The effects of sympathectomy ganglion levels on late complications in the treatment of hyperhidrosis

Abstract

Introduction: Pathologically excessive sweating in areas such as the palmar, axillary and/or plantar together with sympathetic hyperactivity that occurs independently of systemic causes is called primary hyperhidrosis. Although primary idiopathic hyperhidrosis can be seen at any age, the disease is most commonly seen in adolescents and young adults. The frequency of male and female genders is usually equal. Some medical and minimally invasive methods can be used in the treatment of primary hyperhidrosis. However, the known curative gold standard treatment method for the disease is thoracoscopic thoracic sympathectomy operation.

Patients and methods: In this study, a total of 150 patients who applied to Trakya University Health Practice and Research Center, Department of Thoracic Surgery, between 15 October 2008 and 15 June 2021 and underwent thoracoscopic thoracic sympathectomy due to the diagnosis of hyperhidrosis were evaluated retrospectively. The patients were separated into two groups. Thoracoscopic thoracic sympathectomy was performed on the T2-T4 in the first group (Group I - n : 88) and on the T3-T5 sympathetic ganglions in the second group (Group II - n : 62).

Results: The median age of patients included in the study was found to be 24 (20.75-28) years. Group I and Group II were similar in terms of gender characteristics, but Group II was older. Our success rate was found to be 92% ( n = 138). There was no mortality, major complication such as bleeding requiring open thoracotomy, chylothorax or Horner's syndrome in any of the patients. Minor complications were seen in the early and late period of the operation at a low rate. Our overall compensatory hyperhidrosis rate was 52% ( n = 78). Compensatory hyperhidrosis was detected more in Group I, although this was not statistically significant. We determined the overall satisfaction rate of our patients as 87.3% ( n = 133). The satisfaction rates of the patients in Group I and Group II were found to be similar.

Conclusions: Thoracoscopic thoracic sympathectomy is a fast, safe and minimally invasive treatment method with a low complication rate. More than 90% success and a significant increase in psychosocial condition and professional quality of life can be achieved with this procedure. Future studies are needed to reveal the relationship between operated ganglion levels and the development of compensatory hyperhidrosis.