http://www.bjs.co.uk/bjsCda/cda/microViewCorrespondence.do;jsessionid=9B36B12DB0D254AB7258F9024E59E1DF?DOI=10.1002%2Fbjs.4783&issueDOI=10.1002%2Fbjs.v91%3A8&vid=2

Volume 91, Issue 8 (August 2004) 
Drawbacks of endoscopic thoracic sympathectomy (Br J Surg 2004; 91: 264-269)  
 
 
 

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      Drawbacks of endoscopic thoracic sympathectomy (Br J Surg 2004; 91: 264-269) (p.1072-1073)
W. T. Ng

 Submit Correspondence  

Min-Huei Hsu , Yu-Chuan Li,  ,  Taiwan
25 de diciembre de 2004

Side effects after endoscopic thoracic sympathectomy have been discussed widely in Taiwan society in the past few months. Lots of people in Taiwan suffer from hyperhidrosis palmaris. Endoscopic thoracic sympathectomy is covered by our National Health Insurance, and yet patient billing for this operation does not exceed US$ 60. This is why this operation is so popular here (1). However, patients with serious compensatory sweating must change clothes several times a day (some complain they change as often as 10 times a day), resulting in a serious impact on work and social interaction. Patients suffering from such serious side effects in Taiwan have formed a support group based on an Internet discussion forum to request the government to take this problem seriously (http://home.pchome.com.tw/family/vivi12175/). Since October 2004, The Department of Health Executive, Yuan, Taiwan, has prohibited surgeons from performing this operation on patients under 20 years of age. To our knowledge, this type of Internet-based support group also exists in England (http://www.noetsuk.com/), Sweden (http://home.swipnet.se/sympatiska/index3.htm), Australia (http://www.ets-sideeffects.netfirms.com/), Spain (http://www.terra.es/personal8/hiperhidrosis/principal.htm) and Japan (http://www.geocities.jp/etscontroversialop/index.html). Endoscopic thoracic sympathectomy is a relatively safe and simple procedure, however, the side effects are potentially devastating. All surgeons who do the operation and individuals preparing to undergo this treatment should know this well. 1.Lin TS, Wang NP, Huang LC. Pitfalls and complication avoidance associated with transthoracic endoscopic sympathectomy for primary hyperhidrosis (analysis of 2200 cases). Int J Surg Investig 2001; 2: 377-85. Min-Huei Hsu , Yu-Chuan Li Department of Neurosurgery, Taipei City Hospital, Zhongxiao Branch, No. 87, Tongde Rd., Nangang District, Taipei City 115, Taiwan  
 
