title: Single incision thoracoscopic sympathectomy for palmar and axillary hyperhidrosis.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Primary hyperhidrosis is characterized by excessive sweating beyond physiological needs. It is a common disease (incidence 2.8%) that causes intense discomfort for patients. In the last decade, advantages of Single-Incision Thoracoscopic Sympathectomy have become clear, particularly in decreasing morbidity of sympathectomy.
  
  
  METHODS
  From January 2010 to December 2012, 39 patients (29 females and 10 males) with primary palmar or axillary hyperhidrosis were treated by thoracoscopic sympathectomy. The age ranged from 18 to 40 years with a mean of 26.28 years. We used single incision thoracoscopic electrocoagulation through 10 mm incision for thoracic sympathetic chain (T2-T4).
  
  
  RESULTS
  The mean follow-up was 23.6 ± 14.2 months (range = 4-24 months). A total of 97.42% of patients were satisfied with the results. A total of 72.5% of patients had cure, one patient (2.5%) and another patient (2.5%) presented with recurrent axillary hyperhidrosis. The morbidity was 10.2% with no mortality. Percentage of compensatory sweating and gustatory sweating were 5.1% (p = .353) and 2.5% (p = .552), respectively. The result of sympathectomy in patients with both palmar and axillary hyperhidrosis was significantly better (17, 43.58%) compared to palmar type (14, 35.89%) or axillary type (7, 17.94%).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Thoracoscopic sympathectomy is a simple, safe, and cost-effective therapy with good results and low complications.
authors.affiliation: Department of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery, School of Medicine, Faculty of Medical Sciences, University of Sulaimani, Sulaymaniyah, Iraq.
authors.forename: Aram
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Baram
keywords: Hyperhidrosis; single incision thoracoscopic sympathectomy