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Early experience with endoscopic lumbar sympathectomy for plantar hyperhidrosis
Author(s) -
Singh Sanjay,
Kaur Simranjit,
Wilson Paul
Publication year - 2016
Publication title -
asian journal of endoscopic surgery
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.372
H-Index - 18
eISSN - 1758-5910
pISSN - 1758-5902
DOI - 10.1111/ases.12275
Subject(s) - medicine , sympathectomy , hyperhidrosis , lumbar , surgery , lumbar sympathectomy , anesthesia
Objective We describe our endoscopic lumbar sympathectomy technique and our early experience using it to treat plantar hyperhidrosis. Methods We reviewed 20 lumbar sympathectomies performed in our vascular unit for plantar hyperhidrosis in 10 patients from 2011 and 2014. Demographics and outcomes were analyzed and a review of the literature conducted. Results All procedures were carried out endoscopically with no intraoperative or postoperative morbidity. Plantar anhidrosis was achieved in all the patients, although two patients (20%) suffered a relapse. Unwanted side‐effects occurred in the form of compensatory sweating in three patients (30%) and post‐sympathectomy neuralgia in two patients (20%). None of the patients experienced sexual dysfunction. Conclusion Management of plantar hyperhidrosis may be based upon a therapeutic ladder starting with conservative measures and working up to surgery depending on the severity of the disease. Minimally invasive (endoscopic) sympathectomy for the thoracic chain is well established, but minimally invasive sympathectomy for the lumbar chain is a relatively new technique. E ndoscopic lumbar sympathectomy provides an effective, minimally invasive method of surgical management, but long‐term data are lacking.