Endoscopic thoracic sympathectomy for treatment of essential hyperhidrosis syndrome: experience with 650 patients

Patients with essential hyperhidrosis (EH) syndrome may experience subjective suffering and social/occupational challenges. We examined the safety and efficacy of minimally invasive endoscopic surgery for treating EH. Single bilateral incisions, followed by endoscopic thoracic sympathectomy (ETS)-mediated bilateral ablation of the T2 sympathetic ganglia, were used to treat 650 patients with a primary diagnosis of palmar (90%) or facial hyperhidrosis (10%). Palmar and facial hyperhidrosis were resolved in 584 of 585 (>99%) and 62 of 65 (95%) patients, respectively. Surgery required less than 1 hour, and no patient experienced a life-threatening adverse event. Compensatory sweating was observed in 83% of patients and was considered mild or moderate in approximately 67% of those patients. Innovations in ETS have resulted in minimally invasive, highly efficient, safe treatment of EH. Surgery is minimally intrusive to patients, who were usually discharged within 2 hours after surgery and able to resume normal activities within 1 week.