Nonintubated transareolar single-port thoracic sympathicotomy with a needle scope in a series of 85 male patients

Traditional endoscopic thoracic sympathicotomy is usually performed through an axillary incision with 5-mm thoracoscope under general anesthesia with endotrachea intubation. Nonintubated transareolar single-port thoracic sympathicotomy with a needle scope has rarely been attempted. The objective of this study is to evaluate the feasibility and safety of this minimally invasive technique in managing primary palmar hyperhidrosis (PPH).

From May 2012 to May 2014, a total of 85 male patients with severe PPH underwent transareolar single-port thoracic sympathicotomy by use of a 2-mm needle scope under total intravenous anesthesia without endotrachea intubation.

All procedures were successfully performed with a mean operating time of 13.5 min. The palms of all patients became dry and warm as soon as the sympathetic chain was cut off. There were no sore throat, and all the patients regained consciousness rapidly after surgery. Eighty-two patients (96.5 %) were discharged from the hospital on the first postoperative day. The postoperative complications were minor, and no patients developed Horner’s syndrome. At 6 months postoperatively, there is no obvious surgical scar on the chest wall, and none of the patients complained about postoperative pain. Compensatory sweating appeared in 31 patients. No recurrent symptoms were observed in our study. One-year follow-up revealed an excellent cosmetic result and degree of satisfaction.

Nonintubated transareolar single-port needlescopic thoracic sympathicotomy is a safe, effective and minimally invasive therapeutic procedure, which can be performed in routine clinical practice for male PPH patients.