Repeat transthoracic endoscopic sympathectomy for palmar and axillary hyperhidrosis

Patients undergoing an unsuccessful sympathectomy experience dryness on one hand and excessive sweating on the other. This is embarrassing for the patients, and resolution of both a previous failed sympathectomy and recurrent hyperhidrosis is important.

From September 1995 to January 1998, 24 patients (11 men and 13 women; mean age, 28.2 years) underwent repeat transthoracic sympathectomy (TES). The repeat TES was performed with patients under general anesthesia using either a standard single-lumen endotracheal tube (12 patients) or a double-lumen endotracheal tube (12 patients). Ablation of T2 and T3 ganglia and any Kuntz fiber was performed in treating patients with palmar hyperhidrosis, and a similar procedure was performed on T3 and T4 ganglia for patients with axillary hyperhidrosis.

The reasons for failure of the previous TES were pleural adhesion (14/24), intact T2 ganglion (5/24), aberrant venous arch drainage to the superior vena cava (2/24), incomplete interruption of sympathetic nerve (2/24), and possible reinnervation (1/24). The mean operation time was 28 min (range, 18-72 min). In all, 23 patients had a satisfactory result, without recurrence of palmar or axillary hyperhidrosis. The mean follow-up time was 22 months (range, 5-30 months). The average hospital stay was 1.8 days. There was no surgical mortality.

Repeat TES is a safe and effective method for treating both an unsuccessful sympathectomy and recurrent palmar or axillary hyperhidrosis.