R. Reisfeld et al., Endoscopic thoracic sympathectomy for treatment of essential hyperhidrosissyndrome: Experience with 650 patients, SURG LA E P, 10(1), 2000, pp. 5-10
Patients with essential hyperhidrosis (EH) syndrome may experience subjecti
ve suffering and social/occupational challenges. We examined the safety and
efficacy of minimally invasive endoscopic surgery for treating EH. Single
bilateral incisions, followed by endoscopic thoracic sympathectomy (ETS)-me
diated bilateral ablation of the T2 sympathetic ganglia, were used to treat
650 patients with a primary diagnosis of palmar (90%) or facial hyperhidro
sis (10%). Palmar and facial hyperhidrosis were resolved in 584 of 585 (>99
%) and 62 of 65 (95%) patients, respectively. Surgery required less than 1
hour, and no patient experienced a life-threatening adverse event. Compensa
tory sweating was observed in 83% of patients and was considered mild or mo
derate in approximately 67% of those patients. Innovations in ETS have resu
lted in minimally invasive, highly efficient, safe treatment of EH. Surgery
is minimally intrusive to patients, who were usually discharged within 2 h
ours after surgery and able to resume normal activities within 1 week.