Long-Term Outcomes and Course of Compensatory Sweating after Endoscopic Sympathicotomy

Endoscopic thoracic sympathicotomy is an effective approach to the treatment of idiopathic localized hyperhidrosis, and compensatory sweating is the main reason for patient dissatisfaction. Our study discusses both the long-term outcomes of sympathicotomy and the course of compensatory sweating.

Patients with palmar and/or axillary hyperhidrosis who were operated by the same surgical team between January 2008 and December 2014 were included in the study. After at least 5 years (60 months) from operation, patients were questioned about their treatment outcomes by using an original survey form.

Of the 137 patients included in the study, 88 (64.2%) were female and 49 (35.8%) were male. The mean time from the operation to the survey interview was 80.9 ± 14.1 (64-136) months. After operation, complaints disappeared in 95.1% of the patients, and decreased in 4.9% with palmar hyperhidrosis. Complaints completely disappeared in 12.9% and decreased in 81.7% of the patients with axillary hyperhidrosis. Ninety-seven (70.8%) of the patients described increased sweating in some parts of their body after operation but only 47 reached an uncomfortable intensity. The number of patients who regretted the operation due to the compensatory sweating was 13 (9.5%). The patients' overall scoring of the operation and procedure was calculated as 8.0 ± 2.1 (0-10 points) out of 10.

Endoscopic thoracic sympathicotomy's long-term outcomes are also satisfactory in the treatment of palmar and axillary hyperhidrosis. Compensatory sweating may decrease over time, only a minority of patients will express regret at undergoing the treatment.