Fifteen Years' Experience of Thoracoscopic Sympathetic Chain Interruption for Palmar Hyperhidrosis in Children and Adolescents: Evaluation of Different Techniques.

Background

Thoracoscopic sympathetic chain interruption is a definitive and effective therapy for severe primary palmar hyperhidrosis (PPH). Well-known methods include sympathectomy, sympathotomy, and clipping, but the occurrence of compensatory sweating offsets these methods. This study aims to report our experience with thoracoscopic sympathetic chain interruption in a large group of patients of age <18 years with PPH, focusing on surgical outcomes, complication rates, and patient satisfaction. Patients and

Methods

This retrospective study included patients who underwent thoracoscopic sympathectomy, sympathotomy, or clipping for severe PPH between April 2008 and March 2023 at the Pediatric Surgery Department, Al-Azhar University Hospitals. Demographic and clinical data, operative steps, postoperative outcomes, complications, and patient satisfaction were reviewed from the patients' medical records.

Results

During the 15-year study period, 420 children with PPH underwent bilateral thoracoscopic sympathetic chain interruption by either sympathectomy, sympathotomy, or clipping, with a sex ratio of 60% being females. The mean ages were 12 ± 3.48, 13 ± 2.45, and 13 ± 2.45 years, respectively. Sympathectomy was performed in 190 patients (45.2%), sympathotomy in 170 patients (40.5%), and clipping in 60 patients (14.3%). All patients had completed follow-up, with mean periods of ∼43 ± 5 months, 45 ± 3 months, and 42 ± 6 months, respectively. Complete palmar dryness was achieved in 405 patients (overall 96.4%) (97.8% after sympathectomy, 97.05% after sympathotomy, and 90% after clipping), whereas 2.1%, 2.9%, and 10% of patients experienced symptom recurrence, respectively, denoting significant statistical differences. Overall, 94 patients (22.4%) experienced compensatory sweating. Eventually, 409 patients (97.4%) were satisfied with the outcome, whereas 11 patients (2.6%) reported dissatisfaction, yet no significant differences found.

Conclusion

The presented three modalities of thoracoscopic sympathetic chain interruption for PPH in children and adolescents are safe and effective, with overall very high postoperative satisfaction, despite a relatively high rate of compensatory sweating in sympathectomy group. Other major complications in this age population were scanty.