title: Long-Term Effect of Endoscopic Sympathetic Nerve Reconstruction for Side Effects after Endoscopic Sympathectomy.
abstract: BackgroundEndoscopic thoracic sympathectomy (ETS) is an effective treatment for primary hyperhidrosis. However, compensatory sweating (CS) may occur in many patients. Sympathetic nerve reconstruction (SNR) can be used to counteract severe CS, but the studies on the effects of SNR are few.Patients and MethodsNineteen out of 150 SNR patients were contacted by employing a long-term questionnaire. In this questionnaire, different kinds of sweating were evaluated using a four-graded symptom analysis and the visual analog scale before ETS, after ETS, and after SNR.ResultsThe mean age of the 16 male and 3 female patients at the SNR was 32 years. The mean follow-up was 87 months. According to the long-term questionnaire, the benefit was either excellent (4 patients, 21%), good (3 patients, 15.8%), or reasonable (7 patients, 36.8%) in 14 patients (73.8%), while the benefit was questionable in 1 patient (5.3%). For three patients (15.8%), no benefit was found, and in one patient (5.3%), the situation had deteriorated.ConclusionsImprovement in the side effects of ETS after SNR was found in nearly 75% of the patients. This indicates that SNR can be considered as an alternative treatment for patients with severe CS after ETS that is unresponsive to conservative treatment.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Kuopio University Hospital, Kuopio, Finland.
authors.forename: Tuomo
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Rantanen
authors.affiliation: Privatix Clinic, Tampere, Finland.
authors.forename: Timo
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Telaranta
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D004724:Endoscopy / Q000009:adverse effects*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006945:Hyperhidrosis / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D017060:Patient Satisfaction; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D019651:Plastic Surgery Procedures / Q000009:adverse effects; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013545:Sweat Glands / Q000294:innervation*; D013546:Sweating; D013562:Sympathectomy / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000379:methods; D013564:Sympathetic Nervous System / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery*; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D055815:Young Adult