A Comparative Study of Thoracoscopic Sympathicotomy Versus Local Surgical Treatment for Axillary Hyperhidrosis

Outcome after surgery for isolated axillary hyperhidrosis was significantly better after local surgical treatment compared with sympathicotomy. Local effect was better and side effects fewer, but milder recurrent symptoms were more frequent. Compensatory sweating also occurs after local axillary surgery and has not been reported before. Our results suggest that local axillary surgery is preferable for isolated axillary hyperhidrosis and that R2-R3 or R2-R4 sympathicotomy should be discouraged. Sympathicotomy should only be considered for patients who have additional palmar hyperhidrosis.