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 assess the feasibility and safety of ultra-micro 5 mm single-port endoscopic thoracic sympathicotomy in selected patients with primary palmar hyperhidrosis. MethodsFrom March 1, 2018 to February 1, 2021, 90 patients with primary palmar hyperhidrosis who underwent ultra-micro 5 mm single-port endoscopic thoracic sympathicotomy at the Thoracic Surgery Department of the University of Hong Kong-Shenzhen Hospital. There were 47 males and 43 females, with a median age of 26.0 (22.0, 31.0) years. During the operation, T3 and/or T4 thoracic sympathetic nerve chain was transected using an ultra-micro 5 mm single-port incision near the areola or under the axilla. The surgical data of the patients were retrospectively reviewed and analyzed. Results All patients successfully completed the operation without major bleeding during the operation and no conversion to thoracotomy. There was no death or serious complication during the perioperative period. The operation time was 43.0 (23.0, 60.0) min, and the intraoperative blood loss was 2.0 (1.0, 2.0) mL. In the perioperative period, only one patient needed a tiny chest tube indwelling. The symptoms of hyperhidrosis on the hands all disappeared after the operation. The pain score on the postoperative day was 2.0 (2.0, 2.0) points. The hospital stay after surgery was 1.0 (1.0, 1.0) d. In the first month after the operation, the symptoms of hyperhidrosis on the hands were significantly relieved compared with those before the operation. The surgical incisions healed well, the wounds were concealed, and there was no wound infection or poor healing. The patients' satisfaction with the surgical incisions was 100.0%. After the operation, 14 (15.6%) patients had mild compensatory hyperhidrosis, 5 (5.6%) patients had moderate compensatory hyperhidrosis, and no patient had severe compensatory hyperhidrosis. Overall satisfaction rate was 94.0%. Conclusion The clinical application of ultra-micro 5 mmsingle-port endoscopic thoracic sympathicotomy in selected patients with primary palmar hyperhidrosis is safe and feasible. The surgical wound is extremely small and hidden, the operation time is short, the pain is very slight, and the clinical outcome is good. It can fully meet the patients' pursuit of beauty.
Objective To investigate the safety and feasibility of day surgery for patients with palmar hyperhidrosis based on the principles of enhanced recovery after surgery (ERAS). Methods We retrospectively reviewed the medical records of consecutive patients who underwent endoscopic thoracic sympathicotomy (ETS) in the First Affiliated Hospital of Xi'an Jiaotong University from March 2020 to December 2021. Patients were divided into a day surgery group and a conventional group according to their perioperative management methods. The patients in the day surgery group underwent an optimized perioperative procedure under the guidance of ERAS, and were ventilated with a laryngeal or face mask during the operation. The patients in the conventional group completed the preoperative examination, operation and postoperative observation according to the conventional procedures, and were intubated with a single-lumen endotracheal tube. The demographic characteristics, operation time, hospital stay, postoperative complications, and hospitalization cost were compared between the two groups. Results Finally 172 patients were collected, including 90 males and 82 females, with an average age of 25.97±7.43 years. There were 86 patients in each group. All patients ceased suffering from palmar sweating after surgery. No patient experienced massive bleeding or conversion to thoracotomy. There was no statistical difference in operation time between the two groups (P=0.534). Patients in the day surgery group were discharged within 24 hours. The average hospital stay in the conventional group was 2.09±0.41 days. Incidence of postoperative respiratory complications, and the hospitalization cost of the day surgery group were significantly lower than those of the conventional group (P＜0.001). The satisfaction rate in both groups was greater than 95%. Conclusion Day surgery for patients with palmar hyperhidrosis based on the principles of ERAS is safe and feasible, which can reduce postoperative complications, shorten the length of hospital stay and save the cost of hospitalization.
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.