Sympathicotomy for palmar hyperhidrosis: the association between intraoperative palm temperature change and the curative effect.

PURPOSE: To investigate the association between intraoperative palm temperature change and the curative effect of sympathicotomy.

METHODS: 49 patients with palmar hyperhidrosis were treated with bilateral endoscopic sympathicotomy. Ipsilateral palm temperature was monitored before and at 3-5 min increments after the sympathetic trunk was transected. The maximum temperature elevation (Tmax) was calculated and used to evaluate the effect on postoperative cure rates.

RESULTS: Forty-nine patients underwent 98 sympathicotomies. There were 77 T4 sympathicotomies, 15 T4 + T5 sympathicotomies, and six T3 sympathicotomies due to pleural adhesions or neurovascular proximity. The Tmax was ≤1°C in 49 (50.0%), 1-1.5°C in 17 (17.3%), and >1.5°C in 32 (32.7%) palms. Ninety-two palms of 46 patients were followed with complete efficacy, and three patients were lost to follow up. Cure was achieved in 86 palms (93.4%). Of the 71 palms which underwent T4 sympathicotomy, cure was achieved in 67 palms (94.3%). In those palms which did not achieve cure, the Tmax was less than 1°C in each case, while in palms with a Tmax ≤1°C, 32 of 36 (88.9%) were cured.

CONCLUSION: There is an association between intraoperative palmar temperature change and curative effect. However, palmar temperature change cannot be used to predict cure or guide surgical approach.