Thoracoscopic Stellate Ganglionectomy for Facial Hyperhidrosis / 대한흉부외과학회지

ABSTRACT

With recent advancements in the instrumentation and technique of VATS, it has become the method of choice to cure facial hyperhidrosis. From July 1996 to April 1997, we performed 43 thoracic lower stellate ganglionectomy with VATS for facial hyperhidrosis. There were 33 men and 10 women whose ages ranged from 17 to 63 years (mean age, 37 years). Of those patients, 23 complained only of facial hyperhidrosis, and 20 complained of facial hyperhidrosis along with excessive sweating of the palm or foot. Thoracoscopic sympathetic ganglionectomy procedures included lower stellate ganglionectomy in 12 patients; lower stellate ganglionectomy and T2-sympathetic ganglionectomy in 28 patients; and lower stellate, T2 and T3 sympathetic ganglionectomy in 3 patients. Common complications were compensatory hyperhidrosis (36 patients) and causalgia (8 patients). At the end of the follow-up period (minimum, 3 months) ninety-five percent of the patients reported satisfactory results. Thoracic lower stellate ganglionectomy with VATS is an efficient, safe and minimally invasive surgical procedure for facial hyperhidrosis.