This guideline systematically reviewed and summarized the 20 years' clinical and basic research experience of minimally invasive treatment of palmar hyperhidrosis (PH) in China, and discussed the hot and difficult issues of minimally invasive treatment of PH. We have formed a new consensus of PH in terms of its definition, clinical manifestations, diagnostic criteria and classification, surgical indications and contraindications, surgical procedures and management of complications, especially in the area of postoperative compensatory hyperhidrosis (CH). This guideline confirmed that endoscopic thoracic sympathicotomy (ETS) was the most effective treatment for PH and that CH was the most common side effect. In order to reduce the incidence of CH, eliminate patient's distress and improve patient's satisfaction, the guideline emphasized that the keys to prevent CH were to pay attention to pre-operative interview, communicate with patients, select patients carefully, avoid the enlargement of operative indication and optimize operative procedure. This guideline also introduced the advantages and disadvantages of various methods to reduce the incidence of CH. We provided this authoritative guidance document in order to avoid the surgical risk, strengthen the perioperative management and improve the sugery effect.
ObjectiveTo evaluate the quality of life (QOL) in patients with primary palmar hyperhidrosis (PPH) after endoscopic thoracic sympathicotomy (ETS) and analyze the influencing factors. MethodsA total of 243 patients (118 males and 125 females, with an average age of 21.99±6.31 years) with PPH who were successfully treated with ETS (only T3 level thoracic sympathicotomy) in our hospital from January 2017 to January 2018 were enrolled, and the World Health Organization Quality of Life Scale Brief Version (WHOQOL-BREF) was used to assess the QOL scores before and after ETS. By establishing a linear regression model of gender, age, body mass index, compensatory hyperhidrosis (CH) and palm dryness, and the relationship between the changes of the QOL scores and various factors was studied. ResultsThe total QOL score after surgery was higher than that before surgery (63.01±4.58 vs. 48.11±1.95, P<0.05). Compared with the negative group of CH, the QOL score decreased by 4.662 in the postoperative CH patients. For every grade of CH severity increasing, the QOL score decreased by 3.449. Compared with the negative group, the QOL scores decreased by 1.804 and 2.400 respectively for every grade of CH severity increasing in the patients with postoperative chest and back CH. ConclusionETS can not only improve the symptoms of abnormal palmar hyperhidrosis, but also significantly improve the QOL. Severe chest and back CH is an important factor affecting the QOL of patients.
ObjectiveTo compare the short- and long-term effects of R4 versus R3+R4 endoscopic thoracic sympathicotomy (ETS) for acrohyperhidrosis. MethodsWe retrospectively analyzed the clinical data of patients with acrohyperhidrosis admitted to the Department of Thoracic Surgery of Gansu Provincial Hospital for surgical treatment from April 2014 to April 2021. The patients were divided into two groups according to the methods of ETS, including a R4 group and a R3+R4 group. Perioperative clinical data and postoperative follow-up data were collected to compare the short- and long-term outcomes of the two groups. ResultsA total of 155 eligible patients were included. There were 60 patients in the R4 group, including 23 males and 37 females, with a mean age of 22.55±2.74 years. There were 95 patients in the R3+R4 group, including 40 males and 55 females, with a mean age of 23.14±3.65 years. There were no statistical differences between the two groups in terms of baseline indicators such as gender, age and positive family history (P>0.05). Total operative time was 38.67±5.20 min in the R4 group and 40.05±5.18 min in the R3+R4 group; intraoperative bleeding was 7.25±3.25 mL in the R4 group and 7.95±3.90 mL in the R3+R4 group; postoperative hospital stay was 1.28±0.52 d in the R4 group and 1.38±0.57 d in the R3+R4 group, the differences between the two groups in the above indicators were not statistically significant (P>0.05). Postoperative hand hyperhidrosis symptoms were significantly relieved in both groups, and the complete remission rate was better in the R3+R4 group than that in the R4 group (98.0% vs. 93.3%), but the difference was not statistically significant (P=0.358). The R3+R4 group was superior to the R4 group in terms of the relief of plantar hyperhidrosis symptoms, patient satisfaction and quality of life index at 6 months postoperatively (P<0.05). There was no statistical difference in the overall incidence of compensatory hyperhidrosis at 12 months postoperatively between the two groups (P=0.867), but the incidence of compensatory hyperhidrosis was higher in the R3+R4 group than that in the R4 group (72.6% vs. 70.0%). ConclusionThe perioperative outcomes of R4 and R3+R4 ETS are similar, but R3+R4 ETS has a higher rate of symptomatic relief of acrohyperhidrosis, and patients have a better postoperative quality of life. R3+R4 ETS is a reliable option for the treatment of acrohyperhidrosis. However, patients need to be informed that this procedure may increase the risk of compensatory hyperhidrosis.
Compensatory hyperhidrosis (CH) is a severe side effect that occurs after endoscopic thoracic sympathotomy (ETS) for the treatment of palmar hyperhidrosis. CH significantly interferes with daily activities such as work, study, and social interactions, leading to a substantial decrease in the quality of life for patients. Preventing and treating CH are currently important and challenging issues in minimally invasive surgery for palmar hyperhidrosis. In this report, we presented a 29-year-old male patient who experienced severe CH for 8 years following ETS. The patient underwent staged unilateral endoscopic expanded sympathotomy (ES) at our hospital on December 11, 2023 and January 3, 2024, targeting the R4-R10 levels. After a 3-month follow-up, the patient experienced significant improvement in clinical symptoms and quality of life, with no recurrence of palmar hyperhidrosis or other complications. The treatment outcome was satisfactory.