Long-term Effect of Endothoracic Sympathectomy with Clipping Method on Quality of Life in Primary Hyperhidrosis and Facial Flushing

Abstract

This study aimed to evaluate the long-term results of patients who underwent endoscopic thoracic sympathectomy (ETS) due to primary hyperhidrosis and facial flushing with dermatological quality of life index (DLQI) questionnaire. The results of the preoperative and postoperative DLQI questionnaire (Turkish version) performed on 57 patients who underwent ETS with video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS) in our clinic between March 2015 and February 2021 were evaluated. Patients were evaluated in terms of age, gender, level of clinical practice, intraoperative and postoperative complications, length of stay, and compensatory hyperhidrosis. Preoperative HDSS and DLQI questionnaires were administered by the training nurse in the clinic. Postoperative questionnaires were carried out in the first month and the first year at outpatient clinic controls or by phone. Fifty-seven patients who underwent video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS) and ETS surgery in our clinic and completed the DLQI questionnaire were included in the study. Thirty-seven of our patients were males and 20 were females; the average age was determined as 25.3. Clips were applied at the T4 level in 26 patients, at the T3 level in 22 patients, and at the T2 level in 9 patients. The results of DLQI were as follows: 17.2 preoperatively and 4.28 at the postoperative 1st month and 4.15 at the postoperative 1st year. Comparison of the preoperative value with the values at the 1st month and the 1st year was statistically significant. As a result, dermatological quality of life index results show that ETS is a safe, applicable, and effective technique in the treatment of primary hyperhidrosis and facial flushing.