Role of thoracoscopic sympathectomy in hyperhidrosis of upper limbs – early and late results

Background: Thoracic sympathectomy is a reference treatment of vasoconstrictor disorders of upper extremities. The aim of the study is the presentation was to present the own experience in thoracoscopic sympathectomy in patients with hyperhidrosis of upper extremities.
Material and methods: From 1995 to the end of 2004 152 thoracoscopic sympathectomies were performed. Early and late results and complications were compared. Late results were evaluated by the postal questionnaire.
Results: Majority of patients were female (87.5%). Mean hospital stay was 4.61 days (±2.45); mean duration of the procedure was 60.38 min (±30.03), mean postoperative hospital stay was 1.70 days (±1.07).
No perioperative death or conversion to the open thoracotomy occurred. The following complications were diagnosed: pneumothorax in 3.29% cases, Horner’s syndrome – 0.66%, bleeding – 0.66%.
The satisfactory early operation effect was in 100% patients. Late result obtained from the postal questionnaire show that efficacy of the procedure was continuously good – 97.83%.
Conclusions: Thoracoscopic sympathectomy is effective and safe therapeutic method in hyperhydrosis in early and late observation.