Results of thoracoscopic sympathectomy for 96 cases of palmar hyperhidrosis

From August 1996 to August 1997, we performed thoracoscopic sympathectomy for 96 cases of palmer hyperhidrosis. The patients' ages were from 22 to 58 years old (mean age: 28; gender ratio: male/female: 3/2). Most of them were students, workers or clerks. The patients were divided in two series: in 61 patients, the sympathetic chain before the 2nd to 4th ribs was removed in the lateral approach with a 3 hole procedure. In 35 patients, the 2nd portion of the sympathetic chain was destroyed (by electric cauter) in the posterior approach with a 2 hole procedure. The results were almost the same in the first series (all cases have a fair benefit), but in the second series, some advantages may be useful for therapy, i.e no need to turn the patients, severe compensation sweating is minimized (from 4% ==> 0%) and the amount of holes is reduced.