Hyperhidrosis, Hyperhidrosis Surgery, Sweating Treatment: Dr. Jho's Endoscopic Thoracic Sympathectomy

Hyperhidrosis, Hyperhidrosis Surgery, Sweating Treatment: Dr. Jho's Endoscopic Thoracic Sympathectomy

Endoscopic T2 an T3 Sympathectomy

Professor & Chair, Department of Neuroendoscopy

Jho Institute for Minimally Invasive Neurosurgery

Dr. Jho's endoscopic T2 and T3 sympathectomy

A small skin incision is made near the armpit area (axilla). One or two 5-mm trocars are placed into the chest cavity. Through these trocars, the T2 and T3 sympathetic ganglions are excised under direct endoscopic visualization. The use of a chest drain is not necessary postoperatively. Postoperative discomfort is minimal.

Overview

Hyperhidrosis palmaris et facialis is in a western society a relatively uncommon condition that consists of excessive sweating in the hands, face, armpits, and feet. However, it is a common codition for east-asian ethnic groups. Excessive sweating can occur in particular parts of the body or throughout the entire body. The most common symptoms are excessive cold sweating, difficulty in wearing make-up, difficulty in the use of the hands (especially during typing or writing), and difficulty in socializing due to these symptoms. Particularly, young adults with this disorder often encounter frustrations in their social life.

Treatments consist of medical treatment with sympathetic blocking agents or surgical treatment. Surgical treatment consists of thoracic sympathectomy. Sweating is controlled by the sympathetic nervous system. Overactivity of the sympathetic nervous system produces excessive sweating and coldness of the hands from the shrinkage of blood vessels. The control center for excessive sweating of the face, hands and armpits is the second (T2) and third thoracic (T3) sympathetic ganglion. Therefore, surgical treatment focuses on removal of the T2 and T3 sympathetic ganglion.

Although it can be performed via various techniques, an endoscopic transthoracic technique is one of the best surgical techniques. The endoscopic transthoracic technique utilizes a 4-mm endoscope via a small skin incision near an armpit while the patient is under general anesthesia. Surgical risk is minimal and often only requires an overnight hospital stay. Although it can be performed as a outpatient basis, overnight observation has been adopted with one night hospital stay. The operation itself takes 10 to 20 minutes for one side. Once one side surgery is finished, the other side surgery will be proceeded. The procedure is generally designed to effectively reduce symptoms in the face, hands, and the body above the nipple line. Patients may experience compensatory excessive sweating below the upper chest postoperatively. However, approximately 40% of patients may experience the effective reduction of sweating in their feet as well.

Note that endoscopic transthoracic sympathetomy can also be performed for disease conditions such as reflex sympathetic dystrophy, causalgia, Raynaud syndrome, etc.

For referral information or appointment for consultation contact:

Practice Manager: Robin A. Coret

e-mail : Drjho@ahn.org

Tel : (412) 359-6110

Fax : (412) 359-8339

Address : JHO Institute for Minimally Invasive Neurosurgery

Department of Neuroendoscopy

Sixth Floor, South Tower

Allegheny General Hospital

320 East North Avenue

Pittsburgh, PA 15212-4772

Dr. Jho via e-mail Drjho@ahn.org