Pitfalls and complication avoidance associated with transthoracic endoscopic sympathectomy for primary hyperhidrosis (analysis of 2200 cases).

BACKGROUND: Transthoracic endoscopic sympathectomy (TES) has been already a standard method for the treatment of primary hyperhidrosis. There are rare reports about possibly encountered problems during TES. Therefore, we present our experience in treating palmar and axillary hyperhidrosis and discuss the resoluble methods of potential problems during and after TES. PATIENTS AND METHODS: From June 1994 to October 1999, there were 2200 patients with palmar or axillary hyperhidrosis underwent TES. There are 926 males and 1274 females. Their mean age was 23.4 years old (range: 5-65). All except 12 patients were placed in half-sitting position under single or double-lumen intubation anesthesia. Either a 6-mm or 8-mm, 0degrees thoracoscope, (Karl Storz, Germany) was used to perform sympathectomy thru 0.8 cm incisions below each axilla. Ablation of T2 ganglion was performed in treating patients with palmar hyperhidrosis. Ablation of T3 and T4 ganglia was performed for patients with axillary hyperhidrosis. All except 22 patients were discharged 4 hours after TES, and returned to their activities within one week. RESULT: Successful sympathectomy were achieved up to 2178 patients (99%), but the rates of incidental unusual findings and possibly encountered problems during TES were 5.6% and 7.1% alternatively. Surgical complications included pneumothorax (10 patients, 0.45%), Hemothorax (2 patients, 0.09%) segmental atelectasis (12 patients, 0.55%), mild wound infection (3 patients, 0.14%) and compensatory sweating (1936 patients, 88%). There was no surgical mortality case. But pleural adhesion (54 patients, 2.45%), repeat sympathectomy (27 patients, 1.23%), obscured upper sympathetic trunk by adipose tissue (22 patients, 1%), medially located sympathetic trunk (18 patients, 0.81%), great vessels overriding or close to the sympathetic trunk (15 patients, 0.68%), aberrant vessels (3 patients, 0.14%), transient bradycardia (3 patients, 0.14%) and re-expansion pulmonary edema (1 patient, 0.05%) might occur during TES.
CONCLUSION: Potential complications may happen during and after TES. But nearly all endoscopic sympathectomy could be achieved if surgeons acknowledge possible anatomic variation and has ability to overcome pleural adhesions.