Summary
Although hyperhidrosis palmaris is a benign condition, it may cause considerable psychological, social, and occupational disturbances. There are many conservative measures used to treat hyperhidrosis, but surgical sympathectomy is the only permanent cure. Of the various surgical approaches to the upper thoracic sympathetic ganglia, one must select the approach that combines good functional results and a satisfactory cosmetic outcome with only minor complications. Twenty-one patients (10 men and 11 women) with hyperhidrosis palmaris underwent synchronous bilateral T2 sympathectomy between 1 October 1989 and 30 April 1990. These patients underwent a new method of thoracoscopic sympathectomy without preoperative pneumothorax. All were relieved of excessive sweating in their upper extremities immediately after the operation. In addition, the technique led to significant savings in operation and hospitalization time. We recommend thoracoscopic sympathectomy as the best approach for sympathectomy in cases of hyperhidrosis palmaris.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Adar R, Kurchin A, Zweig A, Mozes M (1977) Palmar hyperhidrosis and its surgical treatment: a report of 100 cases. Ann Surg 186: 34–41
Atkins HJB (1954) Sympathectomy by the axillary approach. Lancet I: 538–539
Berguer R, Smit R (1981) Transaxillary sympathectomy (T2 to T4) for relief of vasospastic/sympathetic pain of upper extremities. Surgery 89: 764–769
Cloward RB (1969) Hyperhidrosis. J Neurosurg 30: 545–551
Jacobaeus HC (1910) Über die Möglichkeit die Zystoskopie bei Untersuchung seröser Höhlungen anzuwenden. Münch Med Wochenschr 57: 2090–2092
Kux E (1954) Thorakoskopische Eingriffe am Nervensystem. Thieme, Stuttgart
Kux M (1978) Thoracic endoscopic sympathectomy in palmar and axillary hyperhidrosis. Arch Surg 113: 264–266
Linder F, Jenal G, Assmus H (1983) Axillary transpleural sympathectomy: indication, technique, and results. World J Surg 7: 437–439
Nauson EM (1957) The anterior approach to upper dorsal sympathectomy. Surg Gynecol Obstet 104: 118–120
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Lin, CC. A new method of thoracoscopic sympathectomy in hyperhidrosis palmaris. Surg Endosc 4, 224–226 (1990). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00316798
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00316798