Thoracoscopic Sympathectomy for Primary Hyperhidrosis: A Two-year Experience at Police General Hospital

Authors

  • W Wachirapunyanukul Surgical and Anesthesiologic Unit, Police General Hospital, Bangkok 10330, Thailand
  • S Patcharatrakul Surgical and Anesthesiologic Unit, Police General Hospital, Bangkok 10330, Thailand
  • P Sukosit Surgical and Anesthesiologic Unit, Police General Hospital, Bangkok 10330, Thailand
  • R Hakeem Surgical and Anesthesiologic Unit, Police General Hospital, Bangkok 10330, Thailand
  • A Montamara Surgical and Anesthesiologic Unit, Police General Hospital, Bangkok 10330, Thailand
  • C Pruksapong Surgical and Anesthesiologic Unit, Police General Hospital, Bangkok 10330, Thailand
  • S Poksawat Surgical and Anesthesiologic Unit, Police General Hospital, Bangkok 10330, Thailand

Abstract

Thoracoscopic sympathectomy is currently the most acceptable surgical treatment for disabling upper limb hyperhidrosis. The procedure is known and had been performed by a very few surgeons in Thailand. The results were never been reported except from our institute.

Objective: To quantitatively evaluate the results of treatment of primary hyperhidrosis with thoracoscopic sympathectomy in our two years experience at Police General Hospital.

Materials and Methods: Two hundred and nine thoracoscopic sympathectomies had been performed for 105 consecutive patients suffered from primary hyperhidrosis during February 1998 to May 2000. To evaluate the results of treatment, side effects, complications, quality of life and satisfaction to the treatment, questionnaires as a form of Linear analogue score was mailed to patients. There were seventy two patients responded to questionnaires and were included to this study.

Statistical Analysis: Linear analogue score with the Student's t test was used for statistical analysis.

Results: Palmar sweating was reduced from a mean score of 9.224 pre-operatively to 0.528 after sympathectomy (P<0.001). For axillae :4.7200 to 3.6900 after T2 sympathectomy(NS) and 8.600 to 3.111 after T2+T3 sympathectomy (P <0.001). Sixty one patients (84.7%) felt their quality of life was markedly improved after the operation, while six (8.3%) felt worsen. Compensatory sweating occurred in more than ninety percent of the patients which was the main cause of dissatisfaction (16.7%) and worsen quality of life (8.3%) in this group. Minor complications occurred in a few patients without major postoperative consequence.

Conclusions: Thoracoscopic sympathectomy is safe and effective for the treatment of primary hyper hidrosis especially for the upper limb. However, compensatory sweating does occur in a significant number of patients and is the cause of dissatisfaction to the treatment in some patients. T2+T3 sympathectomy seems promising to treat severe concomitant axillary hyperhidrosis. Patients should be clearly informed of postoperative compensatory sweating before the operation.

References

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Published

2002-03-29

How to Cite

1.
Wachirapunyanukul W, Patcharatrakul S, Sukosit P, Hakeem R, Montamara A, Pruksapong C, Poksawat S. Thoracoscopic Sympathectomy for Primary Hyperhidrosis: A Two-year Experience at Police General Hospital. Thai J Surg [Internet]. 2002 Mar. 29 [cited 2024 Nov. 23];23(1):15-20. Available from: https://he02.tci-thaijo.org/index.php/ThaiJSurg/article/view/243115

Issue

Vol. 23 No. 1 (2002): January - March

Section

Original Articles

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Articles must be contributed solely to The Thai Journal of Surgery and when published become the property of the Royal College of Surgeons of Thailand. The Royal College of Surgeons of Thailand reserves copyright on all published materials and such materials may not be reproduced in any form without the written permission.