Surgery for sweaty hands

 

 

 

Hyperhidrosis operation. Hyperhidrosis, a pathology

characterized by excessive swelling in some parts of the body, is treated with

thoracic sympathectomy. Two minor incisions achieve the surgery in the armpits through video-assisted thoracoscopy.

 

How long is the treatment for hyperhidrosis?

 

The treatment takes less than an hour, requires anaesthesia

and an admission day. In general, depending on the area to be treated, the

success of this operation is higher than 95%. In palm hyperhidrosis, 99 percent

of axillary and face hyperhidrosis, between 95 percent and 96 percent.

 

Excessive sweating of the hands, whose medical name is

palmar hyperhidrosis is defined as abnormal sweating by the hands, without any physical exercise or situation that allows for this physiological condition.

 

People suffering from this condition have difficulties

in various daily activities, waving, writing; in short, any manual activity is

severely affected. Stress situations also play an essential role since they

further increase sweating, generating a vicious circle

(anxiety-sweating-anxiety).

 

It is a disease that affects millions of people

worldwide in different magnitudes. It is estimated that approximately between 2 and 3% of the population suffers from this disorder that generally begins in

childhood or adolescence, with different degrees of intensity, from mild

symptoms to severe symptoms that lead to dripping on the hands.

 

It is essential to keep in mind that this disease can affect people who suffer from it from a social and work perspective. Those affected try to hide this condition by taking all kinds of measures from wearing handkerchiefs to the extreme of avoiding situations such as greeting, shaking hands, and in many cases, it can lead to real social isolation and depression. We have observed many of these cases in our office.

 

The relationship between the autonomic nervous system

and sweating has been known for years. Surgical treatment using the sympathetic system section was successfully carried out in this pathology. Still, the intervention was indicated in rare situations because access to the nerve chain required the opening of the chest and was considered too traumatic a treatment for the solution of the problem. Beginning in the 1990s, with the emergence of video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (mini-invasive surgery), it is possible to carry out surgical interventions on the chest without opening it, and this fact renewed the possibility of definitive surgical treatment for hyperhidrosis.

 

Currently, almost the vast majority of surgical chest

conditions can be addressed with mini-invasive procedures, including

hyperhidrosis surgery.

 

The procedure

 

The intervention is performed with thoracoscopic video technique (VATS) under general anaesthesia. A small incision is made in the axillary region on each side into which a specially designed end chamber is inserted to explore the thoracic cavity. The nerves of the sympathetic system that carry the nerve impulses to the sweat glands are identified and selectively sectioned in specific places, managing to stop sweating permanently. Usually, no drainage is necessary, and patients are awakened at the end of surgery. Between 12 and 24 hours after the procedure, they are in hospital discharge conditions.

 

The patient can return to his activities a few days

after the operation. For the return to physical activities, it is recommended

to wait between 10 to 15 days.

 

The results of the intervention are excellent in more than 98% of the patients.

Regarding the adverse effects, what is known as compensatory sweat appears, that is, the transient appearance of light sweat on the back or thighs, which is evaluated as a mild phenomenon by most of the patients compared to discomfort—suffered before the intervention.

 

During the postoperative period, slight local

discomfort may appear, but generally, the patient quickly recovers his usual

activities. As for the scar, it is hidden under the axillary hollow. 

Once the intervention is performed, the result is immediate since the patient goes from being with cold and wet hands to have them dry and warm.

Surgery is a valid alternative in the treatment of hyperhidrosis since it definitively ends with sweating in more than 98% of

cases.

 

We actively advise those who want this operation to do

their homework; we search at possible medical alternatives at hyperhidrosis and speak to dermatologists and other healthcare providers to know the procedures and side effects of this operation. It is also essential to discuss this with other patients who have had the procedure to receive feedback on their surgeons and results.

 

In short: for you or anyone you care about considers ETS, the move should be followed by extreme caution and critical study. Have a look at healthcare providers from the field who have medication for hyperhidrosis. It would be best if you talked to a dermatologist before you head into surgery. A dermatologist can prescribe appropriate non-operative solutions and may suggest and conduct municipal operations in response to ETS.

 

Be mindful that this is a significant operation that needs additional care for the treatment of heavy sweating. Ensure that your doctor is well qualified and informed regarding the new findings if you are

seeking surgical care. If selecting a physician, talk into the percentage of

patients suffering from side effects such as compensatory sweating with ETS and question some patients undergoing medication for hyperhidrosis. Because some of this procedure 's problems are noticeable five to 10 years after, you will talk about people undergoing an operation at least two years earlier.

Ask such patients if they are happy with this treatment if they have side effects and suggest surgery to others.