Long-term evaluation of the safety and efficacy of a novel 20% oxybutynin hydrochloride lotion for primary palmar hyperhidrosis: An open-label extension study.

The long-term safety and efficacy of 52-week application of oxybutynin hydrochloride 20% lotion (20% OL) for the treatment of primary palmar hyperhidrosis (PPHH) in Japanese patients aged ≥12 years were evaluated in an open-label extension (OLE) of a 4-week, randomized, double-blind (DB) study. The OLE included 114 patients who completed the DB study and wished to continue treatment and 12 new patients. In the safety analysis population (125 patients), the incidence of adverse events (AEs) and adverse drug reactions (ADRs) was 79.2% and 36.0%, respectively. Serious AEs were observed in two patients but were considered unrelated to the investigational drug. The incidence of AEs that led to study discontinuation was 1.6%. The incidence of application site AEs and ADRs was 35.2% and 26.4%, respectively. The severity of most events was mild. The incidence of anticholinergic AEs related to dry mouth was 3.2% for thirst and 0.8% for dry throat. The long-term efficacy of 20% OL was confirmed by a long-lasting reduction in sweat volume and improvement in the Hyperhidrosis Disease Severity Scale and Dermatology Life Quality Index. This study has several limitations: First the results may include some bias because most of the participants were from the prior DB study; second, the results may not be generalizable because only a few participants were in the age group most susceptible to PPHH (i.e., < 15 years old); and third, the study did not obtain safety information from treatment for more than 52 weeks, so this information must be collected in clinical practice in the future. No reduced therapeutic effect was observed in patients with PPHH in this study after 52-week application of 20% OL. Also, few patients experienced serious AEs or AEs that led to study treatment discontinuation.

Upregulation of ITGB6 in primary palmar hyperhidrosis.

BACKGROUND: The regulatory effect of integrin ß6 (ITGB6) on sweat gland cells in primary palmar hyperhidrosis (PPH) remains unclear. OBJECTIVES: This study investigated the involvement of ITGB6 in the pathogenesis of PPH. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Sweat gland tissues were collected from PPH patients and healthy volunteers. The expression levels of ITGB6 in sweat gland tissues were detected with quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR), western blot and immunohistochemical staining. Sweat gland cells were extracted from PPH patients, and identified with immunofluorescence staining of CEA and CK7. The expression of aquaporin 5 (AQP5) and Na-K-Cl cotransporter 1 (NKCC1) in primary sweat gland cells that overexpress ITGB6 were also detected. Through a series of bioinformatic methods, differentially expressed genes in sweat gland tissues were examined and validated via comparing PPH samples and controls. The key proteins and biological functions enriched in PPH were determined using Gene Ontology (GO) and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) analyses. RESULTS: The ITGB6 was upregulated in sweat gland tissues of PPH patients compared to that of healthy volunteers. The CEA and CK7 were positively expressed in sweat gland cells extracted from PPH patients. The overexpression of ITGB6 upregulated AQP5 and NKCC1 protein expression in the sweat gland cells of PPH patients. A total of 562 differentially expressed mRNAs were identified using high-throughput sequencing (394 upregulated, 168 downregulated), which were mainly active in the chemokine and Wnt signaling pathways. After verification with qPCR and western blot, the overexpression of ITGB6 significantly upregulated CXCL3, CXCL5, CXCL10, and CXCL11, and downregulated Wnt2 mRNA and protein expression in sweat gland cells. CONCLUSIONS: The ITGB6 is upregulated in PPH patients. It may be involved in the pathogenesis of PPH by upregulating AQP5, NKCC1, CXCL3, CXCL5, CXCL10, and CXCL11, and downregulating Wnt2 expression in sweat glands.

Anatomical variations of the thoracic sympathetic ganglions and their effects on sympathicotomy for primary palmar hyperhidrosis.

PURPOSE: The results and side effects of sympathicotomy for primary palmar hyperhidrosis (PPH) can vary due to anatomical variations of the sympathetic ganglions. The aim of our study was to clarify anatomical variations of the sympathetic ganglions by near-infrared (NIR) thoracoscopy and determine their effects on sympathicotomy for PPH. METHODS: The cases of 695 consecutive patients with PPH treated with either R3 or R4 sympathicotomy either by normal thoracoscopy or by NIR fluorescent thoracoscopy between March 2015 and June 2021 were retrospectively reviewed and followed up. RESULTS: The variation rate of third and fourth ganglions was 14.7% and 13.3% on the right side and 8.3% and 11.1% on the left side. Real T3 sympathicotomy (RTS3) was more effective than real T4 sympathicotomy (RTS4) in the short-term and long-term follow-up (p < 0.001 and p < 0.001, respectively). RTS3 was more satisfactory than RTS4 in the long-term follow-up (p = 0.03), but no significant difference was found in the short-term follow-up (p = 0.24). The incidence and severity of compensatory hyperhidrosis (CH) in the areas of the chest and back in the RTS4 group were significantly lower than those in the RTS3 group according to both the short-term results (12.92% vs. 26.19%, p < 0.001; 17.97% vs. 33.33%, p = 0.002, respectively) and the long-term results (19.66% vs. 28.57%, p = 0.017; 21.35% vs. 34.52%, p < 0.001, respectively). CONCLUSIONS: RTS3 may be more effective than RTS4 for PPH. However, RTS4 appears to be associated with a lower incidence and severity of CH in the areas of the chest and back than RTS3. NIR intraoperative imaging of thoracic sympathetic ganglions may improve the quality of sympathicotomy surgeries.

Impact of endoscopic thoracic R4 sympathicotomy combined with R3 ramicotomy for primary palmar hyperhidrosis.

Background: Endoscopic thoracoscopic sympathectomy (ETS) is the preferred method for treating primary palmar hyperhidrosis (PPH) that bears the risk of compensatory hyperhidrosis (CH) following surgery. The current study aims to evaluate the effectiveness and safety of an innovative surgical procedure of ETS. Methods: A survey of the clinical data of 109 patients with PPH who underwent ETS in our department from May 2018 to August 2021 was retrospectively conducted. The patients were organized into two groups. Group A underwent R4 sympathicotomy combined with R3 ramicotomy. Group B underwent R3 sympathicotomy. Patients were followed up to evaluate the safety, effectiveness and the incidence of postoperative CH of the modified surgical approach. Results: A total of 102 patients completed follow-up, and seven of the total enrolled patients were lost to follow-up, with a loss rate of 6% (7/109). Among these, Group A constitutes 54 cases, group B constitutes 48 cases, and the mean follow-up was 14 months (interquartile range 12-23 months). There was no statistically difference in surgical safety, postoperative efficacy, and postoperative quality of life (QoL) score between group A and group B (p > 0.05). The score of the psychological assessment was higher (p = 0.004) in group A (14.15 ± 2.06) compared to group B (13.30 ± 1.86). The incidence of CH in group A was lower than in group B (p = 0.019). Conclusion: R4 sympathicotomy combined with R3 ramicotomy is safe and effective for PPH treatment, along with a reduced incidence of postoperative CH rate and improved postoperative psychological satisfaction.

A novel lotion formulation of 20% oxybutynin hydrochloride for the treatment of primary palmar hyperhidrosis: A randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blind, phase III study.

BACKGROUND: No previous controlled studies have been specifically designed or adequately powered to show the efficacy of topical oxybutynin for palmar hyperhidrosis by using quantitative measures. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate efficacy of 20% oxybutynin hydrochloride lotion (20% OL) in reducing palmar sweat volume in patients with primary palmar hyperhidrosis (PPHH). METHODS: In a randomized controlled trial, Japanese patients with PPHH aged 12 years and older received either 20% OL (n = 144) or placebo (n = 140) on both palms once daily for 4 weeks. Palmar sweat volume was measured by the ventilated capsule method. For the primary outcome, response was defined as a reduction of sweat volume of at least 50% from baseline. RESULTS: At week 4, the responder rate for sweat volume was significantly higher in the 20% OL arm than in the placebo arm (52.8% vs 24.3%, respectively; treatment difference, 28.5% [95% CI, 17.7% to 39.3%]; P < .001). No serious adverse events occurred, and no adverse events led to treatment discontinuation. LIMITATIONS: The treatment period was only 4 weeks. CONCLUSIONS: In patients with PPHH, 20% OL is superior to placebo in reducing palmar sweat volume.

Safety and feasibility of thoracic sympathectomy in the treatment of primary palmar hyperhidrosis based on ambulatory surgery / 中国胸心血管外科临床杂志

@#Objective    To investigate the clinical safety and feasibility of thoracic sympathectomy in the treatment of palmar hyperhidrosis based on ambulatory surgery. Methods    A retrospective analysis of 74 patients who underwent thoracoscopic sympathectomy in the Department of Thoracic Surgery of the First People's Hospital of Yunnan Province from January 2017 to April 2021 was performed, including 35 males and 39 females aged 12-38 (21.32±4.13) years. Patients were divided into two groups according to different treatments. There were 34 patients in a control group (adopting traditional surgery), and 40 patients in an observation group (adopting ambulatory surgery). The clinical effects of the two groups were compared. Results    No massive bleeding, conversion to thoracotomy, postoperative pneumo-thorax or severe pneumonia occured in all patients. Univariate analysis of intraoperative indexes showed that the two groups had no statistical difference in total hospitalization cost, operation time, anesthesia time or postoperative waiting time (P>0.05). The amount of intraoperative blood loss in the observation group was less than that in the control group (P<0.05). The time of postoperative out of bed and recovery of walking capacity and the incidence of electrolyte disturbance in the observation group were shorter or lower than those in the control group (P<0.05). There was no statistical difference in white blood count, neutrophils count or postoperative 24 h pulse oxygen saturation fluctuation peak between the two groups (P>0.05). Conclusion    Based on the optimized diagnosis and treatment model, thoraco-scopic sympathectomy with laryngeal mask airway which is performed during ambulatory surgery, is feasible and worth popularizing in thoracic surgery.

Risk Factors Affecting the Outcomes of CT-Guided Radiofrequency Thermocoagulation of Thoracic Sympathetic Nerve in the Treatment of Primary Palm Hyperhidrosis.

BACKGROUND: Primary palm hyperhidrosis (PPH) is a chronic disease characterized by uncontrolled palm-sweating exceeding physiological needs. It negatively impacts the quality of life of the patients and can lead to different degrees of psychological problems. Currently, there are a variety of treatment options for PPH, of which thoracotomy is a first-line treatment that has shown good efficacy. However, since it is an invasive procedure requiring general anesthesia and is often associated with high costs and serious complications, better alternatives should be explored. Computed tomography (CT)-guided percutaneous puncture of radiofrequency thermocoagulation (RF-TC) of the thoracic sympathetic nerve is a promising alternative treatment. It is a minimally invasive procedure that can be performed under local anesthesia and is associated with rapid recovery. However, the factors affecting the duration of the surgery-related benefits and outcomes of CT-guided percutaneous RF-TC of the thoracic sympathetic nerve are unclear. OBJECTIVES: To investigate the factors influencing the outcomes of CT-guided percutaneous RF-TC of the thoracic sympathetic nerve in patients with PPH. STUDY DESIGN: A retrospective study. SETTING: This study was conducted at the Pain Department of Jiaxing University Affiliated Hospital (Jiaxing, China). METHODS: After approval by the Ethics Committee of the Affiliated Hospital of Jiaxing College, the data of 232 corresponding patients were assessed. The Kaplan-Meier method was used for survival analysis. Univariate and multivariate analyses were performed to identify factors associated with PPH and to construct a nomogram for predicting postoperative recurrence. Time-independent receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analyses were performed to assess the nomogram's predictive capacity. RESULTS: In the one-year survival analysis model, gender (HR = 1.573, 95%CI: 0.844 to 2.934), age (HR = 0.965, 95%CI: 0.915 to 1.018), disease course (HR = 0.960, 95%CI: 0.908 to 1.015), palm temperature difference (HR = 0.377, 95%CI: 0.287 to 0.495), perfusion index difference (HR = 0.590, 95%CI: 0.513 to 0.680) and hyperhidrosis disease severity scale (HR = 1.963, 95%CI: 0.769 to 5.011) were identified as statistically significant factors in univariate analysis, while palm temperature difference (HR = 0.589, 95%CI: 0.369 to 0.941) and perfusion index difference (HR = 0.357, 95%CI: 0.588 to 0.968) were the independent factors in the multivariate Cox proportional hazards risk model. In the 2-year survival analysis model, palm temperature difference (HR = 0.353, 95%CI: 0.261 to 0.478), perfusion index difference (HR = 0.589, 95%CI: 0.510 to 0.680) and hyperhidrosis disease severity scale (HR = 1.964, 95%CI: 0.771 to 5.006) were the statistically significant factors while palm temperature difference (HR = 0.507, 95%CI: 0.321 to 0.799) and perfusion index difference (HR = 0.789, 95%CI: 0.625 to 0.995) were the independent factors. LIMITATIONS: This single-center retrospective study was limited by its small sample size, short follow-up time, and the possibility of bias resulting from the non-random patient selection. CONCLUSION: Palm temperature difference and perfusion index difference were independent risk factors associated with prolonging the surgical benefits and reducing postoperative recurrence of CT-guided RF-TC of the sympathetic nerves in patients with PPH.

Spontaneous ventilation anesthesia combined with uniportal and tubeless thoracoscopic sympathectomy in selected patients with primary palmar hyperhidrosis.

BACKGROUND: To assess the feasibility and safety of tubeless video-assisted thoracoscopic sympathectomy (VATS) with a single 5 mm port under nonintubated, intravenous anesthesia with spontaneous ventilation in selected patients with primary palmar hyperhidrosis (PPH). METHODS: Adults (aged between 18 and 60 years) with moderate or severe PPH symptoms were enrolled. Demographic information and clinical data were obtained from 172 consecutive patients undergoing thoracoscopic surgery for PPH from March 2014 to December 2020. The primary outcomes were the rate of complications, including death, and the intraoperative conversion rate to 3-port VATS. The secondary outcomes were the conversion rate to intubated anesthesia during the operation and the surgical duration and pain score of postoperative day 0. RESULTS: In total, 172 patients were included with 88 males and 84 females. The median age was was 25 years (IQR:21-30 years). No mortalities or major morbidities occurred in any patient. The overall median surgical duration was 53 min (IQR:37-72 min). The median length of postoperative hospital stay was one day (IQR:one-one day). The median pain score of POD0 was 2 (IQR:2-2). Intraoperative conversion to 3-port VATS followed by drainage tube insertion occurred in one (0.6%) patient due to extensive pleural adhesions. No patients required conversion to intubated anesthesia during surgery. No postoperative mechanical ventilation was noted in any patient. CONCLUSIONS: For selected patients with PPH, tubeless VATS with a single 5 mm port using spontaneous ventilation anesthesia can be considered a feasible and safe operation. The surgical wound is extremely small and the operation time is shorter than the conventional technique. Trial registration This study was in conformity with the Declaration of Helsinki, and was approved by the National Ethics Committee of the University of the Hong Kong-Shenzhen Hospital (Approval number: [2020]70). We registered the study in the Chinese Clinical Trial Registry (Registration number: ChiCTR2100049063) in 2021.Informed consent was collected from all the participants of this study. URL for this clinical trial registration is: https://www.chictr.org.cn/index.aspx .

Knowledge of surgical management of hyperhidrosis among primary care physicians and the general public.

OBJECTIVES: Our study examined attitudes towards initial management of hyperhidrosis, willingness to seek surgical consultation and knowledge of an appropriate specialty for surgical consultation among primary care physicians and the general public. METHODS: An online survey was sent to all general medicine and paediatric residents and attending physicians at our academic medical centre. Participants were provided with a clinical scenario of palmar hyperhidrosis and were asked to select among initial management options and preferences for surgical consultation if patients failed non-operative management. To assess the general public's perspective, workers from Amazon Mechanical Turk were recruited to complete a similar survey. RESULTS: The majority of primary care physicians (31/53; 58%) would prescribe topical aluminium chloride for palmar hyperhidrosis, whereas 28 of 53 (53%) would refer such patients to dermatology. Twenty-three of 53 (43%) physicians would refer such patients to surgery if conservative management failed: 18 (78%) to plastic surgery, 4 (17%) to general surgery and none to thoracic surgery. The majority of workers (130/205; 63.4%) would seek primary care treatment for palmar hyperhidrosis. Over half (113/205; 55%) would seek surgical consultation if conservative management failed: 65 (58%) general surgery and 15 (13%) neurosurgery, with only 8 (7%) selecting thoracic surgery. CONCLUSIONS: Neither primary care physicians nor the general public recognize the role of thoracic surgeons in managing primary focal hyperhidrosis when medical management fails. Education of physicians and the public may mitigate this knowledge gap.

Postoperative diaphragmatic hernia following endoscopic thoracic sympathectomy for primary palmar hyperhidrosis: A case report.

Postoperative diaphragmatic hernia (DH) following endoscopic thoracic sympathectomy for primary palmar hyperhidrosis is extremely rare. We present a 21-year-old female patient who developed a left DH with herniation of the stomach and gastric perforation on the first postoperative day after undergoing bilateral video-assisted thoracoscopic sympathectomy R4 ablation. She complained of severe dyspnea and chest pain, and an emergency chest x-ray and computed tomography revealed left pleural effusion, collapsed lung, and left DH, which allowed the stomach to herniate into the chest. Emergency thoracoscopic surgery was performed. We repaired the diaphragmatic defect intraoperatively and replaced the stomach with the peritoneal cavity from the thoracic field. The patient was discharged without complications. She did not present with recurrent symptoms at the 3-month follow-up. Postoperative DH should be considered when patients complain of gastrointestinal or respiratory symptoms after sympathectomy, although it is very rare.

Tubeless video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery for primary palmar hyperhidrosis: A retrospective cohort study in a single center / 中国胸心血管外科临床杂志

@#Objective    To explore the safety, feasibility and superiority of tubeless video-assisted thoracoscopy in the treatment of primary palmar hyperhidrosis (PPH). Methods    The clinical data of 46 patients with palmar hyperhidrosis treated by thoracoscopy in the Department of Thoracic Surgery of the First Hospital of Lanzhou University from March 2017 to September 2020 were retrospectively analyzed. Among them, 22 received tubeless video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery, and were divided into a tubeless group, including 10 males and 12 females with an average age of 24.3±6.4 years; 24 received conventional thoracoscopic surgery, and were divided into a control group, including 13 males and 11 females with an average age of 23.5±4.8 years. The operation status, anesthesia effect and postoperative complications of the two groups were compared. Results    Forty-six patients successfully completed the operation with the assistance of thoracoscopy. There was no intraoperative transfer to thoracotomy, or intraoperative transfer to tracheal intubation in the tubeless group. Anesthetic recovery time (14.4±1.6 min vs. 20.1±1.8 min, P=0.000), time to get out of bed on the first postoperative day (3.1±0.6 h vs. 1.6±0.4 h, P=0.000), visual analogue score for postoperative pain (1.4±0.6 points vs. 3.4±1.1 points, P=0.000), postoperative hospital stay (1.7±0.5 d vs. 2.8±0.6 d, P=0.000), postoperative satisfaction rate of patients (95.5% vs. 66.7%, P=0.037) in the tubeless group were shorter or better than those in the control group. There was no statistical difference in age, gender, smoking history, palmar hyperhidrosis classification, palms or other  associated parts, the total time of bilateral surgery, intraoperative blood loss, postoperative complications, or compensatory hyperhidrosis (mild) between the two groups (P>0.05). Conclusion    Compared with traditional thoracoscopic surgery for PPH, tubeless video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery for PPH has the advantages of safety, reliability, light pain and quick recovery, in line with the concept of accelerated rehabilitation surgery.

Clinical effect of 3 mm thoracoscope combined with needle electrocoagulation hook in the treatment of primary palmar hyperhidrosis: A retrospective cohort study / 中国胸心血管外科临床杂志

@#Objective    To explore the clinical effect of tubeless 3 mm ultra-fine thoracoscope combined with needle electrocoagulation hook thoracic sympathicotomy in the treatment of primary palmar hyperhidrosis. Methods    The clinical data of 77 patients with primary palmar hyperhidrosis who underwent surgery in the First Hospital of Lanzhou University from September 2017 to July 2021 were retrospectively analyzed, including 50 males and 27 females, with an average age of 23.60±5.60 years. A total of 36 patients were treated with tubeless 3 mm ultra-fine thoracoscopic electrocoagulation hook thoracic sympathicotomy (an observation group), and 41 patients were treated with conventional thoracoscopic thoracic sympathicotomy (a control group). The baseline data, perioperative data and the results of 12 hours after operation were compared between the two groups. Results    All the 77 patients completed the operation successfully, no conversion to thoracotomy, no intraoperative bleeding, and no conversion to endotracheal intubation in the observation group. In the observation group, the time of anesthesia before operation [19.00 (17.00, 23.75) min vs. 25.00 (21.00, 27.00) min, P=0.001] and postoperative hospital stay [2.00 (1.00, 2.00) d vs. 2.00 (1.00, 3.00) d, P=0.012] were shorter than those in the control group. The operation time [22.50 (21.00, 25.75) min vs. 26.00 (23.50, 28.50) min, P=0.001], intraoperative blood loss [5.00 (2.25, 5.00) mL vs. 6.00 (5.00, 10.00) mL, P=0.003], postoperative pain index [2.00 (1.00, 2.00) vs. 3.00 (2.00, 3.00), P=0.001], hospitalization cost (14 246.58±879.28 yuan vs. 15 085.90±827.15 yuan, P<0.001) and postoperative inflammation index: white blood cell count [(12.96±2.32)×109/L vs. (14.47±2.05)×109/L, P=0.003], percentage of neutrophils (76.31%±5.40% vs. 79.97%±7.12%, P=0.014) were significantly lower or less than those in the control group. There was no significant difference in the incidence of major postoperative complications or adverse consequences between the two groups (P>0.05). In the evaluation of 12 hours after operation, the time of getting out of bed [2.00 (1.00, 2.00) h vs. 2.00 (2.00, 3.00) h, P=0.017], the time of drinking water after operation [1.50 (1.00, 2.00) h vs. 2.00 (1.00, 3.00) h, P=0.005], and the heart rate (80.25±14.42 bpm vs. 91.07±15.08 bpm, P=0.002), the incidence of dizziness, nausea and other uncomfortable symptoms (5.6% vs. 25.0%, P=0.040) at 12 hours after operation were shorter or lower than those in the control group. There was no significant difference in blood oxygen saturation (non-inhaled oxygen state) 12 hours after the operation between the two groups [97.00% (95.25%, 98.00%) vs. 97.00% (96.00%, 98.00%), P=0.763]. Conclusion    Compared with conventional thoracoscopic thoracic sympathicotomy, tubeless 3 mm ultra-fine thoracoscopic electrocoagulation hook thoracic sympathicotomy can significantly shorten the operation time, reduce postoperative pain and promote postoperative recovery, in line with the concept of accelerated rehabilitation surgery and minimally invasive surgery, and is worth popularizing in clinical practice.

Clinical application of ultra-micro 5 mm single-port endoscopic thoracic sympathicotomy in selected patients with primary palmar hyperhidrosis / 中国胸心血管外科临床杂志

@#Objective    To assess the feasibility and safety of ultra-micro 5 mm single-port endoscopic thoracic sympathicotomy in selected patients with primary palmar hyperhidrosis. Methods    From 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 mm single-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.

Quality of life in 243 patients with primary palmar hyperhidrosis after endoscopic thoracic sympathicotomy / 中国胸心血管外科临床杂志

@#Objective    To evaluate the quality of life (QOL) in patients with primary palmar hyperhidrosis (PPH) after endoscopic thoracic sympathicotomy (ETS) and analyze the influencing factors. Methods    A 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. Results    The 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. Conclusion    ETS 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.

The anatomical variation of T3 sympathetic ganglion and its relationship with surgical outcomes in primary palmar hyperhidrosis / 中华胸心血管外科杂志

Objective:To investigate the anatomical variation of the T3 sympathetic ganglia and its relationship with surgical outcomes in primary palmar hyperhidrosis.Methods:A total of 86 patients with primary palmar hyperhidrosiswho underwent R4 sympathicotomy from November 2017 to September 2018 were prospectively enrolled. The anatomical variation of T3 sympathetic ganglia was observed by fluorescence thoracoscopy. The therapeutic effect and side effect were followed up after operation.The relationship between T3 anatomical variation and postoperative effect was analyzed.Results:82.6% of T3 ganglion had no anatomic variation, 17.4% of T3 ganglion shifted down to the surface of the fourth rib or intercostal space. After 1 month of follow-up, the therapeutic effect was: overly dry 2.1%, dry 39.4%, mild moist 57.0%, moist 1.4% innormalside, and 13.3%, 53.3%, 33.3%, 0 in the variation side respectively. Mann- Whitney U test showed statistically significant difference between the two groups( P=0.004). After 1 year of follow-up, the effect was 0, 36.5%, 56.9%, 6.6% in normal side, and 0, 33.3%, 63.0%, 3.7% in the variation side respectively. There was no significant difference between the two groups by Mann- Whitney U test( P=0.869). Conclusion:Fluorescence thoracoscopy showed that the variation rate of the position of T3 sympathetic ganglion was 17.4%. Postoperatively, patients with the downshift variation of T3 sympathetic ganglion have drier hands in short-term follow-up.

Fractional CO2 laser-assisted Botulinum toxin type A delivery for the treatment of primary palmar hyperhidrosis.

Intradermal injections of botulinum toxin type A (BTX-A) have been used successfully to treat patients with primary palmoplantar hyperhidrosis (PPH). However, problems with local injections of BTX-A for palmar hyperhidrosis include injection pain and reduced palmar muscle strength. This case series describes three patients with PPH. Patients were followed up for 3 months and assessed using the minor iodine starch test and the visual analog scale (VAS). Over two sessions within a 2-week interval, all patients received treatment on one palm, while the other palm served as the untreated control. Treated palms received fractional CO2 laser therapy and immediate post-operative topical application of BTX-A solution for a total of 50 units. Sweat production was assessed based on the size of the sweat-producing area (measured by the minor iodine starch test) and subjective assessment of sweat production using the visual analog scale (VAS) at baseline, 2 weeks after the first treatment, and 1, 2, and 3 months after the second treatment. In the BTX-A-treated palm, the decrease in the mean sweat production was 51.6% at 2 weeks after the first treatment, and 88.5%, 67.8%, and 52.9%, at 1, 2, and 3 months after the final treatment when compared to the baseline. In the untreated palms, the decrease in the mean sweat production was 2% on all follow-ups when compared to the baseline. No adverse effect was observed in any patient. Fractional CO2 laser is a safe technique for BTX-A delivery on the palm area and is demonstrated to be safe and effective in decreasing sweat secretion of hyperhidrosis palm.

Intra tester reliability of sympathetic skin responses in subjects with primary palmar hyperhidrosis.

BACKGROUND: Primary palmar hyperhidrosis (PPH) is a disorder related to sympathetic dysfunction. Iontophoresis can be used to reduce sweating rate. Sympathetic skin response (SSR) is commonly used to evaluate the sympathetic system. However, scarce evidence exists about the reliability of SSR parameters. OBJECTIVE: To assess the relative and absolute reliability of SSR before and after the application of iontophoresis with aluminum chloride hexahydrate (ACH) gel or tap water in subjects with PPH. METHODS: Twenty subjects were randomized to receive either iontophoresis with ACH gel or tap water. Three SSRs (amplitude and latency) with 5 s intervals from both hands in both groups were recorded before and after the application of iontophoresis for 30 min. Reliability of amplitude and latency of the SSR was assessed using intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) with 95% confidence intervals, standard error of measurement (SEM), and minimal detectable change (MDC). RESULTS: Amplitudes and latencies of SSR showed good to excellent test-retest reliability for ICC in both groups before iontophoresis. Except for right hand latency which was moderate (0.5-0.75). After iontophoresis, the ACH gel group still showed good to excellent agreement for SSR parameters, while the reliability of SSR parameters in the tap water group was reduced. CONCLUSION: Subjects with PPH showed high intra-rater reliability for SSR parameters which was maintained after ACH gel iontophoresis and decreased after tap water iontophoresis. It seems that media used for iontophoresis or the state of media (gel vs liquid) may affect the reliability of SSR. Further research is recommended.

Transareolar single-port endoscopic thoracic sympathectomy with a flexible endoscope for primary palmar hyperhidrosis: a prospective randomized controlled trial.

BACKGROUND: Transareolar single-port endoscopic thoracic sympathectomy (ETS) with a flexible endoscope has rarely been reported. This study assessed the performance of this novel minimally invasive technique for primary palmar hyperhidrosis (PPH). METHODS: From January 2019 to September 2019, 118 males with severe PPH requiring single-port and bilateral ETS were randomly allocated to undergo transareolar ETS using a flexible endoscope (group A, n=58) or transaxillary ETS using a 5 mm thoracoscope (group B, n=60). RESULTS: Both groups had similar patient characteristics. All procedures were performed successfully, with no mortality or conversion to open surgery. All patients had dry and warm palms immediately after surgery. Compared with group B, group A had a significantly shorter median incision length [5.1 (5.0-5.2) vs. 10.9 (10.8-11.9) mm; P<0.001], and significantly lower median postoperative pain score [1 (1.0-2.0) vs. 3 (3.0-4.0); P<0.001]. There were no differences between the two groups in operative time, palmar temperature increase, and transient postoperative sweating. After complete follow-up, group A had a significantly higher median cosmetic score than group B [4.0 (3.0-4.0) vs. 3.0 (3.0-3.0); P<0.001]. There were no differences between the two groups regarding symptom resolution, compensatory hyperhidrosis, and satisfaction score. No patient reported residual pain or symptom recurrence. CONCLUSIONS: Transareolar single-port ETS with a flexible endoscope is safe, effective, and minimally invasive with a small incision, minimal pain, and excellent cosmetic results. This novel procedure is suitable for routine treatment of PPH in males.

A long-term evaluation of postoperative moist hands after R4/R4+5 sympathectomy for primary palmar hyperhidrosis.

BACKGROUND: Thoracoscopic R4 sympathectomy has been recommended as a safe and effective surgical treatment procedure for primary palmar hyperhidrosis (PPH). However, approximately half of patients presented postoperative moist hands (PMH), and recurrence occurred individually. Therefore, more thorough long-term results should be evaluated. METHODS: Between January 2005 and December 2014, 506 consecutive patients with palmar hyperhidrosis treated with either R4 or R4+5 were retrospectively reviewed and followed-up. RESULTS: A total of 451 patients (89.1%) completed the follow-up with an average follow-up time of 30.7±25.4 months. Palmar sweating completely ceased in 178 patients (39.5%), whereas 215 (47.7%) achieved greater than 50% improvement, 43 (9.5%) achieved 20-50% improvement. Fifteen individuals (3.3%) experienced recurrence. The frequency of individuals achieving 100% improvement was significantly higher in the group R4+5 than in the group R4 (60.9% vs. 27.8%, respectively; P<0.001). A total of 321 patients (71.2%) showed compensatory hyperhidrosis with 290 (64.3%) and 29 (6.4%) experiencing mild or moderate types respectively. Two individuals (0.4%) suffered from severe type. The incidence of compensatory hyperhidrosis in the group R4+5 was significantly lower than the group R4 (63.8% vs. 73.7%, respectively; P=0.037). Regarding satisfaction, 345 (76.5%) and 83 (18.4%) patients were highly satisfied and partially satisfied with their surgical results, respectively. Six patients (1.3%) were dissatisfied, and 17 (3.8%) expressed regret for surgery. CONCLUSIONS: PMH occurred in over half of patients after R4 or R4+5 sympathectomy, but most of these patients were satisfied with the surgical results. R4+5 appears to be a better option for palmar hyperhidrosis with lower incidence of PMH and compensatory hyperhidrosis.

[Assessment of the radial and ulnar arteries hemodynamic changes by ultrasound in patients with primary palmar hyperhidrosis after thoracic sympathetic block].

Objective: To evaluate the value of radial and ulnar arteries hemodynamic changes by ultrasound in patients with primary palmar hyperhidrosis after thoracic sympathetic block. Methods: This was a prospective study, from January 2016 to September 2016, 23 patients with primary palmar hyperhidrosis were admitted to the First Hospital of Jiaxing City, Zhejiang Province, 92 arteries of these patients who underwent thoracic sympathetic block were enrolled into this study. Diameters, peak systolic velocity (PSV), end diastolic velocity (EDV) and resistive index (RI) of the radial and ulnar arteries were examined one day before and after the operation by color Doppler ultrasound. Spectral waveforms of these arteries were observed, and palms temperature (T), oxygen saturation (SpO(2)), perfusion index (PI) were also measured. Diameters, PSV, EDV, RI, T, SpO(2) and PI of the patients with PH were compared before and after the surgery. The effect of operation was also evaluated. Results: Before surgery, diameters and EDV of the radial and ulnar arteries of the patients with PH were(2.12±0.36) mm, (1.50±0.32) mm, (4.90±1.84) cm/s, (4.71±1.65) cm/s, respectively, after surgery, the diameter of the RA, UA and EDV were (2.45±0.54) mm, (1.87±0.44) mm, (9.37±1.69) cm/s and (9.12±1.54) cm/s, which were significantly increased.Before surgery, RI of the RA and UA of the patients were (0.85±0.05), (0.97±0.07) , respectively, after surgery, RI of the RA and UA were (0.57±0.04), (0.64±0.09), respectively, which were significantly decreased after surgery. The difference was statistically significant (t=-5.23, -2.33, -19.80, -14.68, 3.31, 3.48, all P<0.01). Before surgery, PSV of the RA and UA of the patients were (46.38±15.12) cm/s, (45.60±14.88) cm/s , respectively, after surgery, PSV of the RA and UA were (46.93±16.02) cm/s, (46.19±15.30) cm/s , respectively. The difference was not statistically significant (t=-0.23, -1.39, all P>0.05). Before surgery, T, SpO(2) and PI of the patients were(29.7±1.04) ℃, (93.24±2.23) %, (1.11±0.13) % , respectively, after surgery, T, SpO(2) and PI of the patients were (35.09±1.21) ℃, (98.10±1.34) %, (4.77±1.22)% , respectively. The difference was statistically significant (t=-20.174, -1.140, -23.601, all P<0.05). The symptoms of hyperhidrosis of the patients were disappeared immediately after the surgery in both hands. All of the patients were cured within 3 months and there was no severe complications. Conclusion: Thoracic sympathetic block increase Diameters and EDV but decrease RI of the radial and ulnar arteries of the patients with PH and increase the palms temperature. Artery diameters, EDV, and RI measured by ultrasound can be used as parameters to evaluate the effect of thoracic sympathetic block in patients with PH. It's objective, non-invasive and convenient.