Is clipping the preferable technique to perform sympathicotomy? A retrospective study and review of the literature

Kocher, Gregor; Taha, Anas; Ahler, Markus; Schmid, Ralph (2015). Is clipping the preferable technique to perform sympathicotomy? A retrospective study and review of the literature. Langenbeck's archives of surgery, 400(1), pp. 107-112. Springer 10.1007/s00423-014-1249-8

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PURPOSE

Thoracoscopic sympathetic surgery is nowadays a broadly accepted technique in the treatment of primary hyperhidrosis as well as facial blushing. The objective of this study was to compare the two currently most commonly used methods for thoracic sympathicotomy: transection (ETS) and clipping (ETC.).

METHODS

This is a retrospective study on a total of 63 patients, who underwent rib-oriented sympathicotomy, either by transection (n = 36, 57 %) or by clipping (n = 27, 43 %). Moreover, the up-to-date international literature is reviewed concerning which level(s) of the sympathetic trunk should be addressed, depending on the patients underlying condition. Furthermore, the highly controversial topic of reversibility of sympathetic clipping is debated.

RESULTS

Our results confirm that clipping is at least as effective as transection of the sympathetic chain in the treatment of hyperhidrosis and facial blushing. Furthermore, the analysis of all larger studies on unclipping in humans shows a surprisingly high reported reversal rate between 48 and 77 %.

CONCLUSIONS

Depending on the symptoms of the patient, different levels of the sympathetic chain should be addressed. When a higher rib level such as R2 is approached, which more likely will result in moderate to severe compensatory sweating, clipping should be preferred as it seems that this technique has indeed a potential for reversibility. As demonstrated, this method is at least as effective as an irreversible transection of the sympathetic chain.

Item Type:

Journal Article (Original Article)

Division/Institute:

04 Faculty of Medicine > Department of Gastro-intestinal, Liver and Lung Disorders (DMLL) > Clinic of Thoracic Surgery

UniBE Contributor:

Kocher, Gregor, Taha, Anas, Ahler, Markus, Schmid, Ralph

Subjects:

600 Technology > 610 Medicine & health

ISSN:

1435-2443

Publisher:

Springer

Language:

English

Submitter:

Thomas Michael Marti

Date Deposited:

16 Mar 2015 12:30

Last Modified:

05 Dec 2022 14:42

Publisher DOI:

10.1007/s00423-014-1249-8

PubMed ID:

25246193

BORIS DOI:

10.7892/boris.64713

URI:

https://boris.unibe.ch/id/eprint/64713

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