Comparison of Single Port Thoracoscopic Sympathectomy and Multiport Thoracoscopy in Patients with Hyperhidrosis

Primary hyperhidrosis is a common disorder in adolescents and young adults due to the hyperactivity of thoracic sympathetic nerves. This disorder often does not respond to medical treatments. The aim of this study was to evaluate the therapeutic results of uniportal sympathectomy.
In this retrospective study, all patients with severe hyperhidrosis that were operated by uniportal or multiportal endoscopic sympathectomy from 2010 until the end of 2011 were compared regarding demographic variables, admission duration, rate of recovery and complications.
In 9 cases from the uniportal group (45%) and 10 cases from the multiportal group (50%), a bilateral procedure was performed in one session. Mean age, gender, marital status and location of symptoms were not significantly different between the groups. Mean admission duration in uniportal and multiportal groups was not significantly different. Recovery rate was 100% in both groups. The prevalence of hematoma and hemothorax was zero in both groups. The prevalence of pneumothorax in uniportal and multiportal groups was not significantly different (P=0.629).
Therapeutic results and complications are not different in uniportal and multiportal methods of thoracic sympathectomy for treatment of hyperhidrosis. Therefore, based on the better cosmetic results of the uniportal method, it is suggested as an alternative to the mulitiportal procedure.