Dermatol Surg. 2021 Dec 1;47(12):1572. doi: 10.1097/DSS.0000000000003258.
NO ABSTRACT
PMID:34818272 | DOI:10.1097/DSS.0000000000003258
Techniques to Relieve Pain Associated With Botulinum Injections for Palmar and Plantar Hyperhidrosis
Dermatol Surg. 2021 Oct 19. doi: 10.1097/DSS.0000000000003182. Online ahead of print.
ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Palmar and plantar hyperhidrosis (HH) is a common condition characterized by excessive sweating of the palms and soles. Botulinum neurotoxin (BTX) is a very effective and safe treatment. However, the associated intense injection pain is a major limiting factor deterring patients from selecting this treatment.
OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to review the numerous techniques used to minimize pain accompanying injections for palmoplantar HH. Additionally, the advantages and limitations of each modality will be discussed.
MATERIALS AND METHODS: The authors performed a comprehensive literature search in PubMed/MEDLINE, Embase, Cochrane Central, and Google Scholar on randomized controlled trials, cohort studies, and case series on techniques to relieve pain of BTX injections for treatment of palmar and plantar HH.
RESULTS: Current available techniques in reducing botulinum injection with merits and drawbacks are nerve blocks, Bier blocks, cryoanalgesia, needle-free anesthesia, topical anesthetics, and vibration anesthesia.
CONCLUSION: Topical anesthesia, ice, and vibration are the safest and most convenient noninvasive available methods to relieve pain associated with botulinum injection. Nerve blocks, Bier block, and needle-free anesthesia provide better anesthesia but are limited by the need for training and equipment.
PMID:34743126 | DOI:10.1097/DSS.0000000000003182
The treatment of palmar hyperhidrosis – a systematic review
Int J Dermatol. 2021 Oct 15. doi: 10.1111/ijd.15937. Online ahead of print.
ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Primary palmar hyperhidrosis (PH) can have a significantly negative impact on an individual’s quality of life. Currently, there appears to be no review of the effectiveness of the different interventions for its management.
METHODS: A systematic review was performed using PRISMA guidelines, the Cochrane Database, and MEDLINE (OVID) to identify relevant studies published from 1997 to 2017.
RESULTS: Of the 574 references yielded, six met the inclusion criteria and were analyzed for this review. Two studies evaluated the use of oral oxybutynin as an anticholinergic treatment for PH; this demonstrated high efficacy with over 80% of patients reporting symptom improvement; dry mouth was the most common adverse effect reported. One study looking at the use of iontophoresis reported 81% improvement in patients’ symptoms. One randomized, double-blind, trial looked at the use of botulinum toxin A injections for the treatment of PH; it reported 90% of patients experienced an improvement in PH. The remaining two studies evaluated the use of endoscopic thoracic sympathectomy (ETS) in PH, and both reported over 95% patient symptom improvement.
CONCLUSION: There are few good quality studies evaluating the treatment of primary PH. Based on the little available evidence, the interventions reviewed significantly improve the symptoms of PH. Anticholinergic medications are considered effective and safe. Both iontophoresis and botulinum toxin provided patients with symptom relief when administered regularly. ETS was reported as successful in the reduction of PH, however, it carries significant adverse effects such as compensatory sweating and the potential of complications associated with surgery.
PMID:34653261 | DOI:10.1111/ijd.15937
Perianal Hyperhidrosis Successfully Treated with Botulinum Toxin A
Skin Appendage Disord. 2021 Aug;7(5):404-407. doi: 10.1159/000515492. Epub 2021 Apr 28.
ABSTRACT
Perianal hyperhidrosis (HH) is a rare form of primary focal HH and may become a major problem for the patient with a significant psychosocial burden and negative impact on the quality of life. Botulinum toxin injections are widely used as a second-line treatment option for axillary, palmar, and plantar HH with a good safety profile. Herein, we pre-sent a case of primary perianal HH successfully treated with Botulinum toxin A at a dose higher than that previously reported in literature, with a longer response, a higher degree of satisfaction, and no adverse effects. Moreover, we review the main aspects of the perianal anatomy that are essential to carry out the technique correctly and make dermatologists achieve expertise with the procedure.
PMID:34604333 | PMC:PMC8436621 | DOI:10.1159/000515492
Retrospective analysis of the efficacy and duration of botulinum toxin A injections in 30 patients with palmar hyperhidrosis
Intern Med J. 2021 Sep;51(9):1517-1521. doi: 10.1111/imj.15489.
ABSTRACT
Palmar hyperhidrosis is a common disorder characterised by excessive sweating due to hyperfunction of the sweat glands. It can be classified as primary disease, or secondary to other causes. It has a high morbidity, and a range of treatment options. Botulinum toxin injections inhibit the release of acetylcholine from the presynaptic receptors. It is an effective treatment; however, it is infrequently selected as only axillary hyperhidrosis currently attracts a Medicare subsidy. We conducted a retrospective review of 30 patients at a Sydney dermatology clinic who received botulinum toxin injections for palmar hyperhidrosis within the past 5 years. This study has the largest patient cohort with this condition in Australia. There was evidence for a median reduction in the Hyperhidrosis Disease Severity Scale, a qualitative self-reported score, as well as an increasing duration of efficacy with repeated injections. There were minimal side-effects of weakness and numbness. There is also an association between treatment of palmar disease and improvement in plantar disease, which suggests that treatment of palmar hyperhidrosis should be considered earlier and more frequently.
PMID:34541778 | DOI:10.1111/imj.15489
Safety of Radiofrequency Ablation of Thoracic T2 and T3 Sympathectomy in Palmar Hyperhidrosis: A Case Report
Anesth Pain Med. 2021 Jul 12;11(3):e114827. doi: 10.5812/aapm.114827. eCollection 2021 Jun.
ABSTRACT
INTRODUCTION: Hyperhidrosis is the maladjustment of excess sweating in specific parts of the body. Radiofrequency (RF) therapy has been successfully used to treat hyperhidrosis with a success rate of 85% – 95% in patients refractory to sympathectomy. The main hypothesis was the association between reduced palmar hyperhidrosis and radiofrequency RF therapy. The RF therapy is a less invasive technique, including the utilization of electromagnetic energy that is deposited near the nerve tissue. The mechanism of action of continuous RF could be explained by the destruction of afferent nerve fibers on their way from a nociceptive focus to the central nervous system. Pulsed RF was invented to explore this possibility, with the sole purpose of finding a less destructive and equally effective technique for the application of RF to afferent pathways. Herein, we further evaluated whether the procedure was safe without any complications in routine follow-up in palmar hyperhidrosis.
CASE PRESENTATION: Herein, we report the case of a male patient with an age of 22 years undergoing thermal RF sympathectomy therapy of thoracic T2 and T3 sympathetic ganglia for the palmar hyperhidrosis of his right hand observed for 3 months. The patient developed a contraction of the flexor involving the small muscles of the right hand with severe pain and congestion 17 days after the procedure without any other complications. The contraction was relieved by a sonar-guided median nerve block at the wrist with two injections of 2 mL lidocaine 2% and 2 mL dexamethasone.
CONCLUSIONS: This study has been the first clinical case report complicated by the development of a contraction of the flexor muscles of the right hand with severe pain and congestion. The spasm was gradually relieved by sonar-guided median nerve injection at the level of the wrist and intended to assess the role of RF ablation with a success rate of 85% – 95% in palmar hyperhidrosis.
PMID:34540640 | PMC:PMC8438739 | DOI:10.5812/aapm.114827
Selective T(3)-T(4) sympathicotomy versus gray ramicotomy on outcome and quality of life in hyperhidrosis patients: a randomized clinical trial
Sci Rep. 2021 Sep 2;11(1):17628. doi: 10.1038/s41598-021-96972-7.
ABSTRACT
Compensatory hyperhidrosis is the leading cause of patients’ dissatisfaction after thoracic sympathicotomy. The study aimed to reduce compensatory hyperhidrosis to increase patients’ satisfaction. A prospective randomized study on palmar hyperhidrosis, May 2016-September 2019. Twenty-one patients T3-T4 sympathicotomy and 21 T3-T4 gray ramicotomy. Data prospectively collected. Analysis at study’s end. Focus on the sweating, temperature, quality of life baseline and postoperatively, compensatory hyperhidrosis, hand dryness, patients’ satisfaction, and if they would undergo the procedure again and recommend it. No baseline differences between groups. Hyperhidrosis was controlled postoperatively in all patients. No mortality, serious complications, or recurrences. Sympathicotomy worse postoperative quality of life (49.05 (SD: 15.66, IR: 35.50-63.00) versus ramicotomy 24.30 (SD: 6.02, IR: 19.75-27.25). After ramicotomy, some residual sweating on the face, hands, and axillae. Compensatory sweating worse with sympathicotomy. Satisfaction higher with ramicotomy. Better results with ramicotomy than sympathicotomy regarding hand dryness, how many times a day the patients had to shower or change clothes, intention to undergo the procedure again or recommend it to somebody else, and how bothersome compensatory hyperhidrosis was. T3-T4 gray ramicotomy had better results than T3-T4 sympathicotomy, with less compensatory sweating and higher patients’ satisfaction.
PMID:34475473 | DOI:10.1038/s41598-021-96972-7
Endoscopic thoracic sympathotomy for primary hyperhidrosis: predictors of outcome over a 10-year period
Surg Endosc. 2021 Aug 23. doi: 10.1007/s00464-021-08684-8. Online ahead of print.
ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Endoscopic thoracic sympathectomy/sympathotomy is gold standard of treatment for primary hyperhidrosis. Compensatory hyperhidrosis following surgery and partial response to surgery in some patients can significantly affect surgery outcome and patient satisfaction. In this study we investigated predictors of success rate, side effects, and satisfaction of our patients following ETS over a 10-year period.
METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed result of 200 Endoscopic thoracic sympathotomy surgeries that was performed in a single center to treat craniofacial, palmar, or axillary primary hyperhidrosis over a 10-year period. Patients were asked to report success of surgery to resolve their primary hyperhidrosis, development of compensatory hyperhidrosis, its severity, and their overall satisfaction with surgery.
RESULTS: Palmar hyperhidrosis was resolved in 167 (94%) patients. Craniofacial hyperhidrosis was resolved in 66 (84%) patients. Axillary hyperhidrosis was resolved in 68 (50%) patients. Compensatory hyperhidrosis developed in 176 (88%) patients. 44 (22%) patients had mild CHH, 79 (40%) patients developed moderate CHH, and 52 (26%) patients experienced severe CHH. A total of 173 (87%) patients were satisfied with surgery. 19 (9%) patients were not satisfied with ETS and 8 (4%) patients regretted ETS. Lower body mass index and grade IV primary hyperhidrosis were found to be independent predictors of patient satisfaction. Pure axillary primary hyperhidrosis was a negative predictor of patient satisfaction.
CONCLUSION: Best results of ETS are achieved in patients with grade IV PHH and lower body mass indexes. Outcome of ETS for treating axillary PHH is not favorable.
PMID:34426874 | DOI:10.1007/s00464-021-08684-8
Evaluation of compensatory hyperhidrosis after sympathectomy: the use of an objective method
Ann Vasc Surg. 2021 Aug 16:S0890-5096(21)00479-9. doi: 10.1016/j.avsg.2021.05.014. Online ahead of print.
ABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE: To investigate the prevalence of compensatory hyperhidrosis following videothoracic sympathectomy to treat palmoplantar hyperhidrosis and its effect on sweating in the chest, abdomen, back and thighs. Furthermore, to evaluate the concordance between a subjective and an objective method of assessment for compensatory hyperhidrosis.
METHODS: Forty patients with combined palmar and plantar hyperhidrosis who underwent video assisted thoracoscopic sympathectomy (15 women and 25 men, with a mean age of 25 years) were prospectively followed for one year. Subjective and objective parameters were evaluated, using respectively a questionnaire and a sudorometer (Vapometer).
RESULTS: In the subjective analysis, in the first month, only 10% of patients did not have compensatory hyperhidrosis, and 70% continued to report it at one or more sites after 1 year. In the objective analysis, 35% of the patients did not present compensatory hyperhidrosis after 1 month, and this number persisted stable, with 30% of patients remaining free of compensatory hyperhidrosis after 1 year. The most frequent area affected by compensatory hyperhidrosis was the back in both assessments. There was no positive concordance between the results of the objective and the subjective analysis at any time in any of the 4 regions studied.
CONCLUSION: Compensatory hyperhidrosis is a very common postoperative side effect after videothoracic sympathectomy, occurring early after the procedure and persisting for prolonged periods of time. The most frequently affected body area is the back, and no concordance between objective and subjective assessments was observed.
PMID:34411664 | DOI:10.1016/j.avsg.2021.05.014
Thoracoscopic sympathetic block to predict compensatory hyperhidrosis in primary hyperhidrosis
J Thorac Dis. 2021 Jun;13(6):3509-3517. doi: 10.21037/jtd-21-229.
ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Compensatory hyperhidrosis is the main cause of patients’ dissatisfaction following sympathectomy for primary hyperhidrosis. Therefore, thoracoscopic sympathetic nerve block before sympathectomy can be used to predict compensatory hyperhidrosis after sympathectomy. The objective of this study is to review our recent experience with the nerve block procedure, describing efficacy, safety and validity.
METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed the medical records of 107 patients who underwent thoracoscopic sympathetic nerve block with a local anesthetic for primary palmar and craniofacial hyperhidrosis using a 2-mm needlescope from March 2017 to November 2019. A week later, the patients were interviewed, and a decision made as to whether to proceed with sympathectomy. We analyzed the perioperative data of patients who underwent the predictive procedure either followed, or not followed, by sympathectomy.
RESULTS: Primary hyperhidrosis was relieved in all patients by the predictive procedure without severe complications. Compensatory hyperhidrosis happened to 32 patients (29.9%). Seventy-eight patients (72.9%) decided to undergo sympathectomy (group A) and 29 patients (27.1%) refused the sympathectomy (group B). Group B tended to have higher average body mass index (24.5 versus 23.2 kg/m2, P=0.082) and compensatory hyperhidrosis rate after predictive procedure (37.9% versus 26.9%, P=0.269) compared to group A. The compensatory hyperhidrosis rate after sympathectomy in group A was 76.9%. The effective duration of sympathetic block was significantly longer in group A than in group B (33.5 versus 13.9 hours, P=0.001). The predictive procedure had 94.4% specificity and 33.3% sensitivity for prediction of compensatory hyperhidrosis.
CONCLUSIONS: Thoracoscopic sympathetic block may be safe and feasible as a procedure for predicting compensatory hyperhidrosis after sympathectomy, and beneficially, it allows the patients to experience the effect of sympathectomy on primary hyperhidrosis and occurrence of compensatory hyperhidrosis. However, a longer effective duration of sympathetic block is needed to help patients to decide whether to proceed with the surgery.
PMID:34277046 | PMC:PMC8264690 | DOI:10.21037/jtd-21-229