Bilateral Retroperitoneoscopic Lumbar Sympathectomy by Unilateral Access for Plantar Hyperhidrosis in Women

A retrospective cohort study of T3 versus T4 thoracoscopic sympathectomy for primary palmar hyperhidrosis and primary palmar hyperhidrosis with axillary and plantar sweating

INTRODUCTION

Thoracoscopic sympathectomy (TS) has been proven to be a safe and effective treatment for primary palmar hyperhidrosis (PH). However, the complications include compensatory hyperhidrosis (CH), and over-dry hands may occur in some patients after TS.

AIM

To compare the therapeutic effect of T3 and T4 TS on primary PH and primary PH with axillary and plantar sweating.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

We retrospectively analyzed 100 patients with PH who had undergone T3 (group A, n = 49) or T4 (group B, n = 51) TS in our department, with at least 1 year of postoperative follow-up.

RESULTS

At discharge, no major complications or deaths occurred in either group. The condition of sweaty hands was fully improved in 44 of 49 patients in group A and all patients in group B, with a significant difference (p = 0.031). After 12 months of follow-up, 18 (36.7%) patients in group A and 4 (7.8%) patients in group B developed CH, 16 (48.5%) patients in group A and 24 (77.4%) patients in group B had improved axillary sweating, with a significant difference (p < 0.05). The satisfaction rate of group B was significantly higher than that of group A (p < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONS

Both T3 and T4 TS were safe and effective treatments for PH patients, but the incidence of CH in T4 TS was lower than that in T3 TS. T3 TS may be more suitable for patients with severe PH, while T4 TS had a better therapeutic effect on PH patients with axillary sweating.

Outcome of Limited Video-Assisted Lumbar Sympathetic Block for Plantar Hyperhidrosis Using Clipping Method

BACKGROUND

There are many ways to treat focal hyperhidrosis, including surgeries for palmar and axillary hyperhidrosis. However, doctors and patients tend to be reluctant to perform surgery for plantar hyperhidrosis due to misconceptions and prejudices about surgical treatment. In addition, few studies have reported the outcome of surgeries for plantar hyperhidrosis. Therefore, the objective of this study was to determine the outcome (early and late postoperative satisfaction, complication, compensatory hyperhidrosis, recurrence rate, and efficiency) of surgical treatment for plantar hyperhidrosis.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

From August 2014 to October 2015, lumbar sympathetic block (LSB) was performed in 82 patients with plantar hyperhidrosis using clipping method. Limited video-assisted LSB was performed using 5 mm ligamax-clip or 3 mm horizontal-clip after identifying L3-4 sympathetic ganglion through finger-touch and endoscopic vision.

RESULTS

Of the 82 patients, 45 were male and 37 were female. Their mean age was 26.38 years (range, 14-51 years). Mean follow-up time was 6.60 ± 3.56 months. Mean early postoperative satisfaction score was 9.6 on the 10th day postoperative evaluation. At more than 1 month later, the mean late postoperative satisfaction score was 9.2. There was no significant difference in early postoperative satisfaction score between clipping level L3 and L4/5. However, late postoperative satisfaction score was significantly better in the L3 group than that in the L4/5 group. Patient's age and body mass index did not affect the satisfaction score. However, male patients and patients who had history of hyperhidrosis operation showed higher satisfaction score than others.

CONCLUSION

Limited video-assisted LSB using clip provided good results with minimal complications and low compensatory hidrosis, contrary to the prejudice toward it. Therefore, surgical treatment is recommended for plantar hyperhidrosis.

Plantar hyperhidrosis: A review of current management

AIM

To critically appraise current literature regarding the management of plantar hyperhidrosis in the form of a structured review.

METHOD

A literature search was conducted using various databases and search criteria.

DISCUSSION

The literature reports the use of conservative, medical and surgical treatment modalities for the management of plantar hyperhidrosis. However, long-term follow-up data are rare and some treatment modalities currently available are not fully understood.

CONCLUSION

There is a considerable dearth in the literature on the management of plantar hyperhidrosis. Further study in larger populations with longer follow-up times is critical to access the long-term effects of treatment. Nonetheless, iontophoresis, botulinum toxin injection and lumbar sympathectomy are promising treatment modalities for this disorder.

Randomized trial - oxybutynin for treatment of persistent plantar hyperhidrosis in women after sympathectomy

OBJECTIVE

Hyperhidrosis is a common disease, and thoracoscopic sympathectomy improves its symptoms in up to 95% of cases. Unfortunately, after surgery, plantar hyperhidrosis may remain in 50% of patients, and compensatory sweating may be observed in 70%. This clinical scenario remains a challenge. Our objective was to evaluate the effectiveness of oxybutynin in the treatment of persistent plantar hyperhidrosis and compensatory sweating and its effects on quality of life in women after thoracoscopic sympathectomy.

METHOD

We conducted a prospective, randomized study to compare the effects of oxybutynin at 10 mg daily and placebo in women with persistent plantar hyperhidrosis. The assessment was performed using a quality-of-life questionnaire for hyperhidrosis and sweating measurement with a device for quantifying transepidermal water loss. Clinicaltrials.gov: NCT01328015.

RESULTS

Sixteen patients were included in each group (placebo and oxybutynin). There were no significant differences between the groups prior to treatment. After oxybutynin treatment, there was a decrease in symptoms and clinical improvement based on the quality-of-life questionnaire (before treatment, 40.4 vs. after treatment, 17.5; p=0.001). The placebo group showed modest improvement (p=0.09). The outcomes of the transepidermal water loss measurements in the placebo group showed no differences (p=0.95), whereas the oxybutynin group revealed a significant decrease (p=0.001). The most common side effect was dry mouth (100% in the oxybutynin group vs. 43.8% in the placebo group; p=0.001).

CONCLUSION

Oxybutynin was effective in the treatment of persistent plantar hyperhidrosis, resulting in a better quality of life in women who had undergone thoracoscopic sympathectomy.

Primary focal hyperhidrosis: current treatment options and a step-by-step approach

Primary focal hyperhidrosis is a common disorder for which treatment is often a therapeutic challenge. A systematic review of current literature on the various treatment modalities for primary focal hyperhidrosis was performed and a step-by-step approach for the different types of primary focal hyperhidrosis (axillary, palmar, plantar and craniofacial) was established. Non-surgical treatments (aluminium salts, local and systemic anticholinergics, botulinum toxin A (BTX-A) injections and iontophoresis) are adequately supported by the current literature. More invasive surgical procedures (suction curettage and sympathetic denervation) have also been extensively investigated, and can offer a more definitive solution for cases of hyperhidrosis that are unresponsive to non-surgical treatments. There is no consensus on specific techniques for sympathetic denervation, and this issue should be further examined by meta-analysis. There are numerous treatment options available to improve the quality of life (QOL) of the hyperhidrosis patient. In practice, however, the challenge for the dermatologist remains to evaluate the severity of hyperhidrosis to achieve the best therapeutic outcome, this can be done most effectively using the Hyperhidrosis Disease Severity Scale (HDSS).