• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.31 no.3
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• pp.226-232
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• 1998

With recent advancements in the instrumentation and technique of VATS, it has become the method of choice to cure facial hyperhidrosis. From July 1996 to April 1997, we performed 43 thoracic lower stellate ganglionectomy with VATS for facial hyperhidrosis. There were 33 men and 10 women whose ages ranged from 17 to 63 years(mean age, 37 years). Of those patients, 23 complained only of facial hyperhidrosis, and 20 complained of facial hyperhidrosis along with excessive sweating of the palm or foot. Thoracoscopic sympathetic ganglionectomy procedures included lower stellate ganglionectomy in 12 patients; lower stellate ganglionectomy and T2-sympathetic ganglionectomy in 28 patients; and lower stellate, T2 and T3 sympathetic ganglionectomy in 3 patients. Common complications were compensatory hyperhidrosis(36 patients) and causalgia(8 patients). At the end of the follow-up period(minimum, 3 months) ninety-five percent of the patients reported satisfactory results. Thoracic lower stellate ganglionectomy with VATS is an efficient, safe and minimally invasive surgical procedure for facial hyperhidrosis.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.32 no.12
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• pp.1106-1110
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• 1999

배경: 다한증의 치료에 있어서 흉강경을 이용한 교감신경절제술의 시술 빈도가 급증하고 있다. 그러나 액와부 다한증의 경우 수장부나 안면 두부다한증에 비하여 절제범위가 광범위하여 이에 따른 보상성 다한증 및 기타 합병증의 발생의 높고 액취증이 동반되어있는 경우 장기적인 만족도가 낮아서 크게 각광 받지 못해왔다. 대상 및 방법: 본 교실에서는 1997년 3월부터 1999년 4월까지 45례의 액와부 다한증 환자에서 2 mm 흉강내시경을 이용하여 흉부교감신경절제술 또는 잘단술을 시행하였다. 남자 28례 여자 17례로 평균연령은 28(13-46세) 였고 평균추적기간은 10개월(1-24)이었다. 24례가 액와부에만 국한된 과도발한을 호소 하였고 2례에서 수술 전 심한 액취증이 동반되어있었다. 21례의 T3,4 교감신경절제술, 20례의 T2,4 교감신경단술 그리고 4례의 T4 교감신경절제수을 시행하여 즉각적인 증상치유효과 보상성 다한증 및 장기적 만족도를 비교 분석하였다. 중등도 이상의 흉막유착으로 5mm 내시경이 필요했던 2례을 제외한 전 환자에서 2mm 트로카 2개를 사용하여 수술을 하였다 결과: 평균수술시간은 T3,4 교감신경절제술이 46.2$\pm$11분 T2, 4 교감신경절단술이 32.5$\pm$23분 T4 교감신경절제술이 53.8$\pm$18분이 소요되었고 수술직후의 효과는 T3,4 교감신경절제술과 T2,4 교감신경절단술에서 '전혀땀이 나지 않는다'가 17례(81%) 와 12례(60%) '수술전보다 감소했으나 약간땀이 난다'가 4례(19%) 와 8례(40%) 로 모든 환자에서 효과가 있었으나 T4 교감신경절제술은 4례중3례(75%)에서 전혀 효과가 없었다. 보상성 다한증은 T3,4교감신경절제술과 T2,4 교감신경절단술에서 각각 67%, 60%로 나타났고 생활에 불편을 줄 정도의 심한경우는 10% 5%에 불과했으며 장기적인 만족도는 T3,4 교감신경절제술이 86% T2,4 교감신경절단술이 89%로 나타나 높은 성공률을 보았다 결론 : 액와부다한증의 치료에 있어서 T3,4 교감신경절제술과 T2,4교감신경절단술은 증상치유효과가 높고 절제범위의 제한에 따른 보상성 다한증의 감소로 장기적 만족도가 우수한 효과적인 방법이다. 액취증이 동반된 경우 이에대한 충분한사전 설명과 원인 감별후 적절한 보조요법을 병행함으로써 환자의 만족도를 높힐수 있다고 본다.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.41 no.6
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• pp.807-810
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• 2008

From October 2005 to August 2006, sympathetic nerve reconstruction with using the intercostal nerve was performed in 4 patients with severe compensatory hyperhidrosis following thoracoscopic sympathetic surgery for facial hyperhidrosis. The interval between the initial sympathetic clipping and the sympathetic nerve reconstruction was a median of 23.1 months. The compensatory sweating after sympathetic nerve reconstruction was improved for 2 patients, but it was not improved for 2 patients. Thoracoscopic sympathetic nerve reconstruction may be one of the useful treatment methods for the patients with severe compensatory hyperhidrosis after they under go sympathetic nerve surgery for hyperhidrosis.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.32 no.9
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• pp.818-822
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• 1999

Background: Thoracoscopic T2 sympathicotomy had been performed as a simple and effective method in treating palmar hyperhidrosis, however, this method had the complications of compensatory hyperhidrosis and facial anhidrosis. Therefore, a more limited and modified methods for T2 sympathicotomies were introduced and comparative analysis of the modified upper and lower T2 sympathicotomy were made in the treatment of palmar hyperhidrosis. Material and Method: From January 1997 to December 1998, 41 patients with palmar hyperhidrosis had been treated by modified T2 sympathicotomy at the Kon-Kuk University Seoul Hospital. Twenty-four patients underwent a modified upper T2 sympathicotomy(Group A), and seventeen patients underwent a modified lower sympathicotomy(Group B). A comparison between groups A and B were made according to the medical records and interview results. Result: All patients showed symptomatic improvements after the operation. The anisocoria, facial anhidrosis and dissatisfaction for compensatory hyperhidrosis were more common in Group A and the individual satisfaction for the operations were higher in Group B. Conclusion: The modified lower T2 sympathicotomy might be a more effective and less complicated method than the modified upper T2 sympathicotomy.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.37 no.3
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• pp.267-271
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• 2004

Compensatory sweating is the main cause of patient dissatisfaction after sympathetic surgery for craniofacial hyperhidrosis. Surgery that sympathetic nerve trunk preserved and extent of resection limited was introduced to decrease compensatory sweating. From Jan 2000 to July 2002, the vidio-assisted thoracoscopic T2 sympathetic clipping and rami comunicantes selective division were performed in 36 patients suffering from craniofacial hyperhidrosis. Twenty two patients underwent a T2 sympathetic nerve clipping (Group 1), and fourteen patients underwent division of the T2 ramicommunicates (Group 2). We retrospectively analysed the rate of satisfaction, dryness of face, the rate of compensatory sweating, grade of compensatory sweating. The dryness of face was that no statistical difference between group 1 and group 2 (p=0.387); group1: dry 22.7% (5/22), humid 77.3% (17/22) group 2: dry 14.3% (2/14), humid 78.5% (11/14), persist 7.2% (1/14). The rate of satisfaction was 77.3% in T2 clipping and 64.2% in T2 sympathicotomy with no significant in the statistic analysis (p=0.396). The rate of compensatory sweating on group 2 was lower than group 1 (p=0.042); 95.4% (21/22) in T1 sympathetic clipping and 71.4% in T2 ramicotomy. The rate of embarrassing and disabling compensatory sweating was 70.5% (embarassing 8 patients, disabling 9 patients) in T2 clipping and 42.9% (embarassing 8 patients, disabling 9 patients)in T2 ramicotomy with statistically significant difference (p=0.036). The sympathetic trunk preservation surgery for craniofacial hyperhidrosis (T2 ramicotomy) redueced the rate of compensatory sweating when compared to the blocking surgery of sypathetic trunk (T2 clipping).

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.32 no.8
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• pp.745-748
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• 1999

Background: A definitive cure for an essential hyperhidrosis can be obtained by an upper thoracic sympathectomy. However, this is offset by the occurrence of a compensatory hyper hidrosis as a side effect and it is irreversible. We performed a thoracoscopic sympathetic chain block using an endoscopic clip in order to avoid the compensatory hyperhidrosis. Material and Method: From Aug. 1998 to Nov. 1998, 42 cases of thoracoscopic clipping of the T2 sympathetic chain were performed. The sympathetic chain was clipped using an endoscopic clip instead of cutting. Result: Bilateral procedure took less than 40 minutes and occasionally necessitated one night in the hospital. There were no mortality nor life- threatening complications. Horners syndrome occurred in two cases. At the end of postoperative follow-up(median 3 months), 95.0% of the patients were satisfied with the results. Compensatory sweating occurred in 31 cases(77.5%) where nine of those cases were classified as either embarrassing(6 cases-15.0%) or disabling(3 cases-7.5%). Conclusion: Endoscopic thoracic T2 sympathetic chain block using endoscopic clipping is an efficient, safe and minimally invasive surgical method for the treatment of palmar and craniofacial hyperhidrosis and the results were similar to those underwent T2 sympathicotomy. We recommend that patients receive endoscopic sympathetic chain block in summer.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.32 no.5
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• pp.465-470
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• 1999

Background: Facial hyperhidrosis patients have as much difficulty in personal relationships as the palmar and axillary hyperhidrosis patients. There have been no appropriate treatment, but recently, satisfactory results have been obtained through sympathetic blockade. Thoracoscopic thoracic sympathectomy for facial hyperhidrosis has been known to resect cervicothoracic (stellate) ganglion, but its inherent complications such as Horner syndrome have made the surgeons hesitant to use this method. We, through our experiences in treating palmar and axillary hyperhidrosis for the past 6 years, believed that T2 sympathicotomy would be enough for facial hyperhidrosis and have experimented and obtained satisfactory results. Material and Method: From June 1997 to May 1998, 38 consecutive patients underwent bilateral thoracoscopic T2 sympathicotomy with 2mm instruments at Seoul National University Hospital. Result: All patients were relieved of excessive sweating in their faces immediately after the operation. Postoperatively, 5 patients (13.2%) required insertion of chest tubes because 3 had incomplete reexpansion of the lung, and 2 had hemothorax from severe adhesion. Other complications related to the surgical procedures, such as Horner's syndrome, and brachial plexus injury, were not detected in any cases. The mean hospital stay was mean 1.7$\pm$0.9 days after surgery. Conclusion: T2 sympathetic ganglion is the appropriate resection site for facial hyperhidrosis, and complications such as Horner syndrome can be prevented by not cutting the stellate ganglion. In addition, it is possible to perform the operation by using a 2 mm thoracoscopic instrument, and may obtain much better results.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.37 no.6
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• pp.530-535
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• 2004

Background: Thoracoscopic R3 (above the third rib)sympathicotomy has been performed as an effective method in treating palmar hyperhidrosis because it is effective in eliminating the symptoms of hyperhidrosis and has lower degree of compensatory hyperhidrosis than that of sympathectomy. Most of the results published were based on the short-term follow up. So we evaluated the intermediate term follow up results of the R3 sympathicotomy. Material and Method: From April 1999 to August 2001, ninety-four patients with palmar hyperhidrosis had been treated by R3 sympathicotomy at the Inha University Hospital. Follow-up study was completed for 76 patients (male 38, female 38) and average follow-up period were 25$\pm$9.1 (15∼50) months. The sympathetic trunk passing above the upper border of third rib was divided by electric cautery. The patient's satisfaction after surgery was estimated using the analogue scale from score 0 to 100 (100 means perfect satisfaction). Result. The scale of patient's satisfaction immediately after operation was 92.36$\pm$9.93. After 15 months, the scale of satisfaction was decreased to average 71.80$\pm$20.24 and it is statiscally significant. The cause of dissatisfaction were compensatory hyper-hidrosis and recurrence of symptom. The degree of sweating immediately after operation was mean 0 and after 15 months it increased to mean 1.5. The degree of the compensatory hyperhidrosis immediately after operation was mean 1 and it increased to mean 5 after 15 months. Conclusion: R3 sympathicotomy has excellent therapeutic results immediately after operation but therapeutic effectiveness is becoming to decrease 15 months after operation. The common causes of dissatisfaction are compensatory hyperhidrosis and recurrence of hyperhidrosis.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.40 no.11
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• pp.752-758
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• 2007

Background: Thoracic sympathetic block surgery is a safe and effective procedure for palmar hyperhydrosis, and this maintains sufficient moisture and prevents compensatory hyperhidrosis. To avoid compensatory hyperhidrosis, the authors performed sympathetic block surgery just above the R4 level to maintain sympathetic tone affecting the caudal area. Material and Method: A total of 71 subjects (45 males and 26 females) were categorized into two groups. Group 1 (31 patients, mean age: 25.5 years) had clips placed both on the upper and lower part of R4 sympathetic ganglion, and group 2 (40 patients, mean age: 25.9 years) underwent clipping of the upper part of R4. Telephone surveys were done to collect data on 8 categories, and the average follow up interval was 24.9 months (group 1) and 18.9 months (group 2). Result: For group 1, 41.9% experienced no sweating and 48.4% re-plied they experienced some sweating depending on the surrounding conditions. Group 2 showed that 60% experienced no sweating and 35% replied they experienced some sweating depending on the surrounding conditions, 58.1% in group 1 experienced sweating right after the surgery, and 40.0% in group 2 experienced the same. Group 1 (38.1%) and group 2 (37.5%) replied they experienced no hand dryness and more patients in group 2 than in group 1 had hand dryness, but without uncomfortable symptoms. 71.0% (group 1) and 62.5% (group 2) replied they had no compensatory hyperhidrosis or related symptoms. One patient in group 1 and two in group 2 reported they regretted undergoing the procedure. The regions of compensatory hyperhidrosis were the back, thigh and chest in group 1 and the group 2 reported the back, chest, and abdomen in the order of frequency. Fewer incidences of the gustatory hyperhidrosis were noted in group 2. Most of the patients were satisfied with their treatment. Conclusion: Clipping the upper part of the R4 ganglion or R4 sympathetic block are both effective for treating palmar hyperhidrosis and these treatments decrease the occurrence or symptoms of compensatory hyperhidrosis. The upper R4 sympathetic block procedure is easier and safer with fewer incidences of gustatory hyperhidrosis and a higher percentage of patient satisfaction.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.41 no.1
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• pp.89-94
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• 2008

Background: Thoracoscopic R3 sympathicotomy can effectively treat palmar hyperhidrosis. Here, we evaluated post-operative outcomes of patients receiving a thoracoscopic R3 sympathicotomy due to palmar hyperhidrosis. Material and Method: From January 2001 to December 2006, 225 patients were treated with a R3 sympathicotomy, and follow up was completed for 200 patients, with an average follow up period of 51.7 ($11{\sim}80$) months. We measured postoperative hand sweating according to four grades; dry (grade 1), proper (grade 2), light sweating (grade 3), heavy sweating (grade 4) and evaluated patient satisfaction using 4 grades: very good (grade 0), good (grade1), regular (grade 2), and deficient (grade 3). Result: There were no differences in clinical parameters between the compensatory sweating group and the non-compensatory sweating group. There was a 83.5% compensatory sweating rate. The degree of compensatory sweating related to the patient's body mass index and was influenced by the season, environmental temperature, and emotional stress. Conclusion: The satisfaction rate was 61.5%, and the degree of satisfaction related to the development of compensatory sweating. Therefore, reducing compensatory sweating would increase patient satisfaction with R3 sympathicotomies.