy / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000379:methods*; D013906:Thoracoscopy / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000379:methods*; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D055815:Young Adult