Nationwide Cross-sectional Analysis of Endoscopic Thoracic Sympathectomy to Treat Hyperhidrosis Over 12 years in Brazil: Epidemiology, Costs, and Mortality.

OBJECTIVE: To analyze the number of endoscopic thoracic sympathectomies performed to treat hyperhidrosis in the Universal Public Health System of Brazil, the government reimbursements, and the in-hospital mortality rates. BACKGROUND: Even though endoscopic thoracic sympathectomy has been widely performed for the definitive treatment of hyperhidrosis, no series reported mortality and there are no population-based studies evaluating its costs or its mortality rate. METHODS: Data referring to endoscopic thoracic sympathectomy to treat hyperhidrosis between 2008 and 2019 were extracted from the database of the Brazilian Public Health System, which insures more than 160 million inhabitants. RESULTS: Thirteen thousand two hundred one endoscopic thoracic sympathectomies to treat hyperhidrosis were performed from 2008 to 2019, with a rate of 68.44 procedures per 10 million inhabitants per year. There were 6 in-hospital deaths during the whole period, representing a mortality rate of 0.045%. The total expended throughout the years was U$ 6,767,825.14, with an average of U$ 512.68 per patient. CONCLUSIONS: We observed a rate of 68.44 thoracoscopic sympathectomies for hyperhidrosis' treatment per 10 million inhabitants per year. The inhospital mortality rate was very low, 0.045%, though not nil. To our knowledge, no published series is larger than ours and we are the first authors to formally report deaths after endoscopic thoracic sympathectomies to treat hyperhidrosis. Moreover, there is no other population-based study addressing costs and mortality rates of every endoscopic thoracic sympathectomy for the treatment of any site of hyperhidrosis in a given period.

Evaluation of compensatory hyperhidrosis after sympathectomy: The use of an objective method.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the prevalence of compensatory hyperhidrosis following videothoracic sympathectomy to treat palmoplantar hyperhidrosis and its effect on sweating in the chest, abdomen, back and thighs. Furthermore, to evaluate the concordance between a subjective and an objective method of assessment for compensatory hyperhidrosis. METHODS: Forty patients with combined palmar and plantar hyperhidrosis who underwent video-assisted thoracoscopic sympathectomy (15 women and 25 men, with a mean age of 25 years) were prospectively followed for 1 year. Subjective and objective parameters were evaluated, using respectively a questionnaire and a sudorometer (Vapometer). RESULTS: In the subjective analysis, in the first month, only 10% of patients did not have compensatory hyperhidrosis, and 70% continued to report it at 1 or more sites after 1 year. In the objective analysis, 35% of the patients did not present compensatory hyperhidrosis after 1 month, and this number persisted stable, with 30% of patients remaining free of compensatory hyperhidrosis after 1 year. The most frequent area affected by compensatory hyperhidrosis was the back in both assessments. There was no positive concordance between the results of the objective and subjective analysis at any time in any of the 4 regions studied. CONCLUSIONS: Compensatory hyperhidrosis is a very common postoperative side effect after videothoracic sympathectomy, occurring early after the procedure and persisting for prolonged periods of time. The most frequently affected body area is the back, and no concordance between objective and subjective assessments was observed.

Current treatment options for craniofacial hyperhidrosis.

Hyperhidrosis (HH) is characterized by sweating exceeding the amount necessary to meet the thermal regulation and physiological needs of the body. Approximately 9.41% of individuals with HH have craniofacial hyperhidrosis (FH). The present study aims to review the most current data in the literature regarding craniofacial hyperhidrosis, including pathophysiology, diagnosis and clinical presentation, treatment options (clinical and surgical), and outcomes. VATS (videothoracoscopy sympathectomy) is considered the gold standard for definitive treatment of axillary or palmar hyperhidrosis. Recently, several studies have shown the usefulness of clinical treatment with oxybutynin hydrochloride, leading to clinical improvement of HH in more than 70% of users. Both clinical and surgical treatment of craniofacial hyperhidrosis have good results. However, surgical treatment of FH is associated with more complications. Clinical treatment with oxybutynin hydrochloride yields good results and can be the first therapeutic option. When the patient is not satisfied with this treatment and has good clinical conditions, surgical treatment can be used safely.

A hiperidrose (HH) é caracterizada por transpiração além da quantidade necessária para manter a regulação térmica e as necessidades fisiológicas do corpo. Aproximadamente 9,41% dos indivíduos com HH apresentam hiperidrose craniofacial (FH). Este estudo tem como objetivo revisar os dados mais atuais da literatura sobre FH, incluindo fisiopatologia, diagnóstico e apresentação clínica, opções de tratamento (clínico e cirúrgico) e desfechos. A simpatectomia por videotoracoscopia (VATS) é considerada o padrão-ouro para o tratamento definitivo da hiperidrose axilar ou palmar. Recentemente, vários estudos demonstraram a utilidade do tratamento clínico com cloridrato de oxibutinina, que leva à melhora clínica da HH em mais de 70% dos pacientes. O tratamento clínico e o cirúrgico apresentam bons resultados no tratamento da FH. No entanto, o tratamento cirúrgico da FH apresenta mais complicações. O tratamento clínico com cloridrato de oxibutinina fornece bons resultados e pode ser a primeira opção terapêutica. Quando o paciente não está satisfeito com esse tratamento e mostra boas condições clínicas, o tratamento cirúrgico pode ser usado com segurança.

Video-Assisted Thoracoscopic Sympathectomy for Facial Hyperhidrosis: The Influence of the Main Site of Complaint.

INTRODUCTION: Facial hyperhidrosis (FH) may lead patients to a significantly impaired quality of life (QOL). Video-assisted thoracoscopic sympathectomy (VATS) is reserved for more severe cases refractory to common first-line agents. The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of VATS for FH and to compare the results between patients with facial hyperhidrosis as main complaint (FHMC) and patients with facial hyperhidrosis as nonmain complaint (FHNMC). METHODS: This was a retrospective study based on medical chart analysis from March 2000 to January 2014: 40 patients with FHMC and 136 patients with FHNMC. Patients underwent VATS at the T2, T3, or T4 level, according to the main site of complaint. We assessed improvement in QOL, improvement in hyperhidrosis, and presence of complications and side effects, notably compensatory hyperhidrosis (CH). RESULTS: Patients with FHMC reported greater improvement in FH (97.1% versus 93.6%; P = 0.006) but had lower improvement in QOL (78.2% versus 92.7%; P = 0.024) compared to patients with FHNMC. For patients with FHNMC, any degree of improvement in FH was reported by 100%, almost 95%, and nearly 80% of the patients who underwent VATS at the T2, T3, and T4 level, respectively (P = 0.039). Pain and CH were reported by more than 61% and 92% of the patients, respectively, with no statistical difference between both groups. CONCLUSIONS: Patients with FHMC, despite the greater improvement in FH, experienced lower improvement in QOL compared to patients with FHNMC. CH was the most frequent side effect in both groups, affecting more than 92% of the patients.

Videothoracoscopic Sympathectomy Results after Oxybutynin Chloride Treatment Failure.

BACKGROUND: Videothoracoscopy sympathectomy (VATS) is the only definitive treatment for primary hyperhidrosis (HH). Since 2007, in our institution, patients with HH were initially treated with oxybutynin chloride to avoid VATS and reduce compensatory hyperhidrosis incidence with good results. The aim of this study was to analyze the surgical response of patients suffering from essential hyperhidrosis after failure of oxybutynin chloride treatment. METHODS: This was an observational retrospective study that included 737 patients who were diagnosed with palmar or axillary hyperhidrosis and received VATS from January 2007 to January 2014. Patients were selected for 2 different groups: The post-oxybutynin surgery group consisted of 167 patients that were initially treated with oxybutynin chloride for 6 weeks and then received VATS after drug treatment failure. The primary surgery group consisted of a historic control group of 570 patients who were referred directly to surgical treatment. We evaluated the degree of improvement in symptoms 30 days after surgery and quality of life before and after the surgical treatment. RESULTS: All patients showed poor or very poor quality of life before surgery. Most patients showed a response between moderate and high after surgical treatment. However, those in primary surgery group responded better (95.1% vs. 98.2%). In the quality of life after surgery, most of the patients reported improvement, and the primary surgery group had better improvement (92.2% vs. 95.1%). CONCLUSIONS: VATS showed good results in patients with palmar or axillary hyperhidrosis regarding surgical response and improvement on quality of life even when the previous oxybutynin chloride treatment failed.

Functional exercise capacity and lung function in patients undergoing an early rehabilitation program after the Nuss procedure: a randomized controlled trial.

PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to compare the functional exercise capacity and the lung function among patients undergoing early rehabilitation with those submitted to the conventional care after pectus excavatum repair using the Nuss procedure. METHOD: Patients were randomly allocated to the early rehabilitation group (ERG) who started rehabilitation after surgery and the group of the conventional care (CG) received routine care of the institution. They were evaluated before surgery (preoperative) and in hospital discharge day (postoperative). RESULTS: Forty patients were evaluated, twenty in each group. All patients presented a significant reduction in FVC, FEV1, and PEF in the postoperative period, there was no statistically significant difference between groups. There was significant different in postoperative functional exercise capacity between the ERG and CG (506.26 ± 66.54 vs 431.11 ± 75.61, p = 0.02) and the difference between distance walked in the preoperative and postoperative period was lower in the ERC than in the CG (76.57 ± 49.41 vs 166.82 ± 70.13, p < 0.001). CONCLUSION: Patients undergoing the early rehabilitation after the Nuss procedure presented a better postoperative functional exercise capacity in hospital discharge day compared with patients in the conventional group, with no difference in lung function between groups.

Sternal cleft: new options for reconstruction.

Sternal cleft (SC) is a rare congenital affection caused by the absence of sternal bar union. Diagnosis is generally made after birth due to paradoxical midline movement, although it can be made prenatally by ultrasonography. A computerized tomography scan (CT scan) after birth is generally used to confirm the diagnosis, assess other intrathoracic conditions, classify the SC, and plan for surgery. SC can be classified as complete or incomplete. A complete SC has a full gap between sternal bars. An incomplete SC is subdivided into superior or inferior, related to the point of bone fusion between the sternal bars. The goal of surgical treatment is to protect mediastinal structures. Many authors advocate the repair in newborn patients, although it can be performed in older patients. The main argument in its favor is the chest's flexibility, with a reduced risk of compression of the mediastinal structures. There are several cases of series and distinct surgical techniques in the literature. Some authors have suggested the use of autologous tissue, prosthetic material such as mesh, or titanium plates and screws. Although difficulties are often encountered in surgical access, they have not been discussed. Therefore, we are promoting modifications to the technique in response to this. The purpose is to show innovations, and how to deal with adversity during the procedure.

Randomized comparison of oblique and perpendicular stabilizers for minimally invasive repair of pectus excavatum.

OBJECTIVES: Bar dislocation is one of the most feared complications of the minimally invasive repair of pectus excavatum. METHODS: Prospective randomized parallel-group clinical trial intending to assess whether oblique stabilizers can reduce bar displacement in comparison with regular stabilizers used in minimally invasive repair of pectus excavatum. Additionally, we evaluated pain, quality of life and other postoperative complications. Participants were randomly assigned to surgery with perpendicular (n = 16) or oblique stabilizers (n = 14) between October 2017 and September 2018 and followed for 3 years. Bar displacements were evaluated with the bar displacement index. Pain scores were evaluated through visual analogue scale and quality of life through the Pectus Excavatum Evaluation Questionnaire. RESULTS: Control group average displacement index was 17.7 (±26.7) and intervention group average displacement index was 8.2 (±10.9). There was 1 reoperation in each group that required correction with 2 bars. Bar displacement was similar among groups (P = 0.12). No other complications were recorded. There was no statistically significant difference on pain score. There was a significant difference between pre- and postoperative composite scores of the participants' body image domain and psycho-social aspects in both groups. The difference between the pre- and postoperative participants' perception of physical difficulties was greater and statistically significant in the intervention group. CONCLUSIONS: There was no statistical difference in the use of perpendicular or oblique stabilizers, but the availability of different models of stabilizers during the study suggested that this can be advantageous. The trial is registered at ClinicalTrials.gov, number NCT03087734.

Management of soft tissue sarcomas of the chest wall: a comprehensive overview.

Sarcomas of the chest wall are rare and their current treatment regimen is diverse and complex due to the heterogeneity of these tumors as well as the variations in tumor location and extent. They only account for 0.04% of newly diagnosed cancers of whom about 45% comprise soft tissue sarcomas. Larger cohort studies are scarce and often focus on one specific treatment item. We therefore aim to provide helicopter view for clinicians treating patients with sarcomas of the chest wall, focusing mainly on soft tissue sarcomas. This overview includes the value of neoadjuvant systemic or radiotherapy, surgical resection, approaches for thoracic wall reconstruction, and the need for follow-up. Provided the heterogeneity and relative rarity, we recommend that treatment decisions in soft tissue sarcoma of the chest wall are discussed in a multidisciplinary tumor board at a reference sarcoma center or within sarcoma networks to ensure personalized, rational decision making. A surgical oncologist specialized in sarcoma surgery is crucial, and for extensive resections involving the thoracic cavity we recommend involvement of a thoracic surgeon. In addition, a specialized medical- and radiation oncologist as well as a plastic surgeon is required to ensure the best multimodality treatment plan to optimize patient outcome.

A randomized placebo-controlled trial of oxybutynin for the initial treatment of palmar and axillary hyperhidrosis.

INTRODUCTION: Video-assisted thoracic sympathectomy provides excellent resolution of palmar and axillary hyperhidrosis but is associated with compensatory hyperhidrosis. Low doses of oxybutynin, an anticholinergic medication that competitively antagonizes the muscarinic acetylcholine receptor, can be used to treat palmar hyperhidrosis with fewer side effects. OBJECTIVE: This study evaluated the effectiveness and patient satisfaction of oral oxybutynin at low doses (5 mg twice daily) compared with placebo for treating palmar hyperhidrosis. METHODS: This was prospective, randomized, and controlled study. From December 2010 to February 2011, 50 consecutive patients with palmar hyperhidrosis were treated with oxybutynin or placebo. Data were collected from 50 patients, but 5 (10.0%) were lost to follow-up. During the first week, patients received 2.5 mg of oxybutynin once daily in the evening. From days 8 to 21, they received 2.5 mg twice daily, and from day 22 to the end of week 6, they received 5 mg twice daily. All patients underwent two evaluations, before and after (6 weeks) the oxybutynin treatment, using a clinical questionnaire and a clinical protocol for quality of life. RESULTS: Palmar and axillary hyperhidrosis improved in >70% of the patients, and 47.8% of those presented great improvement. Plantar hyperhidrosis improved in >90% of the patients. Most patients (65.2%) showed improvements in their quality of life. The side effects were minor, with dry mouth being the most frequent (47.8%). CONCLUSIONS: Treatment of palmar and axillary hyperhidrosis with oxybutynin is a good initial alternative for treatment given that it presents good results and improves quality of life.

The correction of the diastasis of the rectus abdominis muscle concomitant with a moulded silicone implant insertion in a patient with medial pectus excavatum.

The association of the diastasis of the rectus abdominis muscle and the medial pectus excavatum was reported. We have been using soft silicone block, sculpted intraoperatively, to correct pectus excavatum. The horizontal access used, 2 cm at a subxiphoid position, allows us to expose the sternum and the rectus abdominis muscles (RAMs). We report a case, male, 31 years presenting medial pectus excavatum and supraumbilical diastasis of the rectus abdominis muscle with a width of 35 mm at the costal arches, and 27 mm at 6 cm from the xiphoid process edge. The muscle borders presented a curved lateral deviation up to the insertion in the costal arches. The necessary space for the implant was dissected and the block was sculpted. The medial and superior aponeurosis borders of the RAM were incised at 6 cm from the xiphoid, and the posterior border of the RAM was released. The aponeurosis borders were brought together, promoting a medial and anterior positioning of the RAM. The inferior border of the implant was attached to the raw superior borders of the RAM. The result was considered satisfactory, and a magnetic resonance image 14 months after showed continuity of the implant and the muscles, promoting a uniform body contour. Registry: CAAE63181616.7.0000.0071.

Cohort study on 20 years' experience of bilateral video-assisted thoracic sympathectomy (VATS) for treatment of hyperhidrosis in 2431 patients.

BACKGROUND: Primary hyperhidrosis is a condition characterized by excessive sweating, inconsistent with the needs for thermoregulation. OBJECTIVE: To assess the effectiveness and the change in the quality of life of patients undergoing bilateral VATS (video-assisted thoracoscopic sympathectomy) for treatment of hyperhidrosis, in a large case series. DESIGN AND SETTING: Cohort study conducted in a tertiary hospital specializing in hyperhidrosis located in São Paulo, Brazil. METHODS: A total of 2,431 patients who underwent surgery consisting of bilateral video-assisted thoracoscopic sympathectomy between January 2000 and February 2017 were retrospectively assessed in an outpatient clinic specializing in hyperhidrosis. The patients underwent clinical and quality of life assessments on two occasions: firstly, prior to surgery, and subsequently, one month after the operation. The presence or absence of compensatory hyperhidrosis (CH) and general satisfaction after the first postoperative month were also evaluated. RESULTS: All the patients operated had poor or very poor quality of life before surgery. In the postoperative period, an improvement in the quality of life was observed in more than 90% of the patients. Only 10.7% of the patients did not present CH, and severe CH occurred in 22.1% of the patients in this sample. CONCLUSION: Bilateral VATS is a therapeutic method that decreases the degree of sweating more than 90% of patients with palmar and axillary hyperhidrosis. It improves the quality of life for more than 90% of the patients, at the expense of development of CH in approximately 90% of the patients, but not intensely.

Population-based analysis of the epidemiology of the surgical correction of hyperhidrosis in 1,216 patients over 11 years: a cross-sectional study.

BACKGROUND: Endoscopic thoracic sympathectomy is the definitive surgical treatment for hyperhidrosis and a nationwide study has suggested that cultural and socioeconomic factors play a role in the numbers of operations performed. Thus, there is a need to evaluate local data in order to understand the local epidemiology and trends in hyperhidrosis treatment. OBJECTIVE: To study the epidemiology of sympathectomy for treating hyperhidrosis in São Paulo, the largest city in Brazil. DESIGN AND SETTING: Population-based retrospective cross-sectional study. METHODS: Data on sympathectomies for treating hyperhidrosis between 2008 and 2018 were assessed from the database of the Municipal Health Department of São Paulo, Brazil. RESULTS: 65.29% of the patients were female, 66.2% were aged between 20 and 39 years and 37.59% had registered with addresses outside São Paulo. 1,216 procedures were performed in the city of São Paulo from 2008 to 2018, and 78.45% of them were in only two public hospitals. The number of procedures significantly declined over the years (P = 0.001). 71.63% of the procedures were associated with 2-3 days of hospital stay, only 78 intensive care unit days were billed and we did not observe any intra-hospital death. CONCLUSION: The profile of patients operated on in São Paulo (young women) is similar to that described in other populations. Sympathectomy is a very safe procedure, with no mortality in our series. There was a decreasing trend in the number of surgeries over the years.

Seasonal influence of the surgical outcome after thoracic sympathectomy for hyperhidrosis.

Analyze the seasonal variation of the surgical results after sympathectomy through the seasons of the year. The surgical results are better in the spring, and the sudomotor reflex is worst in summer. Comparison of surgical results of distinct techniques should be done under the same climatic conditions.

The use of oxybutynin for treating axillary hyperhidrosis.

BACKGROUND: To evaluate the effectiveness and patient satisfaction with the use of oxybutynin for treating axillary hyperhidrosis in a large series of patients. METHODS: One hundred two patients with axillary hyperhidrosis were treated with oxybutynin. During the first week, patients received 2.5 mg of oxybutynin once a day in the evening. From the 8th to the 42nd day, they received 2.5 mg twice a day, and from the 43rd day to the end of the 12th week, they received 5 mg twice a day. All of the patients underwent two evaluations: before and after (12 weeks) the oxybutynin treatment, using a clinical questionnaire; and a clinical protocol for quality of life (QOL). RESULTS: More than 80% of the patients experienced an improvement in axillary hyperhidrosis; 36.3% of them presented a great improvement, and half of the patients showed improvements at all hyperhidrosis sites. Most of the patients showed improvements in the QOL (67.5%). The patients with very poor QOL before the treatment presented greater satisfaction levels after treatment. The side effects were minor, dry mouth being the most frequent (73.5%). CONCLUSIONS: Oxybutynin is a good alternative to sympathectomy. It presents good results and improves QOL without the side effects of sympathectomy.

Quality of life before surgery is a predictive factor for satisfaction among patients undergoing sympathectomy to treat hyperhidrosis.

PURPOSE: The objective of this study was to evaluate the postoperative quality of life (QOL) experienced among a group of 1167 patients who underwent video-assisted thoracoscopic sympathectomy (VATS) to treat primary hyperhidrosis, as compared with the presurgical QOL. METHODS: Between February 2002 and June 2007, 1167 patients who had undergone VATS were surveyed. The majority had presented with palmar hyperhidrosis (794 patients; 68%), while 340 (29%) had presented with axillary hyperhidrosis. Based on data obtained from the QOL protocol applied to all of the patients preoperatively, the patients were divided into two groups according to the level of their QOL: group 1 consisted of 312 patients (27%) with poor QOL and group 2 of 855 patients (73%) with very poor QOL. The same protocol was applied postoperatively, and five different levels of satisfaction were obtained. The same parameters were evaluated for both the palmar and the axillary hyperhidrosis subgroups. RESULTS: The patients with very poor QOL had much better results in terms of improvement in QOL than did those with poor QOL (P < .05). The same result was observed for both the palmar and axillary hyperhidrosis subgroups (P < .05). CONCLUSION: The worse the preoperative QOL among patients undergoing sympathectomy to treat primary hyperhidrosis is, the better the postoperative improvement in QOL will be.

Comparative analysis of the results of videothoracoscopic sympathectomy in the treatment of hyperhidrosis in adolescent patients.

OBJECTIVE: Several factors that could influence the efficacy and satisfaction of patients after bilateral thoracic sympathectomy (VATS) in the treatment of hyperhidrosis (HH) have been studied, but no studies in the literature have specifically analyzed the effectiveness of treatment and variations in the quality of life of adolescents patients compared to those of adult patients (18-40 years). METHODS: We retrospectively analyzed 2431 hyperhidrosis patients who underwent bilateral VATS and divided the patients into the following groups: adolescents (472 patients) and adult group (1760 patients). Variables included quality of life prior to surgery, improvement in quality of life after surgery, clinical improvement in sweating, presence of severe compensatory hyperhidrosis and general satisfaction at one month after surgery. RESULTS: We observed that all surgical patients presented with poor or very poor quality of life before surgery, with similar proportions in both groups. In the postoperative period, we observed improvement in quality of life in more than 90% of the patients, with no significant difference noted between the two groups of patients. We observed that all patients undergoing surgery presented poor or very poor quality of life before surgery; however, the two groups were statistically different. The quality of life of the ADOLESCENT group before surgery was statistically worse than that of the ADULT group. More than 90% of the patients in this series had great clinical improvement in the main hyperhidrosis site, with no significant difference between the two groups. Severe compensatory hyperhidrosis occurred in 23.8% of the patients in this series, with no significant difference between the two groups. CONCLUSIONS: Adolescent patients benefit just as much as adult patients from VATS performed to treat primary hyperhidrosis, presenting excellent, significant surgical results. TYPE OF STUDY: Clinical research. LEVELS OF EVIDENCE: Level III.

Endoscopic lumbar sympathectomy for women: effect on compensatory sweat.

INTRODUCTION: Plantar hyperhidrosis is present in 50% of patients with hyperhidrosis. Thoracic sympathectomy is an important tool for the treatment of this condition, which is successful in about 60% of patients. For the remaining patients, lumbar sympathectomy is the procedure of choice. As new minimally invasive techniques have been developed, a significant demand for this type of access has led to its adaptation to the lumbar sympathectomy. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of endoscopic retroperitoneal lumbar sympathectomy in controlling plantar hyperhidrosis and its effects on compensatory sweat. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Thirty female patients with persistent plantar hyperhidrosis after thoracic sympathectomy were enrolled. They were randomly assigned to laparoscopic retroperitoneal lumbar sympathectomy (Group A) or no surgical intervention (Group B - control) groups. Quality-of-life modifications were assessed by specific questionnaires before and after surgery. In the same manner, direct sweat measurements were also performed pre- and post-intervention by evaluating trans-epidermal water loss. Despite the lack of intervention, the control group was evaluated at similar timepoints. RESULTS: In Group A, no major complications occurred in the peri-operative period. During the immediate post-operative period, three patients (20%) experienced prolonged pain (more than ten days). Eight patients suffered from worsened compensatory sweating (53.3%). In Group A, after lumbar sympathectomy, the quality of life significantly improved (p<0.05, intra-group comparison) beyond that of the control group (p<0.05, inter-group comparison). Also, lumbar sympathectomy resulted in significantly lower values of foot sweat (pre- vs. post-operative periods, p<0.05; Group A vs. Group B, p<0.05). These patients also developed higher values of sweat measurements on specific points of their dorsal and abdominal regions after the procedure (p<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: The endoscopic retroperitoneal lumbar sympathectomy diminishes plantar sweat and improves the quality of life of women with plantar hyperhidrosis. However, about half of the patients develop increased compensatory hyperhidrosis in other areas of the body.

Chest wall stabilization in trauma patients: why, when, and how?

Blunt trauma to the chest wall and rib fractures are remarkably frequent and are the basis of considerable morbidity and possible mortality. Surgical remedies for highly displaced rib fractures, especially in cases of flail chest, have been undertaken intermittently for more than 50 years. Rib-specific plating systems have started to be used in the last 10 years. These have ushered in the modern era of rib repair with chest wall stabilization (CWS) techniques that are safer, easier to perform, and more efficient. Recent consensus statements have sought to define the indications and contraindications, as well as the when, the how, and the technical details of CWS. Repair should be considered for patients who have three or more displaced rib fractures or a flail chest, whether or not mechanical ventilation is required. Additional candidates include patients who fail non-operative management irrespective of fracture pattern and those with rib fractures who need thoracic procedures for other reasons. Traditionally, unstable spine fracture and severe traumatic brain injury are definite contraindications. Pulmonary contusion's role in the decision to perform CWS remains controversial. A range of rib-specific plating systems are now commercially available.

The Vacuum Bell device as a sternal lifter: An immediate effect even with a short time use.

BACKGROUND: To minimize cardiac perforation during the minimally invasive repair of pectus excavatum (MIRPE), several surgeons have suggested using a suction device to intraoperatively lift the sternum. Whether or not this technique is effective for all PE patients is not yet known. As such, our aim was to quantify the extent to which a suction device is capable of lifting the sternum with a short duration of use. METHODS: 30 PE patients received a low-dose CT scan as part of standard PE evaluation. A Vacuum Bell suction was then applied for only two minutes, and a repeat CT scan was obtained only at the deepest point of the chest wall deformity. We compared chest dimensions before and after Vacuum Bell suction. RESULTS: The Vacuum Bell lifted the sternum in all 29 patients included in the analysis. The absolute change in depth ranged from 0.29 to 23.67mm (M=11.02, SD=6.05). The average improvement in Haller index was 0.76. The suction was most effective for individuals with low BMI and smaller chest depths. Efficacy was not associated with gender, age, or chest morphology. CONCLUSIONS: The Vacuum Bell device effectively lifted the sternum in PE patients with different demographics and chest morphologies. Future research is needed to address whether or not the device reduces risk of cardiac perforation during MIRPE. LEVELS OF EVIDENCE: Prognosis Study Level IV.