Pulmonary function abnormalities following upper dorsal sympathectomy for hyperhidrosis

Spirometry 3 months after surgery showed a significant decrease in the forced vital capacity (−5.2%), the forced expiratory volume in the first second (−6.1%), and the forced expiratory flow between 25% and 75% of vital capacity (−5.1%). Whereas methacholine challenge testing before surgery was positive in 3 subjects (2 of whom were asthmatic), it was positive in 6 patients after the procedure; differences were not statistically significant. After 12 months, forced vital capacity started recovering, and forced expiratory volume in the first second and forced expiratory flow rate 25% to 75% showed a sustained and significant reduction (−2.8% and −11.2%, respectively.

The Journal of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery , Volume 129 , Issue 6 , Pages 1379 - 1382

M . Ponce González , G . Julià Serdà , N . Santana Rodríguez , P . Rodríguez Suárez , G . Pérez Peñate , J . Freixinet Gilart , P . Cabrera Navarro