Endoscopic transthoracic sympathectomy in the treatment of hyperhidrosis

Ann Surg. 1992 Mar;215(3):289-93. doi: 10.1097/00000658-199203000-00015.

Abstract

A 5-year experience of 50 endoscopic transaxillary dorsal sympathectomies is presented. The procedure was successful in either curing or improving the symptoms of hyperhidrosis in the great majority of patients. The commonest side effects were compensatory sweating (75%) and gustatory sweating (48%); despite this, there was an extremely high level of patient satisfaction. Permanent Horner's syndrome did not occur. The procedure is effective, simple, cheap, and requires only an overnight stay; and is recommended as the method of choice for the surgical treatment of upper limb hyperhidrosis.

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Adult
  • Endoscopy*
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Hyperhidrosis / surgery*
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Patient Satisfaction
  • Postoperative Complications
  • Sweating
  • Sympathectomy / methods*