Surgical treatment of axillary hyperhidrosis: a study comparing liposuction cannulas with a suction-curettage cannula.

BACKGROUND

Suction-curettage is a minimally invasive surgical approach for the treatment of focal axillary hyperhidrosis. Studies comparing the efficacy of different surgical cannulas are missing. Therefore, we gravimetrically compared a specially designed cannula versus 2 standard liposuction cannulas.

METHODS

Axillary suction-curettage was performed in 42 patients (n = 42). Fourteen patients (n = 14) were operated with a 1-hole liposuction cannula, 14 patients (n = 14) with a larger 3-hole liposuction cannula, and 14 (n = 14) with a sharp suction-curettage cannula. Sweat rates in mg/min were measured by gravimetry before and 6 months after surgery.

RESULTS

Sweat rate in the 1-hole liposuction cannula group was significantly reduced from 57.65 +/- 5.85 mg/min to 32.58 +/- 4.64 mg/min (P < 0.001), corresponding to a reduction of 44.15%. Patients operated with the larger 3-hole liposuction cannula showed a significant reduction of sweat rate from 63.95 +/- 8.25 mg/min to 33.14 +/- 6.25 mg/min (P < 0.001), corresponding to a reduction of 49.19%. The largest reduction of sweat rates (63.07%) was achieved with the suction-curettage cannula (61.85 +/- 9.03 mg/min to 21.27 +/- 4.42 mg/min (P < 0.001). No severe side effects were observed.

CONCLUSION

Due to the higher efficacy we recommend performing suction-curettage with a sharp suction-curettage cannula.