Cardiac Autonomic Changes After Thoracic Sympathectomy: A Prospective, Randomized Study.

BACKGROUND: We evaluated whether cardiac autonomic changes could be associated with different extent of sympathetic nerve resection in the management of essential palmar hyperhidrosis.

METHODS: Sixty patients with essential palmar hyperhidrosis were randomly allocated to undergo excision of T3 ganglia (sympathicectomy group; n = 30) or to interruption of sympathetic chain at the T2 to T3 level with ganglion sparing (sympathicotomy group; n = 30). Time and frequency domains were measured with a 24-Holter monitor during daytime, nighttime, and 24-hour periods at different interval points (7 days before operation; 24 hours; and 1, 3, and 6 months later), and the differences were statistically compared. Clinical outcomes were also evaluated.

RESULTS: Twenty-eight of 30 patients of the sympathectomy and 29 of 30 patients of the sympathicotomy group completed the study. In both groups, we observed a significant increase (p < 0.05) of vagal activity measurements as root mean square of the successive differences of heart period; proportion of adjacent normal R-R intervals >50 ms; high frequency; and a significant decrease (p < 0.05) of adrenergic activity variables as heart rate, low frequency, and the ratio between low frequency and high frequency during daytime, nighttime, and 24-hour periods. These changes were significantly more evident (p < 0.05) in the sympathectomy group than in the sympathicotomy group. Clinical outcomes were similar between the two groups.

CONCLUSIONS: Endoscopic thoracic sympathectomy caused a shift of sympathovagal balance toward parasympathetic tone that seems to be associated with the extent of denervation. This trial was registered at clinicaltrials.gov as NCT02733497.