Thoracic Sympathectomy

Normal sweating helps to keep the body temperature steady in hot weather, during a fever, or when exercising. Excessive sweating (hyperhidrosis) means that you sweat much more than normal. Even when you are not hot, anxious, or exercising, you make a lot of sweat. It usually happen in underarms or of the palms and soles of the feet. Underarm problems tend to start around puberty, while palm and sole sweating may begin earlier, often during childhood. Medications, topical antiperspirants, iontophoresis, botox and surgery have been tried to treat hyperhidrosis. Endoscopic thoracic sympathectomy or ETS is the most effective method to treat hyperhidrosis. Surgeon will make 2 or 3 tiny surgical cuts under each arm. A tiny camera called an endoscope and MIS tools will be inserted into patient chest. Surgeon will find the nerves that control sweating in the problem area. These will be cut or destroyed.