CT-guided radiofrequency neurotomy (RFN) of bilateral T3-4 sympathetic chain combined with bilateral L3 sympathetic ganglion in patient with palmar hyperhidrosis

J Surg Case Rep. 2024 Dec 27;2025(1):rjae808. doi: 10.1093/jscr/rjae808. eCollection 2025 Jan.

ABSTRACT

Palmoplantar hyperhidrosis is a functional disease with an unknown pathogenesis, making it challenging to find a lasting and effective treatment. This article reports a case of a 43-year-old patient with palmoplantar hyperhidrosis treated with computed tomography (CT)-guided radiofrequency neurotomy (RFN) of bilateral T3-4 sympathetic chain combined with bilateral L3 sympathetic ganglion. The optimal puncture level and skin entry point were selected, and measurements were taken using a CT tool to determine needle depth, angle, and distance from the midline. A sympathetic needle was inserted through the T4 intercostal space to the outer side of the T4 rib head. The needle position was adjusted to achieve a tissue resistance, confirmed through sensory, motor stimulation, and three-dimensional reconstruction. RFN was performed, and this process was repeated for 1-2 cycles. Subsequently, a similar procedure was performed at the L3 sympathetic ganglion under CT guidance, resulting in improved sweating symptoms in the patient’s hands and feet.

PMID:39735332 | PMC:PMC11670927 | DOI:10.1093/jscr/rjae808

Comparing Compensatory Sweating After Video-Assisted Thoracoscopic Sympathectomy: (T2-3) Versus (T2-4) Levels for Treating Palmar Hyperhidrosis

Cureus. 2024 Nov 20;16(11):e74077. doi: 10.7759/cureus.74077. eCollection 2024 Nov.

ABSTRACT

INTRODUCTION: Primary hyperhidrosis is a disease that is characterized by excessive sweating beyond what is required to maintain the normal temperature of the body. Moreover, it has a great adverse effect on the life of the affected persons because of problems in their social lives. There are different modalities to treat primary hyperhidrosis, including medical and surgical treatment. However, in sympathectomy, there is still a lack of strong evidence regarding which level should be targeted to achieve maximum benefit with fewer complications.

METHODS: This prospective clinical study was conducted at the Cardiothoracic Surgery Department, Alexandria Main University Hospital, Alexandria, Egypt, from September 2021 to Jan 2022. The study involved a total of 50 eligible consecutive patients who had bilateral primary palmar hyperhidrosis managed by bilateral, bi-portal, and tubeless thoracoscopic approach with conventional general anesthesia. Group A represents 25 patients with 13 males (52%) who had sympathetic chain cutting at the level of T2-3, and group B represents 25 patients with 15 males (60%) who had sympathetic chain cutting at the level of T2-4. The effect on palmar hyperhidrosis, compensatory hyperhidrosis, and overall patient satisfaction was assessed on the Visual Analog Scale (VAS).

RESULT: Ninety-eight percent of patients in both groups showed postoperative complete dryness of the hand and improvement of their symptoms. There was a statistically significant (p<0.001) difference regarding the degree of severity of compensatory sweating post-operatively between both groups. In group A, 44% of patients had compensatory sweating, while in group B, 96% of patients had symptoms of compensatory sweating with varying degrees from 1 to 5 on a VAS-Score of five degrees.

CONCLUSION: The level of cauterization has no significant effect on palmar hyperhidrosis dryness after cutting the sympathetic chain at level (T2-3) vs. (T2-4). However, the greater the number of levels that are cauterized, which are three levels rather than two, the more severe the compensatory sweating in this study.

PMID:39712769 | PMC:PMC11661883 | DOI:10.7759/cureus.74077

Hyperocclusive technique for topical anesthesia for injecting botulinum toxin in palmar hyperhidrosis

J Cutan Aesthet Surg. 2024 Oct-Dec;17(4):335-336. doi: 10.4103/JCAS.JCAS_224_22. Epub 2023 Jun 27.

ABSTRACT

Injecting botulinum toxin under simple topical anesthesia using a eutectic mixture of lignocaine and prilocaine is a painful procedure. A simple hyper-occlusive modification in the existing technique of topical anesthesia of palms facilitates painless injections leading to greater patient satisfaction and compliance.

PMID:39649766 | PMC:PMC11619159 | DOI:10.4103/JCAS.JCAS_224_22

The effects of sympathectomy ganglion levels on late complications in the treatment of hyperhidrosis

J Minim Access Surg. 2024 Nov 29. doi: 10.4103/jmas.jmas_75_24. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

INTRODUCTION: Pathologically excessive sweating in areas such as the palmar, axillary and/or plantar together with sympathetic hyperactivity that occurs independently of systemic causes is called primary hyperhidrosis. Although primary idiopathic hyperhidrosis can be seen at any age, the disease is most commonly seen in adolescents and young adults. The frequency of male and female genders is usually equal. Some medical and minimally invasive methods can be used in the treatment of primary hyperhidrosis. However, the known curative gold standard treatment method for the disease is thoracoscopic thoracic sympathectomy operation.

PATIENTS AND METHODS: In this study, a total of 150 patients who applied to Trakya University Health Practice and Research Center, Department of Thoracic Surgery, between 15 October 2008 and 15 June 2021 and underwent thoracoscopic thoracic sympathectomy due to the diagnosis of hyperhidrosis were evaluated retrospectively. The patients were separated into two groups. Thoracoscopic thoracic sympathectomy was performed on the T2-T4 in the first group (Group I – n : 88) and on the T3-T5 sympathetic ganglions in the second group (Group II – n : 62).

RESULTS: The median age of patients included in the study was found to be 24 (20.75-28) years. Group I and Group II were similar in terms of gender characteristics, but Group II was older. Our success rate was found to be 92% ( n = 138). There was no mortality, major complication such as bleeding requiring open thoracotomy, chylothorax or Horner’s syndrome in any of the patients. Minor complications were seen in the early and late period of the operation at a low rate. Our overall compensatory hyperhidrosis rate was 52% ( n = 78). Compensatory hyperhidrosis was detected more in Group I, although this was not statistically significant. We determined the overall satisfaction rate of our patients as 87.3% ( n = 133). The satisfaction rates of the patients in Group I and Group II were found to be similar.

CONCLUSIONS: Thoracoscopic thoracic sympathectomy is a fast, safe and minimally invasive treatment method with a low complication rate. More than 90% success and a significant increase in psychosocial condition and professional quality of life can be achieved with this procedure. Future studies are needed to reveal the relationship between operated ganglion levels and the development of compensatory hyperhidrosis.

PMID:39611563 | DOI:10.4103/jmas.jmas_75_24

Single-port Thoracoscopic Laser Sympathicotomy for Primary Hyperhidrosis: A Safe and Minimally Invasive Approach With Favorable Short-term Outcomes

Surg Laparosc Endosc Percutan Tech. 2024 Nov 11. doi: 10.1097/SLE.0000000000001340. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVE: Thoracoscopic sympathicotomy is a well-established treatment for severe palmar hyperhidrosis. This study evaluates the safety and efficacy of a novel one-stage, bilateral, single-port laser sympathicotomy with minimal dissection.

METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed 73 patients with severe palmar hyperhidrosis who underwent this novel surgical technique between June 2023 and October 2023. Outcomes included complications, recurrent hyperhidrosis, and compensatory hyperhidrosis (CH). Hyperhidrosis severity was assessed using the hyperhidrosis disease severity score (HDSS).

RESULTS: The mean patient age was 21.3 ± 7.7 years, with a female predominance (52.1%). Sympathicotomy was performed at the T3 level only in 46 patients (63%), with the remaining undergoing sympathicotomy at both T3 and T4 levels. Median cauterization and operating times were 78 seconds and 8.7 minutes, respectively. No complications occurred. Two patients experienced recurrent hyperhidrosis during a median follow-up of 9 months, both were mild (HDSS grade 1). CH developed in 41 patients (56.2%), with all occurring within the first month postoperatively. The most common sites for CH were the back (51.2%), chest (43.9%), thigh (41.5%), abdomen (36.6%), and lower leg (36.6%). The majority of patients with CH (95.1%) reported mild (HDSS grade 1) or moderate (HDSS grade 2) hyperhidrosis. A higher body mass index was a significant risk factor for CH (odds ratio: 1.36, 95% CI: 1.12-1.71 for every 1 kg/m2 increase).

CONCLUSIONS: This minimally invasive, single-port thoracoscopic laser sympathicotomy appears to be safe and effective for patients with palmar primary hyperhidrosis. Future studies should investigate long-term outcomes and refine the technique to minimize invasiveness even further.

PMID:39523766 | DOI:10.1097/SLE.0000000000001340

Pharmacologic properties and results of a clinical study of oxybutynin hydrochloride lotion (APOHIDE() Lotion 20%) as a novel treatment for primary palmar hyperhidrosis

Nihon Yakurigaku Zasshi. 2024;159(6):413-422. doi: 10.1254/fpj.24037.

ABSTRACT

APOHIDE® Lotion 20% is a topical agent for treating primary palmar hyperhidrosis that contains the active ingredient oxybutynin hydrochloride. Oxybutynin hydrochloride has anticholinergic effects and inhibits sweating by binding to the M3 receptor, a subtype of the muscarinic acetylcholine receptor, in eccrine sweat glands. The clinical response to oxybutynin hydrochloride treatment also involves N-desethyloxybutynin, an active metabolite of oxybutynin. A clinical study in Japanese patients with primary palmar hyperhidrosis showed superiority of APOHIDE® Lotion 20% over placebo, i.e., there were significantly more responders (i.e., patients with a reduction in sweat volume ≥50% from baseline) in the APOHIDE® Lotion 20% group (APOHIDE® Lotion 20% group: 52.8%, placebo group: 24.3%; treatment difference: 28.5%; P < 0.001, Fisher’s exact test). This and other clinical studies reported some adverse events (AEs) associated with the drug’s anticholinergic effects and some application site AEs, but most of the AEs were mild. Clinical response did not decrease with long-term (52-week) treatment, and only a few patients (2 of 125) discontinued treatment because of AEs. Taken together, study results indicate that APOHIDE® Lotion 20% may be an effective and safe new treatment option for patients with primary palmar hyperhidrosis.

PMID:39496419 | DOI:10.1254/fpj.24037

Fractional CO(2) Laser-Assisted Delivery of Botulinum Toxin-A Versus Aluminum Chloride in Treatment of Primary Palmar Hyperhidrosis

Photodermatol Photoimmunol Photomed. 2024 Nov;40(6):e13006. doi: 10.1111/phpp.13006.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Primary palmar hyperhidrosis (PPH) constitutes a distressing dermatologic condition that greatly affects patients’ quality of life. Its management still needs to be addressed to find a suitable therapeutic modality that is readily available, cost effective, and gives patients a quite long disease-free period.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the efficacy of fractional CO2 laser as a delivery method for botulinum toxin-A (BTX-A) and aluminum chloride in treating PPH.

PATIENTS AND METHODS: Twenty-four subjects with PPH were treated on both hands with fractional CO2 laser followed on the right hand with topical BTX-A and on the left hand with topical aluminum chloride. Minor’s starch-iodine test and Hyperhidrosis Disease Severity Scale (HDSS) were used for evaluation of treatment response and for follow-up.

RESULTS: There was a significant improvement in HDSS in both groups, but there was no statistically significant difference in the therapeutic response for both modalities. There was a statistically significant longer disease-free period in the BTX-A-treated hands.

CONCLUSION: Fractional CO2 laser-assisted drug delivery (LADD) represents a safe, minimally invasive procedure that enhances the delivery of BTX-A and aluminum chloride, the two most widely used agents for treating PPH, with a comparable anhidrotic response.

PMID:39388586 | DOI:10.1111/phpp.13006

Long term outcomes and risk factors of compensatory hyperhidrosis after thoracoscopic sympathectomy in primary palmar hyperhidrosis patients: a retrospective single-center study

J Cardiothorac Surg. 2024 Oct 4;19(1):590. doi: 10.1186/s13019-024-03086-y.

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVE: This study aims to evaluate the long-term outcomes of compensatory hyperhidrosis (CH) after thoracoscopic sympathectomy and explore the risk factors affecting postoperative CH in primary palmar hyperhidrosis(PPH) patients.

METHOD: A retrospective analysis was conducted on patients who underwent thoracoscopic sympathectomy in the thoracic surgery department of our hospital from January 2015 to May 2022. Long-term follow-up surveys was conducted to collect data on post-operative satisfaction, PPH recurrence, and CH occurrence. Postoperative CH outcomes were assessed using the HDSS and satisfaction scores scale. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses were used to identify independent risk factors for postoperative CH.

RESULT: A total of 152 patients was included in the final study, with 113 cases in the CH group and 39 cases in the nCH group. The incidence of postoperative CH was 74.3% (113/152), within which 33.6% (38/113) were severe CH. The median follow-up time was 3.1 years(2.5-5.5y) and the median interval of CH onset after surgery was 30 days (14-90d). Univariate analysis showed that body mass index(BMI), surgical time, and transected nerve level are correlated with CH, with statistically significant differences. Multivariate logistic regression analysis indicated a higher BMI (OR = 0.864, 95% CI 0.755-0.989, P < 0.05) is the independent risk factor for the occurrence of CH. There was no statistically significant difference in HDSS scores among CH patients at 1 month, 1 year, and 3 years after surgery.

CONCLUSION: A higher BMI is the independent risk factor for postoperative CH after thoracoscopic sympathectomy. The incidence and severity of postoperative CH kept stable during a long term follow up.

PMID:39367483 | PMC:PMC11451246 | DOI:10.1186/s13019-024-03086-y

The Influence of the COVID-19 Pandemic on the Addressability to Treatment of Children with Hyperhidrosis-A Retrospective Study and a Short Review

Life (Basel). 2024 Aug 10;14(8):995. doi: 10.3390/life14080995.

ABSTRACT

INTRODUCTION: This study was carried out to demonstrate the negative influence that the COVID-19 pandemic had on the ability of patients to treat hyperhidrosis with iontophoresis. The purpose of this study is to identify the annual distribution of patients with hyperhidrosis as well as elaborate a curve of cases within the time interval studied.

METHODS: It is a retrospective study initiated in the Department of Neuropsychomotor Rehabilitation of the “Sf. Ioan” Emergency Clinical Hospital for Children, Galati, Romania, in which we analyzed the electronic database, the treatment, and the consultation files of all the children who presented between January 2013 and December 2023. We found 111 patients who met the inclusion criteria.

RESULTS: During the 3 years of the pandemic, the number of patients who came to our clinic suddenly dropped to 0.

LIMITATIONS: This study was conducted on a relatively small number of patients in a Neuropsychomotor Recovery clinic. This study includes only patients with palmar and/or plantar hyperhidrosis who presented to the clinic for iontophoresis.

CONCLUSION: Although it is a disease that significantly influences the quality of life, patients and their families do not consider hyperhidrosis to be an urgent problem that can be improved by treatment.

PMID:39202737 | DOI:10.3390/life14080995

Risk Factors Affecting the Outcomes of CT-Guided Radiofrequency Thermocoagulation of the T3 Sympathetic Nerve in the Treatment of Craniofacial Hyperhidrosis

Ther Clin Risk Manag. 2024 Aug 5;20:465-472. doi: 10.2147/TCRM.S463025. eCollection 2024.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Current studies mostly suggest that hyperhidrosis is caused by relative sympathetic hyperactivity. Sympathetic radiofrequency thermocoagulation is widely used in clinics. Previous studies have demonstrated that surgery at T3 is effective and safe compared with higher levels, so craniofacial hyperhidrosis in our hospital is selected to be treated at T3. However, some patients pursue repeat medical treatment due to an increase in hyperhidrosis at the original site after surgery. Previous studies have demonstrated the significance of Perfusion index (PI) value in the recurrence of palmar hyperhidrosis, but there is no relevant study on craniofacial hyperhidrosis.

METHODS: Clinical data from patients with craniofacial hyperhidrosis, who underwent T3 sympathetic radiofrequency thermocoagulation at Jiaxing First Hospital (Jiaxing, China) between January 1, 2018 and December 31, 2021, were analyzed. Recurrence in patients 1 year after surgery was recorded through a case search and telephone follow-up system that registered patient information. Clinical data were analyzed using binary logistic regression analysis to investigate risk factors associated with recurrence in patients with craniofacial hyperhidrosis 1 year after surgery.

RESULTS: Of 83 patients included in the present study, 34 (40%) experienced increased craniofacial sweating 1 year after surgery. Results of univariate logistic regression analysis revealed that computed tomography (CT) scan count, increase in pulse index (PI) at the fingertips, and differences in forehead temperature were potential risk factors for postoperative recurrence in patients with craniofacial hyperhidrosis (p<0.2), and the results were consistent on both sides. Three potential risk factors were included in the multivariate logistic regression analysis and results revealed that the risk for recurrence was reduced by 48% (left side) and 67% (right side) for every 1 unit increase in PI value.

CONCLUSION: A small increase in PI was an independent risk factor for recurrence of hyperhidrosis in patients with craniofacial hyperhidrosis after undergoing T3 sympathetic radiofrequency thermocoagulation.

PMID:39131182 | PMC:PMC11314434 | DOI:10.2147/TCRM.S463025