• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.32 no.2
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• pp.171-174
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• 1999

Background: Hyperhidrosis of the palms, axillae and face has a strong negative impact on social and professional life. The present existing non-operative therapeutic options seldom give sufficient relief and have a transient effect. A definitive cure can be obtained by upper thoracic sympathectomy. However, this is offset by the occurrence of a high rate of side effects, such as embarrassing compensatory sweating. Material and Method: From Sep. 1997 to Feb. 1998, 89 cases of the needle(2 mm) thoracoscopic thoracic sympathicotomy were performed. The second thoracic ganglion was resected by cutting with a endoscissors. Result: A bilateral procedure takes less than 25 min and requires just one night in hospital. There have been no mortality or life-threatening complications. One patient(<2%) required intercostal drainage because of pneumothorax. Primary failure occurred in one cases(<2%) and recurrent hyperhidrosis occurred in no cases. The patients with failure was successfully re-sympathicotomy. At the end of postoperative follow-up(median 3 months), 96.6% of the patients were satisfied. Compensatory sweating occurred in 57 cases(64.0%) with fourteen of those cases classified as either embarrassing in 10 cases(11.2%) or disabling in 4 cases(4.5%). Conclusion: Endoscopic transthoracic sympathicotomy is an efficient, safe and minimally invasive surgical method for the treatment of palmar and craniofacial 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.

• The Korean Journal of Pain
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• v.14 no.1
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• pp.56-60
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• 2001

Background: Conventional thoracoscopic sympathectomy or sympathicotomy is an effective method in treating localized hyperhidrosis; however, this may result in a postoperatively compensatory hyperhidrosis or facial anhidrosis in the treatment of palmar hyperhidrosis. We modified the conventional sympathicotomy by limiting the extent of nerve transection (limited T3 sympathicotomy) since May 1998. However, there are many reports of a good short-term outcome of limited T3 sympathicotomy. Therefore, we reviewed long-term follow-up of limited T3 sympathicotomy based on outcomes analysis using a questionnaire. Methods: Fifty four patients with palmar hyperhidrosis underwent a limited T3 sympathicotomy between May 1998 and March 1999 and had a complete follow-up over two years using a questionnaire (the mean follow-up was 2.6 years). The patients' postoperative satisfaction was determined by their subjective responses to the questionnaires; the degree of compensatory hyperhidrosis, the effects on foot hyperhidrosis, gustatory hyperhidrosis and facial dryness, and recurrence, and patient's satisfaction. Results: Of the total, 87% of patients had a compensatory hyperhidrosis and 3.7% of them were disabled. 31.5% of patients showed improvement in foot hyperhidrosis, while 68.5% of patients demonstrated no change or got worse. 31.5% of patients had gustatory hyperhidrosis and facial dryness and 22.2% of patients showed a mild palmar hyperhidrosis. The postoperative patients' satisfaction was significantly in 96.3% of patients. Conclusions: The limited T3 sympathicotomy is a highly effective treatment of palmar hyperhidrosis and has a low rate of postoperative compensatory hyperhidrosis, gustatory hyperhidrosis, and facial dryness.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.41 no.3
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• pp.343-346
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• 2008

Background: Thoracoscpic sympathicotomy is an effective treatment for essential hyperhidrosis. Patients are generally satisfied with the surgery at the early post operative period, but they suffer from recurrence and compensatory sweating at the late post operative period. There are many sympathicotomy methods for minimizing recurrence and the compensatory sweating. We compared the outcome from between the R3 and R4 sympathicotomy methods for the symptoms, atisfaction, recurrence and compensatory sweating. Material and Method: From January 1999 to July 2007, 39 cases of thoracoscopic sympathicotomy at the 3rd rib (R3) and 72 cases of thoracoscopic sympathicotomy at the 4th rib (R4) for treating palmar hyperhidrosis were compared for the early and late satisfaction, the compensatory sweating and recurrence. Result: There is no difference of gender and age for the 2 groups. Early satisfaction was reported by 94.9% of the R3 patients and by 98.7% of the R4 patients. 84.6% of the R3 patients reported late satisfaction and 87.5% of the R4 patients reported late satisfaction. There were no significant differences between the groups for the early and late satisfaction. But there was a difference between the groups for compensatory sweating (23.1% in the R3 group and 9.7% in the R4 group (p=0.020)). The reoperation rate due to recurrence was 5.1% in the R3 group and 4.2% in the R4 group. There was no significant difference between the groups for recurrence. Conclusion: R4 sympathicotomy has excellent therapeutic results for compensatory sweating as compared to R3 sympathicotomy for treating palmar hyperhidrosis.

• 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.32 no.2
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• pp.175-180
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• 1999

Background: Since 1992, we developed the technique for video endoscopic sympathectomy to treat palmar hyperhidrosis. It was soon proven to be a simple and effective therapy for essential hyperhidrosis. Compensatory hyperhidrosis, however, is the main cause of patient dissatisfaction after video-assisted thoracoscopic sympathectomy. According to many authors, initial satisfaction rate was high(94-98%), but it was declined with time (66%) due to mainly to embarrassing side effects. Material and Method: From January 1992 to February 1998, the thoracoscopic T2 sympathicotomy, T2 sympathectomy and T2-4 sympathectomy were performed in 315 patients suffering from Essential hyperhidrosis in the Department of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery in the Respiratory Center of Yongdong Severance Hospital Seoul, Korea. Eighty-nine patients underwent T2 sympathicotomy, and Eighty-eight patients underwent division T2 sympathectomy. Result: All of the treated patients obtained satisfactory alleviation of essential hyperhidrosis. The global rate of compensatory sweating were ; 64.0% in T2 sympathicotomy, 73.8% in T2 sympathectomy and 87.8% in T2-4 sympathectomy. The rate of embarrassing or disabling compensatory sweating was significantly higher in T2 sympathicotomy 15.7%(14/89) and in T2 sympathectomy 32.8%(28/88) than in T2-4 sympathectomy 58.0%(80/138) with significancy in statistic analysis(p<0.05). Video- assisted thoracoscopic sympathectomy is an effective minimally invasive and effective procedure. Conclusion: We suggest that the incidence and degree of compensatory hyperhidrosis was closely related to the extent of thoracic sympathectomy.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.37 no.7
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• pp.591-596
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• 2004

Recently, thoracic sympathicotomy for craniofacial hyperhidrosis (FH) is increasingly avoided contrast to palmar hyperhidrosis. We recently demonstrated that selective T2 sympathicotomy for FH in woman might be recommended because of differences of the postoperative satisfaction between man and woman. Therefore, this study was designed to analyze the postoperative long term results, evaluate the effectiveness of T2 sympathicotomy and establish the new strategy in treatment of FH in woman. Material and Method: From May 1998 to July 2001, 27 cases of FH in woman that were performed T2 sympathicotomy and minimum 2 years have passed since then at the follow up period. Among them, 20 cases were evaluated by telephone review and medical record. Bilateral sympathetic trunks were severed on the 2nd rib with 2mm thoracoscopic instruments. 7 patients combined with gustatory sweating (GS). Ages ranged from 25 to 62 (mean age, 46.4 years). Result: All patients were relieved of symptom immediately after operation. At postoperative 1 week, all patients were satisfied: 15 patients, “very satisfaction” and 5 patients, “relatively satisfaction”. However, during long term follow up period (from 25 to 63 months postoperatively), 9 patients (45%) were relatively satisfied, 8 patients (40%) complained that there was no difference of postoperative satisfaction and 3 patients (15%) complained of non satisfactory results (regret for surgery). 16 patients (80%) had complaint of uncomfortable feeling because of postoperative GS. Some degree of compensatory sweating (CS) had occurred in all patients: severe 10 patients (50%), severe but acceptable 6 patients (30%), and just conventional 4 patients (20%). The sites of CS were trunk, back, axilla and extremities. Conclusion: Thoracoscopic T2 sympathicotomy is relatively considerable method for FH in woman and the postoperative satisfaction depends on GS and the degree of individual adaptation for CS. Therefore, it is required that the prediction of preoperative risk factors for GS and CS and then careful selection of patients to increase the postoperative satisfaction, and the development of acceptable new treatment modalities.

• The Korean Journal of Pain
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• v.14 no.2
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• pp.181-185
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• 2001

Background: Bradycardia frequently occurs in intravenous anesthesia with propofol. Additionally, the thoracic sympathetic nerves influence the heart so that the heart rate (HR) and blood pressure are expected to decrease due to this procedure. Therefore, we measured changes in HR, mean arterial pressure (MAP) and both thumb temperatures before and after thoracic sympathicotomy under total intravenous anesthesia with propofol. Methods: The subjects included 21 outpatients of ASA class I who received thoracoscopic thoracic sympathicotomy under total intravenous anesthesia. Anesthesia was induced with propofol (2 mg/kg) and vecuronium (0.1 mg/kg) and maintained with propofol-fentanyl-oxygen (100%). The surgical procedure was performed at the T3 level in the order of left sympathicotomy (LST) and right sympathicotomy (RST). Measurements of HR, MAP and both thumb temperatures were taken before induction of anesthesia, before and after LST and RST, and 1 hour after the completion of anesthesia. Additionally, the time to the beginning of a rise in temperature in both thumbs after sympathicotomy was recorded. Results: HR did not show any significant difference before or after sympathicotomy, however it decreased at 1 hour after the completion of anesthesia. MAP decreased after LST and decreased further after RST. Left thumb temperature began to increase at $45.8{\pm}10.7$ seconds after LST. Right thumb temperature initially decreased after LST and increased from $45.2{\pm}11.8$ seconds after RST. Subsequently, both increased temperatures were maintained at 1 hour after the completion of anesthesia. Conclusions: Although HR and MAP decreased, there were no severe hemodynamic changes. An increase in the thumb temperature was confirmed within 1 minute after sympathicotomy on the same side.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.38 no.8 s.253
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• pp.570-575
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• 2005

Background: Video-assisted thoracic sympathicotomy plays an important role as an effective method for the treatment of axillary hyperhidrosis. People with axillary hyperhidrosis were not satisfied by the occurrence of the high rate of disabling compensatory hyperhidrosis and axillary resweating. Therefore, by comparing and assessing the clincal results according to the level and extent of sympathicotomy in axillary hyperhidrosis, we aim to determine which method will result in maximal benefits. Material and Method: Among 70 patients suffering from axillary hyperhidrosis having undergone thoracoscopic sympathicotomy from January 2001 through December 2003, 57 patients who responded to either telephone interview or questionnaire were included in the current study. The patients were divided into two groups, Group 1 (n=25): patients having undergone R3, 4, 5 sympathicotomy which consist of blocking the interganglionic neural fiber on the third, fourth, and fifth rib, Group 11 (n=32): patients having undergone R3,4 sympathicotomy which consist of blocking the interganglionic neural fiber on the third and fourth rib. The study parameters were satisfaction rate and degree of compensatory sweating. Result: There was no difference on age and sex, family history, combined hyperhidrosis, and mean follow up month between the two groups. Patients expressing satisfaction were $88.0\%$ in group and $56.3\%$ in groups 11 with statistically significant difference (p=0.02). Moderate to severe compensatory sweating were $52.0\%$ (embrassing 6 patients, disabling 7 patients) in group 1 and $62.5\%$ (embrassing 5 patients, disabling 15 patients) in groups 11 with no significance in the statistical analysis. Conclusion: R3, 4, 5 sympathicotomy was an effective means of treating axillary hyperhidrosis because of higher long term satisfaction rate.

• 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.