In contrast, cosmetic complications from ETS include Horner syndrome (ipsilateral ptosis, miosis, facial anhydrosis, vasomotor rhinitis) and, most importantly from a patient-satisfaction perspective, an increase in sweating elsewhere on the body (CH). To minimize these complications, much attention has been focused on how, and how much, sympathetic nerve innervation should be interrupted.
With traditional sympathectomies or ganglionectomies (Figure 3), severe CH may occur in 10% to 40% of postoperative patients.37 It is interesting that the sites affected with CH are generally the thermoregulatory, nonglabrous skin regions of the trunk/back, buttocks, groin, and thighs that sweat normally before ETS.
This may lead ultimately to long-term debilitating CH with few treatment options, and at least 5% of patients may regret undergoing the operation.
Mayo Clin Proc. 2005;80:824-828
Hyperhidrosis: Evolving Therapies for a Well-Established Phenomenon
JOHN H. EISENACH, MD; JOHN L. D. ATKINSON, MD; ROBERT D. FEALEY, MD