SUBJECTS AND METHODS

A retrospective analysis of all thoracoscopic sympathectomies performed in a district general hospital over a five year period was undertaken. A postal questionnaire was sent to all the patients to assess the benefit from the operation, intensity and duration of postoperative pain, wound problems, postoperative excessive sweating on chest, back, and face, and absence from work.

Surgical technique

The procedure was performed under general anaesthesia using a double lumen endotracheal tube.^15,16 The patient was placed in the supine position with both arms abducted to 90 degrees. An artificial pneumothorax was established by insufflating 0.5 to 1 litre of carbon dioxide through a Veress needle in the fourth intercostal space anterior to the midaxillary line, having first disconnected the ipsilateral portion of the endotracheal tube from the ventilator. A small incision was made in the fourth intercostal space in the anterior axillary line and a zero degree laparoscope was introduced through a 10 mm port. A second 10 mm port was also introduced in the same intercostal space in midaxillary line to allow passage of insulated diathermy forceps. The sympathetic chain was visualised under the parietal pleura running down over the necks of second, third, fourth, and fifth ribs. Coagulation diathermy current is applied to the second, third, and fourth ganglia and intervening sympathetic chain.

RESULTS

A total of 40 thoracic sympathectomies were conducted over the five year period in 26 patients. There were 12 bilateral procedures, 14 unilateral procedures, and two redo procedures. There were nine male and 17 female patients. The mean age of the patients was 30.3 years (range 15–41 years). The indication for operation is shown in table 1. Immediate failure of operation was noted in three patients (7%) and two of them later underwent successful reoperation within three months. The mean length of stay in the hospital was 2.01 days (range 1–6 days). The mean duration of the operation was 43.78 minutes (range 20–72 minutes). Postoperatively one quarter of patients had residual pneumothorax, which did not require drainage (table 2). Haemothorax was minimal and did not need draining. One patient developed pleural effusion, which needed readmission and drainage. In one patient with Raynaud’s phenomenon, the ulcer on the fingertip healed after the sympathectomy. One of the patients, who underwent surgery for excessive facial blushing, complained of lack of facial sweating on the operated side.

Twenty three of the 26 patients (88%) responded to the postal questionnaire. About half (52%) of the patients suffered severe postoperative pain for three or more days. The major long term morbidity was excessive sweating on the back, chest, and thigh (77%) along with gustatory sweating over the face (table 3). Time off work varied from two to four weeks. About 65% patients were happy with the results of operation and the benefits lasted for more than six months. The mean (SD) follow up time was 29.08 (21.58) months (95% confidence interval 20.07 to 38.09 months, range 2–65 months). Of the 36 procedures conducted for hyperhidrosis, three (8%) patients had recurrence of symptoms. One patient had recurrence within a month of surgery and the other two had benefit for two years.

DISCUSSION

The aetiology of primary hyperhidrosis still remains elusive. It is more common in young women, some of whom suffer severe and obvious dripping of the hands. This has an impact on various aspects of life including education, occupation, social interaction, and psychological problems.

Non-operative management, including topical agents, has proved disappointing.³ Thoracic sympathectomy is now an established treatment for palmar hyperhidrosis. With the introduction of high resolution videoendoscopy and closed rod-lens instrumentation, endoscopic thoracic sympathectomy has become the treatment of choice compared with the open procedure.^13,14 The endoscopic technique is associated with less postoperative morbidity and better cosmetic scarring when compared with open procedure.¹¹

Upper dorsal sympathectomy reduces the peripheral vascular resistance, hence increasing the blood flow in the peripheral vasculature. The thoracoscopic approach enables clear delineation of the sympathetic chain and the ganglia including the collateral branches (Kuntz’s nerves). Better visualisation of the stellate ganglion and its preservation may avoid the sequel of Horner’s syndrome. In our series we had a 5% incidence of postoperative Horner’s syndrome. This probably reflects our technique of applying coagulatory diathermy to the second ganglion downwards. Furthermore, T2 sympathectomy results in reduction of facial sudomotor activity. The innervation of head and neck region is T1 to T5, while that of the upper extremities is from T2 to T4. Drott et al recommended ablation of T2 and T3 sympathetic ganglia in the treatment of palmar hyperhidrosis, T4 ablation in axillary hyperhidrosis, and ablation of lower part of T1 to treat facial involvement.¹⁷

With mean length of operation comparing favourably with other reported series,^11,14 the mean length of stay in hospital in our series was similar to the average stay reported in the literature.^18–20 Immediate postoperative complications included pneumothorax, haemothorax, and Horner’s syndrome. These compare favourably with other reported series.^{11–12,18,19,21} The majority of our patients complained of pain in the postoperative period lasting for more than three days. Gossot et al reported that most of their patients complained of pain in the postoperative period ranging from two to four weeks, many of whom needed morphine.¹⁹ Kopelman et al reported neuralgic pains lasting up to few months with a mean (SD) duration of 2.8 (1.9) months.¹⁴

Though endoscopic thoracic sympathectomy is quick and effective, it is associated at times with very troublesome sequelae. Paradoxically, the operation, which was performed for relief of palmar hyperhidrosis, is followed by a remarkable compensatory hyperhidrosis. The reported incidence in the literature varies from 37% to 84%.^{11–12,19,21–23} According to Shelley et al its frequency reflects the extensiveness of the denervation.²⁴ The larger the number of glands removed from thermoregulatory control, the greater the response that one can anticipate from the remaining glands. In our series 20 patients (77%) complained of postoperative hyperhidrosis. Gustatory phenomenon after sympathectomy has been reported widely^18,19,22,23; in our series five patients reported sweating over the face while eating.

The result of this postal audit has provided useful data about the possible postoperative problems. This has enabled us to improve the information given to the patients preoperatively. As the operation is intended to improve quality of life, the patients should be aware of possible postoperative sequelae. This can used as a baseline for a detailed consent form. It can also be used as a screening test to determine which patients are sufficiently motivated to undergo surgery, as well as to avoid possible medicolegal problems in future.

The vast majority of the patients who undergo sympathectomy for hyperhidrosis are pleased with the results. Careful patient selection and preoperative counselling are important to ensure a satisfactory outcome. In patients with Raynaud’s phenomenon and excessive facial blushing, thoracic sympathectomy is equally beneficial.