VIDEO ENDOSCOPIC SYMPATHECTOMY FOR PALMAR HYPERHIDROSIS

Palmar hyperhidrosis has been treated using a variety of medical and s urgical techniques with varying degrees of success. The authors report their experience in 82 patients in whom they performed 164 sympathect omies using a video endoscope, a laparoscopic grasper, and microscisso rs. Patients were monitored by palm temperature electrodes. An intraop erative histological confirmation of the sympathetic chain and a tempe rature rise of at least 1 degrees C after the procedure resulted in co mplete relief of the hyperhidrosis. All the patients were relieved of their symptoms, and 41 experienced decreased plantar hyperhidrosis as well. Compensatory hyperhidrosis in 50 patients was the only significa nt side effect, which improved 6 months after the surgery. Video endos copic thoracic sympathectomy is a safe, easy, reliable, and cost-effec tive way to treat palmar hyperhidrosis.