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Purpose: To investigate the profile of hospital admissions for sympathectomies performed in the Brazilian Unified Health System (SUS), comparing open and video-assisted techniques., Methods: Data on sympathectomies were collected from the SUS Department of Informatics (DATASUS), recorded between 2014 and 2023. The data were tabulated, and descriptive statistics and correlation analyses were performed., Results: There was reduction in the number of admissions for all sympathectomies during the analyzed period. The use of video-assisted surgeries was higher than that of open surgeries for thoracic procedures, but lower for lumbar procedures. The costs of hospital admission for the procedures were similar, although the length of stay and mortality associated with open surgeries were higher, both in thoracic and lumbar sympathectomies., Conclusions: The collected data were not individualized, preventing follow-up. Additionally, the study did not account for procedures performed in the private healthcare system. Despite its limitations, this study provides an overview of sympathectomies in Brazil, indicating that, although open sympathectomies are potentially more disadvantageous, they are still widely performed, especially for lumbar procedures.

Background: Renal denervation (RDN) is under investigation for treatment of uncontrolled hypertension and might represent an attractive treatment for patients with high cardiovascular (CV) risk. It is important to determine whether baseline CV risk affects the efficacy of RDN., Objectives: The purpose of this study was to assess blood pressure (BP) reduction and event rates after RDN in patients with various comorbidities, testing the hypothesis that RDN is effective and durable in these high-risk populations., Methods: BP reduction and adverse events over 3 years were evaluated for several high-risk subgroups in the GSR (Global proSpective registrY for syMPathetic renaL denervatIon in seleCted IndicatIons Through 3 Years Registry), an international registry of RDN in patients with uncontrolled hypertension (n = 2,652). Comparisons were made for patients age ≥65 years versus age <65 years, with versus without isolated systolic hypertension, with versus without atrial fibrillation, and with versus without diabetes mellitus. Baseline cardiovascular risk was estimated using the American Heart Association (AHA)/American College of Cardiology (ACC) atherosclerosis cardiovascular disease (ASCVD) risk score., Results: Reduction in 24-h systolic BP at 3 years was -8.9 ± 20.1 mm Hg for the overall cohort, and for high-risk subgroups, BP reduction was -10.4 ± 21.0 mm Hg for resistant hypertension, -8.7 ± 17.4 mm Hg in patients age ≥65 years, -10.2 ± 17.9 mm Hg in patients with diabetes, -8.6 ± 18.7 mm Hg in isolated systolic hypertension, -10.1 ± 20.3 mm Hg in chronic kidney disease, and -10.0 ± 19.1 mm Hg in atrial fibrillation (p < 0.0001 compared with baseline for all). BP reduction in patients with measurements at 6, 12, 24, and 36 months showed similar reductions in office and 24-h BP for patients with varying baseline ASCVD risk scores, which was sustained to 3 years. Adverse event rates at 3 years were higher for patients with higher baseline CV risk., Conclusions: BP reduction after RDN was similar for patients with varying high-risk comorbidities and across the range of ASCVD risk scores. The impact of baseline risk on clinical event reduction by RDN-induced BP changes could be evaluated in further studies. (Global proSpective registrY for syMPathetic renaL denervatIon in seleCted IndicatIons Through 3 Years Registry; NCT01534299)., (Copyright © 2020 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Aim of the Study: Non-intubated, video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (NiVATS) has been successfully developed in several centres worldwide. Local anaesthesia techniques and techniques to perform thoracoscopic surgery on a spontaneously breathing lung are the two key elements which must be adopted to establish a NiVATS programme. We established NiVATS by performing bilateral, uniportal sympathectomies, and compared it to classical video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS) under general anaesthesia with double-lumen intubation., Methods: Ten consecutive bilateral VATS sympathectomies were compared with ten consecutive NiVATS procedures. Nineteen of the procedures were for palmar hyperhidrosis and one was for facial blushing. Duration of anaesthesia, surgery and hospitalisation, perioperative complications, side effects and quality of life before and after sympathectomy were analysed., Results: Median age was 26.5 years (range 17&ndash;55) and mean BMI in the NiVATS group was 21.8 (range 19.1&ndash;26.3). NiVATS sympathectomies were performed as outpatient procedures significantly more often (9/10 vs 3/10, p = 0.008). Quality of life was significantly increased after sympathectomy in all patients, with no significant differences between the NiVATS and the VATS groups. There were no differences between the two groups regarding compensatory sweating (40 vs 50%, p = 0.66). The duration of anaesthesia, not including the time required for the surgery, was significantly shorter in the NiVATS group (p &lt;0.001). The duration of surgery, from the first local anaesthesia until the last skin suture, was significantly longer in the NiVATS group (p = 0.04), but showed a constant decline during the learning curve, from 95 minutes initially to 48 minutes for the last procedure. Costs were significantly lower in the NiVATS group (p = 0.04)., Conclusion: Thoracoscopic sympathectomy is a suitable procedure with which to establish a NiVATS programme. Patients are usually young and of healthy weight, facilitating the learning curve for the local anaesthesia techniques and the surgery. Compared to VATS, sympathectomy is more likely to be performed as an outpatient procedure and has a lower cost, while safety and efficacy are maintained.

Background: Percutaneous renal denervation (RDN) has recently been introduced as a treatment for therapy-resistant hypertension. Also, it has been suggested that RDN may be beneficial for other conditions characterised by increased sympathetic nerve activity. There are still many uncertainties with regard to efficacy, safety, predictors for success and long-term effects. To answer these important questions, we initiated a Dutch RDN registry aiming to collect data from all RDN procedures performed in the Netherlands., Methods: The Dutch RDN registry is an ongoing investigator-initiated, prospective, multicentre cohort study. Twenty-six Dutch hospitals agreed to participate in this registry. All patients who undergo RDN, regardless of the clinical indication or device that is used, will be included. Data are currently being collected on eligibility and screening, treatment and follow-up., Results: Procedures have been performed since August 2010. At present, data from 306 patients have been entered into the database. The main indication for RDN was hypertension (n = 302, 99%). Patients had a mean office blood pressure of 177/100 (±29/16) mmHg with a median use of three (range 0-8) blood pressure lowering drugs. Mean 24-hour blood pressure before RDN was 157/93 (±18/13) mmHg. RDN was performed with different devices, with the Simplicity™ catheter currently used most frequently., Conclusion: Here we report on the rationale and design of the Dutch RDN registry. Enrolment in this investigator-initiated study is ongoing. We present baseline characteristics of the first 306 participants.

Introduction: Limited procedures at the T4 ganglion show low rates of compensatory sweating (CS). The aim of the study was to compare endoscopic sympathetic block (ESB) via clip application with endothoracic sympathicotomy (ETS) via diathermy with special regard on patients' quality of life (Qol)., Patients and Methods: Treatment success, side effects and patient satisfaction were evaluated in a prospectively gathered database of a tertiary-care referral hospital. Two disease-specific Qol questionnaires were used (Keller, Milanez de Campos)., Results: 406 operations were performed in 205 patients (ESB4 N = 114, ETS4 N = 91) with a median follow-up of 12 months. Both procedures improved Qol significantly (P < 0.001) and the degree of improvement was equal in both groups. Palmar and axillary HH were ameliorated after both procedures (P < 0.001). Accordingly, plantar HH decreased after ESB4 (P = 0.002), while remaining unaltered after ETS4. Nineteen patients (9.3%) reported CS and 10 patients (4.9%) judged it as "disturbing". Nine of the latter belonged to the ETS4 group compared to one ESB patient (P = 0.015). Patients developed higher rates of plantar CS after ETS4 compared to ESB4 (P = 0.006). Five patients (2.4%) from both cohorts reported persistence of axillary HH. Recurrence of axillary symptoms was found in 5 ESB4 patients. Satisfaction rates did not differ significantly., Conclusion: Patients' Qol and satisfaction rates are similar in both treatment groups for upper limb HH. Outcome and recurrence rates speak in the favor of ETS4, severity of CS and potential reversibility argue for ESB4., (Copyright © 2014 Surgical Associates Ltd. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Objective: To review surgical results of endoscopic transthoracic limited sympathotomy for palmar-plantar hyperhidrosis during the past decade., Patients and Methods: We retrospectively reviewed 155 consecutive patients who underwent surgery from June 30, 2000, through December 31, 2009, for medically refractory palmar-plantar hyperhidrosis using a technique of T1-T2 sympathotomy disconnection, designed for successful palmar response and minimization of complications., Results: Of the 155 patients, 44 (28.4%) were male, and 111 (71.6%) were female; operative times averaged 38 minutes. No patient experienced Horner syndrome, intercostal neuralgia, or pneumothorax. The only surgical complication was hemothorax in 2 patients (1.3%); in 1 patient, it occurred immediately postoperatively and in the other patient, 10 days postoperatively; treatment in both patients was successful. All 155 patients had successful (warm and dry) palmar responses at discharge. Long-term follow-up (>3 months; mean, 40.2 months) was obtained for 148 patients (95.5%) with the following responses to surgery: 96.6% of patients experienced successful control of palmar sweating; 69.2% of patients experienced decreased axillary sweating; and 39.8% of patients experienced decreased plantar sweating. At follow-up, 5 patients had palmar sweating (3 patients, <3 months; 1 patient, 10-12 months; 1 patient, 16-18 months). Compensatory hyperhidrosis did not occur in 47 patients (31.7%); it was mild in 92 patients (62.2%), moderate in 7 patients (4.7%), and severe in 2 patients (1.3%)., Conclusion: In this series, a small-diameter uniportal approach has eliminated intercostal neuralgia. Selecting a T1-T2 sympathotomy yields an excellent palmar response, with a very low severe compensatory hyperhidrosis complication rate. The low failure rate was noted during 18 months of follow-up and suggests that longer follow-up is necessary in these patients.

Hyperhidrosis palmaris (HP) is a rather common disease in Taiwan. Taiwan is a leading nation in terms of the surgical treatment of this disease using thoracic endoscopic sympathectomy. However, the currently available epidemiological information regarding HP is insufficient. To date, the incidence of HP and the percentage of patients treated surgically have not been reported. We investigated the incidence of HP treated in 2004 by sampling Taiwan's National Health Insurance database. Patients who were diagnosed with HP during 2004 were identified by International Classification of Diseases, 9(th) Clinical Modification code 780.8 from a database of about 22 million beneficiaries, and were followed to 2006. Those who had been diagnosed as HP in 2002 or 2003 were excluded. Patients who underwent surgery were identified by the treatment codes 83026C (dorsal sympathectomy) and 83085B (transendoscopic dorsal sympathectomy, TES). Factors included in the analysis included age, sex, time of operation and hospitalization for surgery. In total, 15,839 patients with HP were identified. The incidence was 7.2 per 10,000 beneficiaries. The study sample included 7,603 males with an incidence of 6.9 per 10,000 beneficiaries, and 8,236 females with an incidence of 7.4 per 10,000 beneficiaries. The incidence was highest among patients aged 20-29 years old. The incidence decreased with increasing age (Mantel-Haenszel chi(2) test for trend, p < 0.001), and 3,755 cases (23.7%) received an operation, of which 1,733 were male (22.8% of all male patients) and 2,022 were female (24.6% of all female patients) (p = 0.009). Of these, 99.3% underwent transendoscopic dorsal sympathectomy, and 94.7% underwent surgery within 1 month of the initial diagnosis. Males underwent surgery sooner than females (p = 0.004). Adjusted multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that patients aged 20-29 were more likely to undergo surgery than the other age groups (odds ratio: 2.28; 95% confidence interval: 2.07-2.52). Regional hospitals had the highest chance to perform the operation (odds ratio: 4.87; 95% confidence interval: 4.41-5.37). Here, we have reported the incidence of HP in Taiwan in 2004 and concluded that the incidence was higher in females than in males. About one-quarter of patients underwent surgery, mostly within 1 month after attending an outpatient clinic; most surgical interventions involved endoscopic sympathectomy. This report fulfills the epidemiological information gap of HP and provides important data for future health care delivery., (Copyright 2010 Elsevier. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Background: The purpose of this study is to evaluate the safety and efficacy of thoracoscopic sympathectomy for the treatment of hyperhidrosis, blushing, reflex sympathetic dystrophy, and digital ischemia., Methods: We conducted a retrospective review of 202 patients who underwent thoracoscopic sympathectomy at the University of Maryland from March 1992 to April 2003., Results: Three hundred ninety-seven procedures were performed on 202 patients (105 women, 97 men). Mean age was 29 years (range, 9 to 65). Indications for surgery included hyperhidrosis, facial blushing, digital ischemia, and reflex sympathetic dystrophy. Synchronous bilateral sympathectomies were performed in 194 patients; right side alone (n = 6); left side alone (n = 1); 1 patient had staged bilateral sympathectomies. Single incision with lung isolation technique was used. There was no mortality. Preoperative symptoms resolved completely or significantly improved in greater than 90% of patients. One patient with reflex sympathetic dystrophy recurred and 1 patient with hyperhidrosis complained of significant compensatory sweating. Compensatory sweating to a lesser degree occurred in approximately one third of patients. Complications included asymptomatic pleural effusion (n = 1), pneumothorax (n = 1), and reoperation for chylothorax that was identified early (n = 1). In 2 patients treated for facial blushing, Horner's syndrome developed postoperatively; 1 of them subsequently underwent blepharoplasty. In 3 patients, hyperesthesias developed at the incision., Conclusions: Thoracoscopic sympathectomy can be performed safely and with excellent results. Compensatory sweating is the main side effect, although significant complaints from this are rare. Horner's syndrome remains an extremely uncommon complication as a result of thoracoscopic sympathectomy at our institution.

Objectives: To assess temporal trends in the incidence of surgical procedures for peripheral occlusive arterial disease (POAD) and associated changes in outcome as measured by the rate of major lower limb amputations for POAD., Design: A retrospective descriptive population-based study was conducted of the geographically isolated population of Western Australia between 1980 and 1992., Methods: Vascular procedures with an accompanying diagnosis of POAD were identified in a computerised system of name-identified records of all discharges from hospital for the population. These procedures were detected using relevant codes from the International Classification of Diseases and Procedures. Records of angioplasty and thrombolysis procedures were augmented by searches of hospital-based registers of invasive radiological procedures. The data for the remaining procedures were validated by a review of a random sample of medical records., Results: Over the 13 years of the study, rates of major amputations fell significantly for women under 70 years of age and for men under 80 years from 1983. At the same time there was a significant fall in non-amputation vascular surgery for individuals under the age of 60. In addition, rather than an overall rise in surgery there was shift away from sympathectomy and thromboendarterectomy to angioplasty and bypass surgery. Furthermore, an increasing proportion of all major amputations had a prior attempt at arterial reconstruction., Conclusion: These observations suggest the decrease in major amputations for POAD may reflect a fall in the incidence of POAD, possibly aided by more effective surgery, rather than increased rates of vascular surgery.