The Results of a Long-Term Follow-up of Bilateral Single Port Sympathicotomy in Primary Hyperhidrosis: Should We Perform This Surgery?

Abstract

Background: Hyperhidrosis (HH), is the excessive sweating of the body in response to temperature or emotional stimuli rather than physiological stimuli, has brought on a search for permanent treatment. In this prospective study of this disease which adversely affects the quality of life, we researched for long term effects on complication development and patient satisfaction. Patients and Methods: Thirty-one patients who underwent bilateral single-port endoscopic thoracic sympathectomy (ETS) for HH between January 2010 and November 2014 were enrolled in this study. Patients were followed up until July 2017. Patient satisfaction was recorded with complications such as compensatory hyperhidrosis (CH) and primer complaints (PC) during short and long term follow up periods. Results: The mean follow-up period was 60.6 ± 12.8 (min: 40, max: 89) months postoperatively. ETS satisfaction was found as 81%. When both short and long term results were evaluated together, there was no effect of CH on patient satisfaction in both short and long term follow up periods, but it was found that the continuation of PC was in both short term (p = 0.020) and long term (p = 0.001) follow up periods was found to be significantly effective on satisfaction. Conclusions: The most important factor affecting patient satisfaction in this study was the continuation of PC, which led to the conclusion that further studies should be performed to enlighten this complication even though it may remit with time. Whether or not the ETS is a permanent treatment which cannot successfully treat PC, possible complications and the ability to cope with them will seem to be open to debate as the most important issues that surgeons will have to face in near future. Keywords: Complication; hyperhidrosis; surgery; sympathicotomy