T2 Sympathicotomy for Facial Hyperhidrosis

Sung, Sook Whan; Kim, Tae Hun

Abstract

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+/-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.