|
|
||||||||
Ann Thorac Surg 2006;81:1048-1055
© 2006 The Society of Thoracic Surgeons
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:
![]() |
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] |
||||
![]() |
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] |
||||
![]() |
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] |
||||
![]() |
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 |