Compensatory Hyperhidrosis after Thoracoscopic Sympathectomy in Essential Hyperhidrosis

Seo, Eui Kyo; Cho, Yong Eun; Yoon, Do Heum; Kim, Young Soo

Abstract

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.