Endoscopic sympathectomy for palmer and plantar hyperhidrosis: results in 107 patients.

Introduction. Transthoracic endoscopic sympathectomy for palmar hyperhidros is is a safe and effective method. However, no radical and definite treatme nt exists for plantar hyperhidrosis. We report our experience, immediate po st-operative and mid-term results after transthoracic and lumbar endoscopic sympathectomy for palmar and plantar hyperhidrosis. Patients and methods. One hundred and seven of 117 patients cured between J anuary 94 and December 98, answered a questionnaire regarding their past hi story, the early post-operative results, side effects and complications cau sed by the operation and mid-term results with particular emphasis on patie nt satisfaction. Results. Seventy-eight thoracic and lumbar endoscopic sympathectomies and 1 25 thoracic endoscopic sympathectomies were performed. The patients were 30 men (median age 30 years) and 77 women (median age 26 years). Only women u nderwent lumbar endoscopic sympathectomy because of risk of retrograde ejac ulation. No severe complications were noted. The success rate was 96 p. 100 for palmar hyperhidrosis and 98,5 p. 100 for plantar hyperhidrosis. No rec urrences were noted in 97 p. 100 of the patients with median follow-up of 2 8 months. The main side effect was compensatory sweating which was the reas on for dissatisfaction for 5 p. too of the patients. Cutaneous dryness and gustatory sweating were also described. However, 95 p. 100 of the patients were "satisfied" or "very satisfied". Conclusion. Our experience proved that lumbar endoscopic sympathectomy is a s safe and effective for treatment of plantar hyperhidrosis, as thoracic en doscopic sympathectomy for palmar hyperhidrosis.