Acute Carpal Tunnel Syndrome due to Persistent Median Artery thrombosis: Case report / Síndrome do túnel do carpo aguda por trombose da artéria mediana: Relato de caso

Abstract Carpal tunnel syndrome is the most common compressive neuropathy of the upper limb, affecting ~ 4% of the general population. The clinical picture is characterized by pain and, mainly, paresthesia in the median nerve territory, of insidious onset and, in the most severe cases, loss of strength and atrophy of the thenar musculature is observed. It is an extremely common pathology in the daily practice of hand surgery, and in most cases, it can be treated with conservative methods. We present here an atypical case of carpal tunnel syndrome, of acute onset, triggered by persistent median artery (PMA) thrombosis, condition associated with distal embolization and hypoper-fusion of the limb.

Resumo A síndrome do túnel do carpo é a neuropatia compressiva mais comum do membro superior, afetando ~ 4% da população geral. O quadro clínico caracteriza-se por dor e, principalmente, parestesia no território do nervo mediano, de início insidioso e, nos casos mais graves, observa-se perda de força e atrofia da musculatura tenar. Trata-se de patologia extremamente comum na prática diária de cirurgia da mão, e na maior parte dos casos pode ser tratada com métodos conservadores. Apresentamos aqui um caso atípico de síndrome do túnel do carpo, de surgimento agudo, desencadeado pela trombose da artéria mediana persistente, quadro associado com embolização distal e hipoperfusão do membro.

Randomized trial of radiofrequency ablation versus conventional surgery for superficial venous insufficiency: if you don't tell, they won't know

OBJECTIVES: This study compared radiofrequency ablation versus conventional surgery in patients who had not undergone previous treatment for bilateral great saphenous vein insufficiency, with each patient serving as his own control. METHOD: This was a randomized controlled trial that included 18 patients and was carried out between November 2013 and May 2015. Each of the lower limbs of each patient was randomly assigned to undergo either radiofrequency ablation or conventional surgery. Clinical features (hyperpigmentation, hematoma, aesthetics, pain, skin burn, nerve injury, and thrombophlebitis) were evaluated at one week, one month, and six months postoperatively. Hemodynamic assessments (presence of resection or occlusion of the great saphenous vein and recurrent reflux in the sapheno-femoral junction and in the great saphenous vein) were performed at one month, six months, and 12 months postoperatively. The independent observer (a physician not involved in the original operation), patient, and duplex ultrasonographer were not made aware of the treatment done in each case. Clinicaltrials.gov: NCT02588911. RESULTS: Among the clinical variables analyzed, only the aesthetic evaluation by the physicians was significant, with radiofrequency ablation being considered better than conventional surgery (average, 0.91 points higher: standard deviation: 0.31; 95% confidence interval: -1.51, -0.30; p=0.003). However, in our study, we observed primary success rates of 80% for radiofrequency ablation and 100% for conventional surgery. CONCLUSIONS: If the physician is not required to inform the patient as to the technique being performed, the patient will not be able to identify the technique based on the signs and symptoms. Our study revealed that both techniques led to high levels of patient satisfaction, but our results favor the choice of conventional surgery over radiofrequency ablation, as patients who underwent conventional surgery had better hemodynamic assessments.

Is age group a predictive factor for satisfaction among patients undergoing sympathectomy to treat hyperhidrosis? / A idade é um fator preditivo de satisfação entre pacientes submetidos à simpatectomia para o tratamento da hiper-hidrose?

OBJECTIVE: Video-assisted thoracic sympathectomy is currently the procedure of choice for the definitive treatment of primary hyperhidrosis, because it is an effective, safe, and minimally invasive method. In the search for better quality of life indexes, all researchers look for predictive factors indicating better surgical outcomes. Failure in the primary treatment, postoperative compensatory hyperhidrosis, body mass index over 25, level of resection of the sympathetic chain, and extent of resection are some of the factors that may negatively influence the results. The objective of this study was to compare, according to the age group, the quality of life after bilateral thoracic sympathectomy for treatment of primary hyperhidrosis in a cohort of 1,644 patients. METHODS: From February 2000 to October 2008, data were collected from 1,644 patients with palmar (71 percent) or axillary (29 percent) hyperhidrosis who underwent video-assisted thoracic sympathectomy. The patients were divided into three groups according to their ages. The first group consisted of patients up to 17 years-old, the second from 18 to 30 years-old, and the third of over 30 years-old. All patients had a body mass index of less than 25. RESULTS: In the evaluation 30 days after surgery, improvement of the quality of life in the three groups was observed. There was no significant difference between the age groups. In the present study, 91.9 percent of the patients presented compensatory hyperhidrosis, with no difference between the age groups. CONCLUSIONS: Patients with primary hyperhidrosis experience quality of life improvement after thoracic sympathectomy regardless of their age.

OBJETIVO: A simpatectomia torácica por videotoracoscopia é atualmente o procedimento de escolha para o tratamento definitivo da hiper-hidrose palmar, pois é um método eficaz, seguro e minimamente invasivo. Na busca de melhores índices de qualidade de vida, os pesquisadores procuram por fatores preditivos de bom resultado cirúrgico. A falência do tratamento inicial, a hiper-hidrose compensatória, o índice de massa corpóreo acima de 25, o nível de ressecção ganglionar e a extensão da ressecção são alguns dos fatores que podem influenciar negativamente os resultados. O objetivo deste estudo foi comparar a qualidade de vida dos pacientes submetidos à simpatectomia torácica, de acordo com a faixa etária, numa coorte com 1.644 pacientes. MÉTODOS: De fevereiro de 2000 a outubro de 2008, foram colhidos dados de 1.644 pacientes portadores de hiper-hidrose palmar (71 por cento) ou axilar (29 por cento), submetidos à simpatectomia torácica por videotoracoscopia. Os pacientes foram divididos em três grupos de acordo com a idade. O primeiro grupo foi de pacientes com até 17 anos, o segundo de 18 a 30 anos, e o terceiro com pacientes com mais de 30 anos de idade. Todos os pacientes tinham índice de massa corpóreo menor que 25. RESULTADOS: Numa avaliação 30 dias após o procedimento, a melhora da qualidade de vida foi obtida nos três grupos. Não houve diferença estatística entre as diferentes faixas etárias. Neste estudo, 91,9 por cento dos pacientes apresentaram algum grau de hiper-hidrose compensatória, novamente sem diferença entre os grupos. CONCLUSÕES: Pacientes portadores de hiper-hidrose primária apresentam melhora da qualidade de vida após o procedimento cirúrgico independentemente de sua idade.

Comparação dos resultados obtidos no tratamento da hiperidrose axilar pela simpatectomia torácica videotoracoscópica nos níveis de desnervação: T3-T4 versus T4 / Comparison of results obtained in the treatment of axillary hyperhidrosis using video-assisted thoracic sympathectomy at denervation levels T3-T4 versus T4

INTRODUÇÃO: O nível ótimo de simpatectomia para a hiperidrose axilar seria aquele que resultasse no tratamento definitivo da hiperidrose, associado à mínima intensidade de hiperidrose compensatória. OBJETIVO: Comparar duas técnicas cirúrgicas (níveis de desnervação) de simpatectomia por videotoracoscopia para o tratamento da hiperidrose axilar em um período de 12 meses. MÉTODO: De janeiro de 2004 a julho de 2007, foram seguidos 64 pacientes portadores de hiperidrose axilar randomizados para a simpatectomia por videotoracoscopia nos níveis dos gânglios T3-T4 ou T4. O acompanhamento ocorreu pelo período de 12 meses avaliando-se: a resolução da hiperidrose axilar; a incidência e intensidade da hiperidrose compensatória; sua evolução durante o estudo; e a qualidade de vida dos pacientes. RESULTADOS: Todos os pacientes apresentaram resolução da hiperidrose axilar. Não houve falhas terapêuticas. Após 12 meses, 57,6% dos pacientes do grupo T4 e 6,5% dos pacientes de T3-T4 apresentavam-se sem hiperidrose compensatória (p<0,001). Os pacientes do grupo T4 que apresentaram hiperidrose compensatória mostraram menor intensidade que os do grupo T3-T4, não sendo observada HC intensa (p<0,001). Verificou-se melhora da qualidade de vida desde a primeira avaliação, sendo que no grupo T4 esta se mostrou maior que no grupo T3-T4 a partir de seis meses de seguimento (p=0,002). CONCLUSÕES: Ambas as técnicas são efetivas para tratar a hiperidrose axilar. A complicação mais frequente foi a hiperidrose compensatória, que, cronologicamente, apresentou-se estável durante o estudo. A simpatectomia no nível T4 apresentou menor intensidade de HC, com melhora da qualidade de vida ao longo do seguimento.

INTRODUCTION: The optimum level of sympathectomy for axillary hyperhidrosis is one that would result in a definitive treatment of hyperhidrosis, associated with a lower severity of compensatory hyperhidrosis. OBJECTIVE: To compare two surgical techniques (denervation levels) of sympathectomy with video-assisted thoracic sympathectomy to treat axillary hyperhidrosis in a period of 12 months. METHODS: From January 2004 to July 2007, 64 patients with axillary hyperhidrosis were randomized for videoassisted thoracic sympathectomy at the T3-T4 or T4 ganglia level; they were followed up for a 12-month period in order to evaluate axillary hyperhidrosis, the incidence and severity of compensatory hyperhidrosis, its evolution throughout the study, and the patients' quality of life. RESULTS: Sixty four patients presented resolution of the axillary hyperhidrosis. No therapeutic failures occurred. After 12 months, 57.6% of the patients of the T4 group and 6. 5% of the T3-T4 group had not developed compensatory hyperhidrosis (p<0.001). Patients of the T4 group who experienced compensatory hyperhidrosis presented a rate lower than those in the T3-T4 group, and no severe CH (p<0.001) was observed. Improvement in the quality of life was reported since the first evaluation, proving to be higher in the T4 group than in the T3-T4 group, starting after six months of follow-up (p=0.002). CONCLUSIONS: Both techniques are effective for treating axillary hyperhidrosis. The most frequent complication was compensatory hyperhidrosis, which remained chronologically stable throughout the study. The T4-level sympathectomy group presented a less severe compensatory hyperhidrosis...

Is gender a predictive factor for satisfaction among patients undergoing sympathectomy to treat palmar hyperhidrosis?

Video-assisted thoracic sympathectomy (VATS) is currently the procedure of choise for the definitive treatment of primary hyperhidrosis because it is an effective, safe, and minimally invasive method. The aim of VATS treatment is to improve the quality of life through the reduction of excessive sudoresis. The purpose of this study was to assess the quality of life after VATS for treating palmar hyperhidrosis according to gender. METHODS: A total of 1044 patients who submitted to the surgical treatment for palmar hyperhidrosis from June 2000 to February 2008 were retrospectively evaluated. The patients were divided into two groups according to gender [719 (68.8 percent) females and 325 (31.2 percent) males]. RESULTS: There are no statistically significant differences between genders with regard to the quality of life in palmar hyperhidrosis patients (p = 0.726). In the interview that was performed 30 days after surgery, the quality of life in the two groups had improved, with no statistical difference between the groups. CONCLUSION: Patients with palmar hyperhidrosis present with an improvement in the quality of life after VATS regardless of gender.