Surgical thoracic sympathectomy is a medical procedure primarily used to treat hyperhidrosis (excessive sweating),
particularly in the hands, face, and armpits and other sympathetic nervous system disorders. It's also sometimes
utilised for managing facial blushing, Raynaud's phenomenon, and occasionally for certain types of angina. This
surgery involves interrupting the sympathetic nerve pathways responsible for sweating.
The thoracic sympathectomy procedure is minimally invasive and typically performed under general anesthesia. It
involves making small incisions in the side of the chest through which a thoracoscope is inserted – a thin tube with a
camera and light. This allows the surgeon to visualise the sympathetic nerve chain located along the spine. Once
identified, the nerves responsible for the excessive sweating are cut, clamped, or destroyed using electrocautery or
laser.
This surgery successful reduces or stops the excessive sweating in the targeted areas. However, like all surgical
procedures, thoracic sympathectomy comes with some risks. One of the most notable is compensatory sweating,
where the body sweats more in other areas to compensate for the loss of sweating in the treated regions. Other risks
include Horner's syndrome (a rare condition affecting the eyes and part of the face), pneumothorax (collapsed lung),
nerve pain, and scarring.
The recovery period varies but usually is relatively quick due to the minimally invasive nature of the surgery. Most
patients can return to normal activities within a few days to a week, although they may need to avoid strenuous
activities for a short period.