• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.37 no.5
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• pp.354-356
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• 2005

Objective: Thoracoscopic sympathicotomy is effective in treating not only palmar hyperhidrosis, but also axillary hyperhidrosis. But studies for axillary hyperhidrosis accompanying osmidrosis are few. We report the outcome of six axillary hyperhidrosis with osmidrosis with literatures review. Methods: Using a minimally invasive technique, thoracoscopic T3-4 sympathicotomy was performed. The results of sympathicotomy of third and fourth sympathetic chains of six patients from January 1999 to August 2003 for axillary hyperhidrosis with osmidrosis were reviewed. Results: All patients had a successful outcomes, their profuse sweating ceased. Two patients suffered from compensatory hyperhidrosis. Three patients disappeared or diminished foul odor but three patients complained remained osmidrosis. Conclusion: In the treatment of axillary hyperhidrosis, the sympathicotomy of T3 and T4 chain is an effective method but osmidrosis must be treated according to its cause.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.30 no.4
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• pp.486-492
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• 2001

Objective : Essential hyperhidrosis is a pathological condition of excessive sweating beyond that required to cool the body, though poorly understood, originating from a dysfunction of the sympathetic nervous system. Thoracoscopic sympathectomy is the most popular treatment for upper limb hyperhidrosis, because it is a safe, effective, minimally invasive, and time-saving method. However, the common complication is the compensatory hyperhidrosis in other areas of the body, notably on the back, chest, abdomen, and buttocks. Compensatory hyperhidrosis is severe enough for some people, especially those living in a warm climate or engaging in heavy physical activities, to regret ever having had operation. The pathophysiological mechanisms underlying compensatory hyperhidrosis are incompletely understood, even though it is thought to be a truly compensatory feature related to thermoregulation of the body. Materials and Methods : we studied the clinical features of total 233 patients who were diagnosed as essential hyperhidrosis and treated with thoracoscopic sympathectomy or sympathicotomy from March 1992 to July 2000. Results : The success rate of thoracoscopic sympathetic surgery(sympathectomy or sympathicotomy) was 98.7%. The global rate of compensatory hyperhidrosis was 77% ; 84% in group T2, 3 sympathectomy, 76% in group T2 sympathectomy, 43% in group T2, 3 sympathicotomy and 59% in group T2 sympathicotomy. The rate of embarrassing or disabling compensatory sweating was significantly higher in T2 sympathectomy and in T2, 3 sympathectomy than in T2 sympathicotomy and T2, 3 sympathicotomy with significancy in statistic analysis(p<0.01). The precipitating factors of compensatory hiperhidrosis, including heat(warm weather), anxiety, stress, and exertion were noted. The compensatory hyperhidrosis was the main cause of patient dissatisfaction after thoracoscopic sympathectomy. Conclusion : The degree of compensatory hyperhidrosis is closely related to the extent of thoracic sympathectomy.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.44 no.2
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• pp.154-158
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• 2011

Background: Video-assisted thoracic sympathicotomy plays an important for the treatment of essential hyperhidrosis. Patients are usually satisfied with the surgical outcome at the early post-operative period, but suffer recurrence and compensatory sweating in the late post-operative period. There are many sympathicotomy methods to minimize recurrence and compensatory sweating. We compared the outcome of sympathicotomy methods above the third rib (R3) and the fourth rib (R4) with regards to symptoms, satisfaction, recurrence, and compensatory palmar and axillary hyperhydrosis. Materials and Methods: From January 1999 to April 2009, 39 cases of thoracoscopic sympathicotomy at the third rib (R3), and 94 cases of thoracoscopic sympathicotomy at the fourth rib (R4) for palmar and axillary hyperhidrosis were compared for early and late post-operative satisfaction, compensatory sweating and recurrence. Results: There was no sex or age difference between groups. Early satisfaction was 94.9% and 98.9% in the R3 group and R4 group, respectively. There was no difference in early satisfaction (94.9% in R3 and 98.9% in R4), late satisfaction (84.6% in R3 and 89.4% in R4), or recurrence (17.9% in R3 and 17.0% in R4) between groups. There was significant difference in compensatory sweating (71.8% in R3 and 33% in R4, p=0.002). Conclusion: R4 sympathicotomy demonstrated superior efficacy in the treatment of compensatory sweating compared to R3 in palmar and/or axillary hyperhidrosis.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.29 no.11
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• pp.1499-1504
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• 2000

Objectives : In general, conventional T2, T3 thoracoscopic sympathicotomy must be one of the most effective treatments for the essential palmar hyperhidrosis. However, this is offset by the occurrence of a high rate of side effects, such as embarrassing compensatory sweating and Hornor's syndrome. The authors have performed a selective T3 thoracoscopic sympathicotomy to our patients to see whether it provides successful results with less side effects. Its preliminary results were compared with those of conventional T2, T3 thoracoscopic sympathicotomy. Methods : The thoracoscopic sympathicotomy was performed in 54 patients suffering from essential palmar hyperhidrosis. Twenty-four patients underwent a conventional sympathicotmy(group A) from Jan 1997 to Dec 1997 and 30 patients a selective T3 sympathicotmy(group B) from Jan 1998 to Dec 1999. For assessment of postoperative success and of complications all patients charts were reviewed. Patients further received a postal questionnaire regarding long-term effect, satisfaction, and side-effects. Results : No recurrence was observed in both groups. The global rate of compensatory sweating was significantly(p ＝0.020) different in both groups : 11 patients(45.8%) in group A and 5 patients(16.73%) in group B. The Hornor's syndrome was observed only in 4 patients in group A. The preliminary results of the procedure in group A were considered fully-satisfying by 16 patients(66.6%), 6 patients(25%) were satisfied partially, and only 2 patients(8.3%) were dissatisfied, and those of the procedure in group B satisfying by 26 patients(86.6%), 4 patients(13.3.% ) were satisfied partially, and none dissatisfied. Conclusion : The selective T3 sympathicotomy results in a significant decrease in the rate of disturbing side effects comparing to conventional T2, T3 sympathicotomy and it dose not lead to recurrence. Our results contribute to recommendations of a selective T3 thoracoscopic sympathicotomy as treatment of choice in essential palmar hyperhidrosis.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.31 no.11
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• pp.1089-1093
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• 1998

Background: In 1992, we first developed the technique for video-assisted thoracoscopic sympathectomy to treat palmar hyperhidrosis. It was soon proven to be a simple and effective therapy for essential hyperhidrosis. Clinically, patients suffereing from distressing hyperhidrosis in their heads and faces were observed. Materials and methods: From March 1997 to March 1998, the vidio-assisted thoracoscopic sympathectomy and sympathicotomy were performed in 60 patients suffering from craniofacial hyperhidrosis in the Department of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery in the Respiratory Center of Yongdong Severance Hospital Seoul, Korea. Thirty-nine patients underwent a conventional sympathectomy(T1 sympathectomy group), and twenty-one patients underwent division of the sympathetic nerve trunk above the T2 sympathetic ganglion(T2 sympathicotomy). The median follow up was 9 months. Results: All of the treated patients obtained satisfactory alleviation of craniofacial hyperhidrosis. No recurrence was observed in group T1 sympathectomy whereas one occurred in sympathicotomy. The global rate of compensatory sweating was about the same in both groups ; 76.9% in T1 sympathectomy and 76.2% in T2 sympathicotomy. The rate of embarrassing and disabling compensatory sweating was 38.5% in T1 sympathectomy and 38.1% in T2 sympathicotomy with no significant in the statistic analysis(p> 0.05). No transient Horner's syndrome was observed in group T2 sympathicotomy whereas seven occurred in T1 sympathectomy with improvement in follow-up. Only an overnight hospital stay was required in both group. Conclusions: The video-assist thoracoscopic sympathicotomy is minimally invasive and effective. Video-assisted thoracoscopic T2 sympathicotomy has proven to be effective method and less complicated in treating patients with distressing craniofacial hyperhidrosis and consistent in obtaining the same results as T1 sympathectomy.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.36 no.4
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• pp.297-299
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• 2003

Thoracoscopic syrnpathicotomy is effective in treating not only palmar hyperhidrosis, but, also in treating axillary hyperhidrosis. In previous studies in Korea, sympathicotomy was focused on combinations including the End to 4th sympathetic chains (R2, 3, 4). Using a minimally invasive technique, the results of sympathicotomy of the 4th and 5th chains (R4, 5) of five patients, from February to August, 2002, for axillary hyperhidrosis without osmidrosis, were reviewed. All patients had a successful operation, their profuse sweating ceased. Three patients suffered from some degree of compensatory sweating. Among the three patients, only one patient suffered from moderate compensatory sweating over his back and thighs. Thoracoscopic R4, 5 sympathicotomy offers a very appealing method in the treatment for axillary hyperhidrosis in patients who have profuse axillary sweating.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.30 no.10
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• pp.1177-1181
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• 2001

Objective : Thoracoscopic T2 sympathicotomy had been performed as a simple and effective method in treating palmar hyperhidrosis, but some patients are not satisfied with the result of sympathicotomy due to compensatory hyperhidrosis. Therefore, a more limited T2 sympathicotomy using 2mm endoscope was introduced. We made a comparison between conventional T2 sympathicotomy and limited T2 sympathicotomy on operative results and compensatory hyperhidrosis. Material and Method : From January 1998 to April 2000, 56 patients were treated by video assisted endoscopic thoracic sympathicotomy. Thirty patients of these underwent T2 sympathicotomy(Group A), and the remainders underwent limited T2 sympathicotomy(Group B). The limited T2 sympathicotomy is coagulation of the interganglionic fibers of T2 sympathetic ganglion on T2 rib head. The comparative analysis between two groups was based on the medical records and telephone interview results. Result : All patients were treated for excessive sweating on palms with 2mm endoscopic sympathicotmy. There were no mortalities, life-threatening complications except one recurrent patient who was treated successfully with reoperation( endoscopic sympathicotomy). Compensatory hyperhidrosis was common in group A. An individual satisfactory rate for the operations was higher in group B than in group A. Conclusion : The limited T2 sympathicotomy considered to be a more effective and less complicated method than the T2 sympathicotomy for the treatment of palmar hyperhidrosis.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.50 no.3
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• pp.197-201
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• 2017

Background: Video-assisted thoracoscopic sympathicotomy has been determined to be the best way to treat palmar hyperhidrosis. However, satisfaction with the surgical outcomes decreases with the onset of compensatory hyperhidrosis (CH) over time. The ideal level of sympathicotomy is controversial. Therefore, we compared the long-term results of R3 and R4 sympathicotomy. Methods: We retrospectively reviewed 186 patients who underwent video-assisted thoracoscopic sympathicotomy between September 2001 and September 2015. We analyzed the long-term results with respect to hand sweating and CH, and the overall satisfaction in 186 patients. Results: With respect to hand sweating, significantly more patients complained of overly dry hands in the R3 group (25% versus 3.7%, p<0.001) and of mildly wet hands in the R4 group (2.9% versus 13.4%, p=0.007). There was a significantly increased occurrence rate of CH in the R3 group (97.1% versus 65.9%, p< 0.001). The most frequent site of CH was the trunk area. The overall satisfaction was higher in the R4 group, but without significance (75% versus 85.4%, p=0.082). Significantly more patients reported being very satisfied in the R4 group (5.8% versus 22.0%, p=0.001). Conclusion: T he R4 group had a higher rate of satisfaction than the R3 group with respect to hand sweating. CH and hand dryness were significantly less common in the R4 group than in the R3 group. The lower occurrence of hand dryness and CH resulted in a higher satisfaction rate in the R4 group.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.35 no.3
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• pp.223-226
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• 2002

Background: Thoracoscopic sympathicotomy is an effective treatment in essential hyperhidrosis. However, many patients suffer from compensatory hyperhidrosis. Compensatory hyperhidrosis is a very uncomfortable problem, but the mechanisms underlying compensatory hyperhidrosis are not completely understood. Material and Method: From May 1999 to June 2001, 25 cases of thoracoscopic sympathicotomy at the 2nd rib for facial hyperhidrosis and 116 cases of thoracoscopic sympathicotomy at the 3rd rib for palmar hyperhidrosis were performed in 141 patients. All of the patients were divided into noncompensatory sweating(NCS) and compensatory sweating(CS) group. Each group was investigated according to age, sex, body surface area(BSA), level of sympathicotomy and occupation. Result: The global rate of compensatory hyperhidorsis were 64.5%(91/141). There was no difference between the two groups for BSA, level of sympathicotomy and occupation. Mean age showed 23.2 years old in NCS group and 26.4 years old in CS group(p=0.09). In CS group, 46 cases were male(50.5%) and 45 cases were female(49.5%) and in NCS group, 19 cases were male(38.0%) and 31 cases were female(62.0%) (p=0.16). Conclusion: There were no available statistical data, but there was the fact that old age and male patients had the tendency for compensatory hyperhidrosis. If we have more patient group and consider the patient's family history or psychiatric problems, we will have more valuable data for compensatory hyperhidrosis.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.32 no.5
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• pp.461-464
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• 1999

Background: Thoracoscopic T2 sympathicotomy is an effective method for the treatment of palmar hyperhidrosis. Not only are the symptoms of hyperhidrosis abolished but also the temperature of the ipsilateral palm is elevated due to the sympatholytic vasodilation after the completion of the sympathicotomy on the first side. However little is known about the temperature changes in the contralateral palm. This study was performed to evaluate the changes in both palmar temperatures during the thoracoscopic T2 sympathicotomy for palmar hyperhidrosis. Material and Method: Thoracoscopic T2 sympathicotomy was performed in 15 patients with primary palmar hyperhidrosis. Surface temperatures of both palms were monitored continuously and were recorded simultaneously during the 7 different stages of the operation. Result: When T2 sympathicotomy was performed on the first(left) side, an ipsilateral increase with a contralateral decrease of temperature was observed. The difference in the temperature of both palms was greatest just before the sympathicotomy on the contralateral(right) side(Lt. 34.6$\pm$0.9$^{\circ}C$ vs. Rt. 31.6$\pm$1.3$^{\circ}C$, P<0.0001). After the sympathicotomy on the second(right) side, temperature of the right palm was elevated. The difference in the temperature of both palms was abolished at the end of the operation(Lt.34.7$\pm$0.9$^{\circ}C$ vs. Rt.34.4$\pm$1.$0^{\circ}C$, P=0.415). Conclusion: When T2 sympathicotomy was performed on the first side, an ipsilateral palmar temperature increased due to the sympatholytic vasodilation. However contralateral palmar temperature decreased due to a vasoconstriction. Although the mechanism of vasoconstriction is still unknown, it is postulated that there may be a cross- inhibitory effect by the post-ganglionic neurons innervating blood vessels of the palm.