painexcess sweatingMedical TreatmentsPhysiological Insightspain reliefsweating reductionhyperhidrosispainexcess sweatingfacial flushingcervical sympathectomysympathectomyfirst ribsecond ribsympathetic chainsympathetic nervous system

What does sympathectomy involve?

In this short video, Mr Usman Jaffer gives a background on sympathectomy, explains the symptoms which can be treated by sympathectomy and what the procedure involves.

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Sympathectomy or Botox for palmar hyperhidrosis?

Mr Usman Jaffer discusses both sympathectomy and Botox in the context of treatment for palmar hyperhidrosis. Sympathectomy is a highly effective procedure but there is a risk of compensatory sweating, i.e. excessive sweating in other body parts. This procedure is often more beneficial in those with more severe symptoms. Botox is also a very effective treatment but may need to be repeated, sometimes as often as every 3-6 months. Furthermore, Botox injections can be painful and may weaken or paralyse small muscles in the hand. A third option is tap water iontophoresis, which is effective but requires multiple treatments. Therefore, this option may have lower compliance but is worth considering.

How successful is sympathectomy?

Mr Usman Jaffer discusses the success rate of sympathectomy and the risks involved. This procedure is over 90% successful but there are some complications which can occur. A major side effect is compensatory sweating, which is excessive sweating in other parts of the body. As a result, up to 30% regret having sympathectomy done. Therefore, in some cases where the primary symptoms are not severe enough, the benefits of sympathectomy may not outweigh the side effects. Overall, it is a highly effective treatment but the overall benefit must be considered.

Topical therapies for hyperhidrosis

In this video, Mr Usman Jaffer shares the different topical therapies available for hyperhidrosis, which is usually recommended as first-line therapy. This includes antiperspirants and topical agents with aluminium compounds. However, sometimes they may cause skin irritation but there are ways to reduce this.

What is Horner's syndrome and why do you sometimes get it in sympathectomy?

In this video, Horner's syndrome is explained by Mr Usman Jaffer. Horner's syndrome has many different causes, and involves drooping of the eyelid and dilated pupils. It occurs when sympathetic outflow to the eye is disrupted and can occur as a complication of sympathectomy. However, this risk is reduced by ablating the sympathetic chain lower down.

The sympathetic nervous system and its relation to hyperhidrosis

Mr Usman Jaffer explains what the sympathetic nervous system is in relation to the entire nervous system and its subdivisions. He also discusses how the sympathetic nervous system is linked to hyperhidrosis.

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