Video-Assisted Thoracic Sympathectomy for Hyperhidrosis

Thorac Surg Clin. 2016 Aug;26(3):347-58. doi: 10.1016/j.thorsurg.2016.04.010.

Abstract

By the 1980s, endoscopy was in use by some groups in sympathetic denervation of the upper limbs with vascular indications. Low morbidity, cosmetic results, reduction in the incidence of Horner syndrome, and the shortened time in hospital made video-assisted thoracic sympathectomy (VATS) better accepted by those undergoing treatment for hyperhidrosis. Over the last 25 years, this surgical procedure has become routine in the treatment of hyperhidrosis, leading to a significant increase in the number of papers on the subject in the literature.

Keywords: Hyperhidrosis; Primary hyperhidrosis; Sympathetic denervation; Thoracic sympathectomy; VATS.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Humans
  • Hyperhidrosis / surgery*
  • Sympathectomy / methods*
  • Thoracic Surgery, Video-Assisted / methods*