Prospective study of percutaneous radiofrequency sympathicolysis in severe hyperhidrosis and facial blushing: efficacy and safety findings

Radiofrequency in the treatment of primary hyperhidrosis: systematic review and meta-analysis

PURPOSE

To evaluate, via a systematic review, the effectiveness of radiofrequency (RF) for treatment of primary hyperhidrosis (PH).

METHODS

Experimental or observational studies were included where RF treatment (ablation or microneedling) was performed, comparing the periods before and after treatment.

RESULTS

Nine studies were considered eligible and included for analysis. In seven of nine studies, patients were subjected to RF only, and in two of nine studies RF was compared to video-assisted thoracoscopic sympathectomy (VATS). There was a reduction in the severity of PH in microneedling (three studies, mean difference -1.24, 95% CI -1.44 to -1.03). In a study that performed sympathetic RF ablation there was a greater reduction in PH severity compared to studies that performed microneedling (-2.42, 95% CI -2.55 to -2.29). There was improvement in the quality of life (QoL) after sympathetic RF ablation (two studies, mean difference -15.92, 95% CI -17.61 to -14.24). Regarding the microneedling procedure, there was a lower improvement in QoL, (two studies, -9.0, 95% CI -9.15 to -8.85). One study comparing sympathetic RF ablation with VATS applied the QoL questionnaire, and the VATS showed superior results. One of the two studies comparing compensatory sweating in RF ablation with VATS showed that compensatory hyperhidrosis was higher in VATS; however, the other study did not observe this difference. One study compared the recurrence of symptoms between VATS and RF ablation; symptom recurrence was shown to be higher in RF.

CONCLUSIONS

RF is effective for PH treatment, with superior results obtained with sympathetic ablation compared to microneedling.

Left cardiac sympathetic denervation in patients with heart failure: a new indication for an old intervention?

Heart failure (HF) is characterized by an autonomic imbalance with withdrawal of vagal activity and increased sympathetic activity. Novel non-pharmacological approaches to HF aimed at increasing vagal activity are being proposed. Left cardiac sympathetic denervation (LCSD) has been shown to modify favorably the outcome of several disorders characterized by life-threatening arrhythmias triggered by increased sympathetic activity. The present manuscript discusses the rationale and the limited experimental and clinical experience suggesting a potential role for LCSD in the treatment of patients with advanced heart failure. Possible future clinical applications of LCSD may include HF patients who are intolerant to β-adrenergic blockade, HF patients who have frequent implantable cardioverter-defibrillator shocks, and HF patients in countries where the likelihood of receiving a device is limited, but the capability to perform a one in a lifetime procedure is present.