Bilateral sympathicotomy for hyperhidrosis without using single-lung ventilation

Background/aim: The goal of this retrospective study was to evaluate the outcomes and complications of bilateral videothoracoscopic sympathicotomy without using single-lung ventilation in the treatment of primary hyperhidrosis and facial blushing. Materials and methods: We retrospectively reviewed 154 consecutive patients (70 females and 84 males) who underwent bilateral sympathicotomy for palmar, axillary, and facial/scalp hyperhidrosis or facial blushing from February 2005 to June 2013. The patients were intubated with single-lumen endotracheal tube, and then sympathicotomies were performed via videothoracoscopy during controlled apnea periods. Results: Sympathicotomies were performed at costal levels 2, 3, and 4. No perioperative mortality or conversion to open surgery was recorded. Mean operation time was 31.2 ± 2.4 min and mean hospital stay was 1.1 ± 0.6 days. One patient experienced a unilateral pneumothorax that required treatment. There were no abnormal hemodynamic parameters measured during the perioperative apnea periods. The long term follow-up period was 21.4 ± 5 months. Twenty-nine cases (18.8%) were complicated by compensatory sweating. No recurrence was observed during the follow-up period. Conclusion: Video-assisted thoracoscopic sympathicotomy without lung isolation provides effective cure of primary hyperhidrosis and facial blushing. This procedure can shorten the operative time without any aberrant hemodynamic shifts.