ATS
HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS
 QUICK SEARCH:   [advanced]


     


This Article
Right arrow Full Text
Right arrow Full Text (PDF)
Right arrow Alert me when this article is cited
Right arrow Alert me if a correction is posted
Right arrow Citation Map
Services
Right arrow Email this article to a friend
Right arrow Similar articles in this journal
Right arrow Similar articles in PubMed
Right arrow Alert me to new issues of the journal
Right arrow Add to Personal Folders
Right arrow Download to citation manager
Right arrow Permission Requests
Citing Articles
Right arrow Citing Articles via HighWire
Right arrow Citing Articles via Google Scholar
Google Scholar
Right arrow Articles by Schmidt, J.
Right arrow Articles by Zirngibl, H.
Right arrow Search for Related Content
PubMed
Right arrow PubMed Citation
Right arrow Articles by Schmidt, J.
Right arrow Articles by Zirngibl, H.
Related Collections
Right arrow Mediastinum

Ann Thorac Surg 2006;81:1048-1055
© 2006 The Society of Thoracic Surgeons


Original article: General thoracic

Endoscopic Thoracic Sympathectomy for Severe Hyperhidrosis: Impact of Restrictive Denervation on Compensatory Sweating

Johannes Schmidt, MD, PhD a , * , Falk Georges Bechara, MD b , Peter Altmeyer, MD, PhD b , Hubert Zirngibl, MD, PhD c

a Department of Surgery, Evangelisches Krankenhaus Lutherhaus, Essen, Germany
b Department of Dermatology and Allergology, Ruhr-University Bochum, Germany
c Department of Surgery, University Witten-Herdecke, Wuppertal, Germany

Accepted for publication September 21, 2005.

* Address correspondence to Dr Schmidt, Evangelisches Krankenhaus Lutherhaus, Department of Surgery, Teaching Hospital, University Witten-Herdecke, Hellweg 100, 45276 Essen, Germany (Email: johannes.schmidt{at}lutherhaus.de).

BACKGROUND: Compensatory sweating is noted frequently after sympathectomy and may be difficult to control in some patients. This prospective trial was projected to measure the impact of limited denervation on compensatory sweating while performing endoscopic thoracic sympathectomy.

METHODS: One hundred seventy-eight patients (127 female and 51 male) with severe primary hyperhidrosis unsuccessfully treated by conservative means entered the study. Group A was treated with sympathectomy from T2 to T4. In group B sympathectomy was performed from T3 to T5. Physical condition was measured after 1, 6, and 24 months by means of the SF-36 Health Survey Test.

RESULTS: Evaluation rate was 94.9%. Horner's syndrome was not detected, recurrence rate was 0.6%, and rate of persistent pneumothorax was 2.3%. Compensatory sweating was reported with 17.1% in group A and diminished to 4.9% in group B. Gustatory sweating was comparable in both groups (4.3% versus 4.9%). Satisfaction rate was 97% in patients with palmar hyperhidrosis, 95% for axillary hyperhidrosis, and 87% for facial hyperhidrosis. Discomfort originating from compensatory sweating was less than symptoms from primary hyperhidrosis 24 months after endoscopic thoracic sympathectomy in more than 90%. Only 7.1% of the entire group was not satisfied.

CONCLUSIONS: Our study demonstrates that limiting denervation beyond T2 ganglion offers good clinical results in axillary as well as palmar hyperhidrosis and may reduce the risk for compensatory sweating. In women, reduction was as high as 75% and in men, near 50%. Our impression is that severe compensatory sweating and the majority of stellate ganglion lesions occur as a result of starting sympathectomy at level T2.




This article has been cited by other articles:


Home page
Eur. J. Cardiothorac. Surg.Home page
P. M. Rodriguez, J. L. Freixinet, M. Hussein, J. M. Valencia, R. M. Gil, J. Herrero, and A. Caballero-Hidalgo
Side effects, complications and outcome of thoracoscopic sympathectomy for palmar and axillary hyperhidrosis in 406 patients
Eur. J. Cardiothorac. Surg., September 1, 2008; 34(3): 514 - 519.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]


Home page
Ann. Thorac. Surg.Home page
X. Li, Y.-R. Tu, M. Lin, F.-C. Lai, J.-F. Chen, and Z.-J. Dai
Endoscopic thoracic sympathectomy for palmar hyperhidrosis: a randomized control trial comparing t3 and t2-4 ablation.
Ann. Thorac. Surg., May 1, 2008; 85(5): 1747 - 1751.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]


Home page
J. Thorac. Cardiovasc. Surg.Home page
P. Maga, J. Kuzdzal, R. Nizankowski, A. Szczeklik, and K. Sladek
Long-term effects of thoracic sympathectomy on microcirculation in the hands of patients with primary Raynaud disease
J. Thorac. Cardiovasc. Surg., June 1, 2007; 133(6): 1428 - 1433.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]


Home page
MMCTSHome page
G. Rocco
Endoscopic VATS sympathectomy: the uniportal technique
MMCTS, May 7, 2007; 2007(0507): 323.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]




HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS
ANN THORAC SURG ASIAN CARDIOVASC THORAC ANN EUR J CARDIOTHORAC SURG
J THORAC CARDIOVASC SURG ICVTS ALL CTSNet JOURNALS
Copyright © 2006 by The Society of Thoracic Surgeons.