米兰体育

Hyperhidrosis

Hyperhidrosis is informally known as excessive sweating. While sweating is normal if you’re hot or exercising, people with hyperhidrosis will sweat excessively when their body isn’t trying to cool itself down. This can be a symptom of another condition or a side effect of certain medications, but it can often be for no obvious reason at all.?

Hyperhidrosis can affect the whole body or just certain parts, like your hands. Patients will typically be offered medications (such as beta blockers), but other options include Botox injections and iontophoresis (where a weak electrical current to reduce excessive sweating).?

VATS sympathectomy

Video-assisted thoracoscopic (VATS) sympathectomy is a minimally invasive surgical procedure used to treat patients with excessive sweating of the hands and/or facial flushing. It is recommended for cases where medication or other treatments haven’t been effective.

VATS sympathectomy is a relatively straightforward procedure and you will be under general anaesthesia throughout. It involves your surgeon making several small incisions under your arm, so that a small camera and the surgical tools can access the chest area.

Both hyperhidrosis and facial flushing are linked to overactivity within the sympathetic nervous system. The sympathetic nerve, which is located in your chest, sends signals that control sweat production and blood vessel dilatation. During a VATS sympathectomy, this nerve is cut or clamped so that it can no longer send these signals.

The procedure takes around 20 minutes, and most patients will be able to go home the same day. Typically, patients will see an instant and lasting reduction in sweating and flushing following the treatment.