• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.33 no.10
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• pp.817-822
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• 2000

Video assisted thoracic sympathectomy or sympathicotomy is a safe and effective therapy for the treatment of palmar hyperhidrosis with immediate symptomatic imporvement. However the degree of satisfaction may diminish with time due to cmpensatory sweating or excessive hand dryness. Therefore by comparing and assessing the degree of symptomatic improvement or compensatory sweating following sympathectomy or sympathicotomy at various levels we aim to determine the optimal level of sympathetic nerve block which will result in minimal side effects and maximal benefit. Material and Method: Among 194 patients having undergone video assisted thoracic sympathectomy or sympathicotomy between January 1996 and June 1999, 137 patients who responded to either telephone interview or questionnaire were included in the current study. The patients were divided into three groups. Group I(n=61) ; patients having undergone T2,3,4 sympathectomy group II(35) ; patients having undergone T2 sympathicotomy and group III(41) ; patients having undergone limited T2 sympathicotomy which consist of block of interganglionic neuronal fiber on the third rib. The parameters studied comprised of pre- and post-operative palmar temperature change treatment satisfaction the degree of compensatory sweating or discomfort from palmar dryness postoperative complication and changes in plantar sweating Result : There was no difference in age and sex among the groups and the mean postoperative elevation in palmar temperature was 21.59$^{\circ}C$ without any differences among the groups. Patients expressing satisfaction were 65.6%, 62.9% and 90.24% in groups I, II and III, respectively(p<0.05) Moderate to severe compensatory sweating was present in 65.6% 51.4%, and 24.39%, in group I, II, and III, respectively(p<0.05) Slight but comfortable amount of palmar humidness was expressed in decreasing order group III(41.6%) group I(24.6%) and group II(5.7%) (p<0.05) Ineffectiveness or recurrence was present in 5patients in group I(8.2%) 1 patient in group II(2.9%) and none in group III. With regards to plantar sweating decrease in sweating was expressed in 43 patients(31.4%) while similar degree of sweating in 61 patients(44.5%) and increase in sweating in another 33 patinets(24.1%) Conclusion : Limited T2 sympathicotomy resection of the lower interganglionic neuronal fiber of the second sympathetic ganglion on the third rib showed immediate effect in palmar hyperhidrosis and caused lesser compensatory sweating and hand dryness.

• The Korean Journal of Pain
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• v.26 no.1
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• pp.89-93
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• 2013

Compensatory hyperhidrosis or reflex hyperhidrosis is the increase in sweating in the postoperative stage of thoracic sympathectomy or lumbar sympathectomy. It shares several features with anxiety disorders and has a negative impact on a patient's quality of life. Oralglycopyrrolate is one of the treatment options available. This study reviewed case notes in a series of 19 patients with compensatory hyperhidrosis. We made a comparison between the Milanez de Campos score of a pre-glycopyrrolate medication group and the Milanez de Campos score of a post-glycopyrrolate medication group. The Beck Depression Inventory (BDI) score, Beck Anxiety Inventory (BAI) score, and autonomic nervous system (ANS) scale score were also compared between the pre-medication and post-medication groups. In the post-glycopyrrolate medication group, there was decrease in the Milanez de Campos score, BAI score, and BDI score (P < 0.05). But no meaningful change was seen in the ANS score in the post-glycopyrrolate medication group (P > 0.05). Glycopyrrolate is an effective medication in the treatment of compensatory hyperhidrosis that, can alleviate anxiety and improve patients' quality of life.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.6 no.2
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• pp.213-218
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• 1973

Raynaud attempted to clarify the situation concerning symmetrical and spontaneous gangrene in a thesis published in 1952. The disease was defined as Raynaud`s phenomenon without associated and contributing conditions or disease, and described as two types, such as, `locale syncope and asphyxia` and `gangrene`. Predilection of Raynaud`s disease for female under 40 years of age wi-thout any vascular occlusive disease beginning in the early decades of life and typical color changes in the skin of the extremities incited by coldness are outstanding features in this disease. One typical case of Raynaud`s disease is presented with relating references. Patient was 24 year old female single patient, who noted pain, numbness, and cyanosis of the finger tips of both hands for 6 years previously in the winter season, and recently such symptoms were aggravated including her both feet for two years even in the summer after exposure to cold water. Physical and laboratory examination revealed nothing specific except slightly glistening tight face and hypertrophy of both finger tips with clammy coldness. FamiliaI and past history revealed nothing specific abnormal contributory factors. Biopsy of skin on the dorsum of right foot one year before this admission revealed no evidence of scleroderma. Treatment was aimed to relieve vasospasmodic reaction to coldness and was very successful with bilateral lumbar and thoracic sympathectomy. Patient is free of symptoms relating to the Raynaud’s phenomenon after sympathectomy for 6 months including winter season.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.32 no.5
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• pp.456-460
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• 1999

Background: Thoracic sympathectomy for hyperhidrosis has been recognized as an effective treatment using thoracoscopic devices and operative techniques, but the satisfaction has decreased due to a compensatory hyperhidrosis. Therefore, the postoperative results and compensatory hyperhidrosis were analyzed. We also measured the temperature differences in the hand and foot during the preoperative and postoperative periods and measured the blood flow of upper and lower extremities. Material and Method: From December 1995 to July 1998, total of 47 patients with hyperhidrosis underwent sympathectomy via VATS at the Department of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery, Kangnam St. Mary's Hospital. The patients were evaluated for preoperative and postoperative temperature changes on the finger and toe, and preoperative and postoperative blood flows were measured by the Doppler examination on the digital artery, radial artery and dorsalis pedis artery. Result: There were no operative deaths but some complications existed: 7 pneumothorax, 3 recurrence and 1 Honor syndrome. Ninety-five percent of the patients also had compensatory sweating especially in the trunk. There were 5 patients who regretted recurring the operation because of the compensatory sweating. Sweating decreased in 46% of the sole hyperhidrosis patients. The temperature difference between preoperation and postoperation was 1$^{\circ}C$ on the right hand side and 1.9$^{\circ}C$ on the left hand side(P<0.05). There was no significant temperature difference on the sole. Blood flow increased significantly in the palm, but no difference in the sole. Conclusion: In conclusion, thoracic sympathectomy for hyperhidrosis is a safe and effective treatment but satisfaction has been decreased by the compensatory sweating; therefore, it is important to thoroughly explain the compensatory sweating prior to surgery. Improvement of the plantar hyperhidrosis is not due to a physiological change, but to a psychological stability.

• The Korean Journal of Pain
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• v.9 no.1
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• pp.206-209
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• 1996

Thoracic sympathetic nerve block has a wide range of therapeutic applications which clinicians utilize neurolytics or perform operative sympathectomy. All methods have advantages and disadvantages. We performed "thoracic sympathetic ganglion cauterization" using resectoscope as it is less invasive and more effective than traditional operative methods. Successful procedures were performed involving 2 cases of idiopathic hyperhidrosis and 1 case of sympathetically maintained pain on chest and upper extremity. We experienced failure with one case of idiopathic hyperhidrosis due to severe pleural adhesion. There was also a case of complication of periganglional hemorrhage and parenchymal lung perforation which we successfully treated.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.33 no.9
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• pp.766-769
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• 2000

The long QT syndromes have been classified into acquired or inheritary forms, both of which are associated with a characteristic type of life-threatening polymorphic ventricular tachycardia called torsade de points. Beta-adrenergic blocker is the first cholic treatment, but in those whom cardiac events are not prevented by $\beta$-blockade, left thoracic sympathetic ganglionectomy may be useful in selected cases. A 50-year-old woman had an recurrent syncopal attack in which she was unconscious for 1-2 min and 1-2 times a month for 10 years. The EKG revealed that QT & QTc intervals were 744 and 632 msec respectively. Treatment with Beta-adrenergic blocker and calcium channel blocker was ineffective in preventing recurrence of syncopal spell. Therefore, she underwent left thoracic sympathetic ganglionectomy with thoracoscope. During the 9 months after operation, she was free of syncopal episodes and is doing well.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.31 no.3
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• pp.336-338
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• 1998

Facial hyperhidrosis has a symptom of excessive sweating on the face with or without underlying disease. It can be surgically treated by video-assisted thoracic surgery(VATS). We encountered three cases of facial hyperhidrosis which we treated by VATS, which was performed by resection of the lower third of stellate ganglion and T2-T3 sympathetic ganglia with chains. Postoperative symptom was improved in all cases. There were no postoperative complications such as Horner's syndrome or postsympathectomy neuralgia.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.26 no.2
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• pp.86-88
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• 1993

We have experienced 59 cases of videothoracoscopic operation for 7 months from January to August 1992 at Yongdong Severance Hospital, Yonsei University College of medicine. There were pneumothorax in 21 cases, mediastinal mass in 12 cases, diffuse intestitial lung disease in 7 cases, Buerger's disease in 1 case, metastatic lung cancer in 1 case and sclerosing hemangioma in 1 case. We had performed a variety of procedures (bullectomy in 21 cases, sympathectomy in 17 cases, mass excision in 12 cases, lung biopsy in 8 cases, lobectomy in 1 case). The patients were uneventful in post-operative courses.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.33 no.3
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• pp.268-272
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• 2000

Thoracic sympathicotomy has been used safely and successfully to treat essential hyperhidrosis. However, it has been difficult to treat compansatory hyperhidrosis after thoracic sympathicotomy and focal hyperhidrosis. The sweat glands were innervated by post-ganglionic sympathetic fibers with acetylcholic serving as the transmitter. Botulinum A toxin has been reported to block neuro-transmission at the cholinergic autonomic nerve terminals. Prospecting its effect for the sweat gland, we treated 5 patients with focal hyperhidrosis with botulinum A toxin. Three patients received bilateral thoracic sympathectomy (1 case) and sympathicotomy(2 case) via VAT. The hyperhidrosis area was marked with betadine and was subdivided into squares of 2$\times$2 cm(4$\textrm{cm}^2$) each. Botulinum A toxin was injected intracutaneously in a dosage of 2.5U/0.1ml(100U/4ml) /4$\textrm{cm}^2$. A total dose of 100U of Botulinum A toxin was injected into the affected sites. Subjective assessment of sweat production by the patients using a visual analogue scale showed a 20~70% improvement. During the follow-up period, no toxic effects were observed.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.23 no.2
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• pp.333-341
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• 1990

aortoiliac pattern, Group II; femoropopliteal pattern and Group g; tibioperoneal pattern. A majority of patients belonged to group I [27 cases], 8 patients came under group II .and none in group g. Thirty patients underwent bypass operation with autogenous saphenous vein or synthetic graft with or without concomitant lumbar sympathectomy. Remaining 5 patients were operated on with sympathectomy only, Bypass procedures were anatomic bypass in 22 cases: aortoiliac artery bypass in 11 cases, femoropopliteal artery bypass in 10 cases, sequential femoropopliteal artery bypass in one case and extra-anatomic bypass in 8 cases, axillary-bifemoral artery bypass in one case and femorofemoral artery bypass in 7 cases. Postoperative complications which mainly composed of superficial wound infection[5 cases] which were treated without any significant sequel in all cases and thrombosis[2 cases]. Three patients died whose causes of death were acute renal failure in 2 cases and myocardial infarction in other, The overall patency, rate was 70Zo in 5 years. In conclusion, the clinical pattern and operative outcome were similar to he western pattern and all cases of death did not related to operative procedures and ischemic symptoms were relieved by bypass operations except several cases. I think and recommend that all patients suffering chronic arterial insufficiency by atherosclerosis obliterans ought to be managed with urgent and adequate operative procedure.