Endoscopic Thoracic Sympathectomy Abbas E. Abbas, MD Chief of Thoracic Surgery, Ochsner Clinic Medical Center New Orleans, USA [email protected] Curso Cirugía Mínimamente Invasivo en Tórax 12,13 y 14 de Noviembre del 2010
Dec 22, 2015
Endoscopic Thoracic Sympathectomy
Abbas E. Abbas, MD
Chief of Thoracic Surgery,
Ochsner Clinic Medical Center
New Orleans, USA
Curso Cirugía Mínimamente Invasivo en Tórax12,13 y 14 de Noviembre del 2010
Indications
• Palmar and axillary hyperhydrosis
• Facial flushing• Upper extremity ischemia • Chronic regional pain syndrome
Hyperhydrosis
• Palmar, axillary, and plantar hyperhydrosis
• Excessive sweating of the palms of the hands, axillae, and soles of the feet
• Creates vocational, social, and medical impairments
Clinical Impact of Hyperhydrosis
• Vocational
Writing
Keyboard
Driving
Clothing
• Social
Hand shaking
Sales
Marketing
Hand holding
Clothing selection
Clothing changes
• Medical
Rashes
Fungal infections
Hyperhydrosis
• Primary (idiopathic)• Secondary
Hyperhydrosis• Primary
Over-stimulation of sympathetic nervous system
Most common form Unknown etiology Localized
• Palms• Axilla• Soles of feet• Scalp, face
Hyperhydrosis
• Secondary Hyperthyroidism, hypertension Diabetes / pheochromocytoma Menopause Obesity Drug use
• Anti-depressants• Anti-emetics
Treatment of Primary Hyperhydrosis
• Anti-perspirants• Iontophoresis• Botox • Systemic medications• Surgery
Axillary liposuction Excision of axillary tissue Sympathectomy
Treatment of Secondary Hyperhydrosis
• Treatment of the underlying condition
Medical Treatments
• Anti-persirants Aluminum chloride (Drysol) Glutaraldehyde, tannic acid,
astringent
Medical Treatments
• Iontophoresis / Drionics Second line treatment Palmar and plantar Electric current (15 – 30 mA) Immersion 20 minutes 2 – 3 times / week 70% effective in mild Hyperhydrosis Sweating returns after cessation of
treatment
Medical Treatments• Anticholinergics
Robinul 1 – 4 mg po TID• Dry mouth, urinary retention,
constipation, dizziness Oxybutynin (Ditropan) 10 – 20 mg po
daily• Dry mouth, dizziness
Rebound excessive sweating
Medical Treatments
• Alpha agonists Clonidine (Catapres) 0.1 to 0.3 daily
• Dry mouth, dizziness, sleepiness, fatigue
• Less effect over time• Rebound sweating
• Beta blockers Inderal 10 mg po tid or prn
Medical treatments
• Botox Chemical denervation of sweat glands 50 – 500 units injection
• Hands and axillae Repeat every 2 – 6 months Pain, hand weakness 1 – 2 weeks, dry
mouth, bladder paralysis, bowel inactivity Effective in 70 – 80% of axillae Effective in 25 – 40% of palms
Upper Extremity Ischemia
• Raynaud’s disease• Berger’s disease
Small vessel atherosclerosis
Chronic Regional Pain Syndrome
• CRPS, also known as Reflex Sympathetic Dystrophy
• Chronic severe pain due to prior injury
• Etiology unknown
Chronic Regional Pain Syndrome
• Findings Cool, mottled upper extremity Extremely sensitive to light touch Claw hand
• Some of the pain is mediated by Sympathetic Nerve Fibers
• Results 20 – 50 % reduction in narcotic usage
Surgical Sympathectomy• Cervical
Injury to neurovascular bundle• Trans-axillary
Poor exposure• Thoracotomy
Pain and expense• Posterior
Pain, exposure• VATS
Outpatient, low pain, good exposure
Sympathetic levels (web-like)• T1
Scalp and face Neck Hands 10%
• T2 Hands 90% Face 10%
• T3 Hands 90% Axilla 90%
• T4 Axilla 90% Chest 50%
Patient Selection
• Must fail conservative therapy Topical agents Iontophoresis Oral medication Botox
• Must rule out secondary cause Usually very general sweating
Patient education
• Compensatory sweating 4 to 40% Truncal and groin
• Treatment options• Sympathectomy procedure• Support group
VATS Sympathectomy technique
• Supine position, sitting up, arms out• Single lumen endotracheal tube• CO2 insufflation• Two 5 mm incisions • 5 mm endoscope• Long cautery, harmonic scalpel, or
clips
Surgical Technique
• 5 mm Incisions posterior to Pectoralis• 5 mm port, CO2 insufflation, 15 cm H20• 5 mm port, 5 mm Endoscope• 3 mm cautery
T2 Dan Miller, MD Emory T3, T4 Mayfield and Houck, Reisler
• Carry laterally 2 – 3 cm, Kuntz nerves.• Evacuate CO2 completely
Post-op
• Immediate extubation• PACU CXR
Small pneumothorax common• Instructions regarding chest pain
and shortness of breath• Home with Hydrocodone/APAP
Single Level T2 Sympathectomy
• 50 patients (41 female)• T2 and accessory nerves only • Single-lumen endotracheal tube • CO2 insufflation• Single bilateral access incisions (4 mm)• 3-mm, 30-degree thoracoscope,• Electrocautery nerve division, and no chest drainage.• Median operating time was 22 minutes (14 – 35)• 100% outpatient• Pain at 3 months 1%• Outcomes
98% no sweating (1 pt required reop for T3) 12% compensatory sweating
Miller, D et al. Ann Thorac Surg 2007;83:1850 –3
Sympathectomy Level And Compensatory Hyperhidrosis After Sympathectomy
• 282 with palmar hyperhidrosis 179 patients (64%): division at T2 level only 103 at levels T2, T3, and T4
• Operative time 19 min (14 – 30)• Hospital stay 0 – 1 days
1% inpatient – pain• Results
99% no sweating 0% Horner’s Syndrome 0% gustatory sweating Compensatory hyperhidrosis
• 23 pts in T2 group (13%) • 35 pts in T2 - T4 group (34%; P = .011)
Miller, D et al. J Thorac Cardiovasc Surg 2009;138:581-585
Temporary Thoracoscopic Sympathetic Block for Hyperhidrosis
• 25 patients concerned about CH were scheduled for VATS block first
• 2.5 cc marcaine 0.25% block at T2-T3 and accessory nerves
• 100% no sweating in target areas with duration 2 – 10 days
• 12% (3 pts) compensatory sweating (2 mild, 1 severe)• One patient declined further sympathectomy due to CH• At VATS sympathectomy
100% no sweating5% compensatory sweatingAll pts satisfied
Miller, D et al. Annals of Thoracic Surgery 2008, 85 (4), pp. 1211-1216
Summary• Hyperhydrosis, CRPS, ischemia• Medical treatment first
Aluminum chloride PO medications Botox Iontophoresis
• Surgery Axillary fat pad resection VATS Sympathectomy
With special thanks to:
• Dr. William Mayfield: WellStar Thoracic Surgery, Marietta, GA
• For his support with much of the material presented