The Change of Skin Temperature after Thoracic Sympathectomy in Patients with Palmar Hyperhidrosis

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVE: The purposes of this study were to evaluate the change of temperature before and after thoracic sympathectomy in patients with palmar hyperhidrosis and to find the usefulness of infrared thermography for the assessment of effects of thoracic sympathectomy. METHOD: The skin temperature was measured before, one day and 30 days after sympathectomy in 28 patients with palmar hyperhidrosis. Temperature was recorded on forehead, cheek, neck, axilla, umbilicus and 6 sites of each hand and foot by infrared thermography and thermometer. Patient's satisfaction with operation was assessed by 10 point scale. RESULTS: All patient who had undergone sympathectomy showed significantly decreased discomfort owing to hyperhidrosis by 10 point scale (p<0.05). The temperature significantly elevated on postoperative 1 day and 30 days on both palms as compared with preoperative state, bilaterally (p<0.05). There were no significant differences of sole temperatures among preoperative, postoperative 1 day and postoperative 30 days, bilaterally. CONCLUSION: We proved significant effect of thoracic sympathectomy to the patients with palmar hyperhidrosis objectively, and we also quantified the elevation of palm temperature after sympathectomy.