Effects of T3 or T4 sympathectomy through transumbilical-ultrafine gastroscopy for primary palmar hyperhidrosis

Objective To compare the efficacy of transumbilical-ultrafine gastroscope sympathectomy for severe palmar hyperhidrosis using two distinct levels of T3 and T4. Methods A total of 84 cases with severe primary hyperhidrosis were randomly allocated to undergo either T3 sympathectomy treatment (T3 group, n=42) or T4 sympathectomy treatment (T4 group, n=42)with no difference between the two groups. The operation time, postoperative hospital stay, patient's hands hyperhidrosis, axillary hyperhidrosis, complications were recorded at follow-up in 1, 3, 6, 12 months. Results Operation on 84 patients were successful with mean operative time of T3 group being 55.02±10.61 min and T4 group being 55.36±10.51 min(P>0.05). The mean postoperative hospital stay were both 1.5 days. Patients were followed up for diaphragmatic hernia, umbilical hernia, Horner's syndrome and other serious complications for 12 months.No postoperative recurrence of palmar hyperhidrosis, severe compensatory sweating occurred in either group. The number of improved patients in T3 group's palmar hyperhidrosis, axillary hyperhidrosis, and foot hyperhidrosis were: 42/42 cases, 10/16 cases, 21/29 cases, while those in T4 group were: 42/42 cases, 16/17 cases 18/28 cases. Axillary hyperhidrosis improved to a larger extent in T4 group than in T3 group(P<0.05). There were 16(15 mild and 1 moderate)compensatory sweating in T3 group and 7(6 mild and 1 moderate)compensatory sweating in T4 group(P<0.05). Conclusion T3 and T4 thoracic sympathectomy using transumbilical-ultrafine gastroscope for primary palmar hyperhidrosis are safe, effective, and feasible. T4 sympathectomy is more effective in improving axillary hyperhidrosis than T3 and shows lower occurrence of postoperative compensatory hyperhidrosis. Key words: Ultrafinegastroscope; Primary palmar hyperhidrosis; Thoracic sympathectomy; Compensatory sweating