Totally videoscopic bilateral, simultaneous lumbar sympathectomy: original modification – preliminary report

Introduction: Lumbar sympathectomy seems to be technically a much more demanding procedure than thoracic sympathectomy.Nevertheless, some patients require this particular procedure. In our centre, the operation is performed nosooner than 12 months after initial thoracic sympathectomy as a simultaneous bilateral retro-peritoneoscopic procedure.Aim: To evaluate early effectiveness of totally videoretroperitoneoscopic lumbar sympathectomy from a posteriorapproach.Material and methods: Between June 2008 and June 2009, there were 12 patients operated on for primary plantarhyperhidrosis in the Department of General, Endocrine and Transplant Surgery, Medical University of Gdansk, Poland.A bilateral procedure was performed in 6 patients, and in 6 other cases (initial ones) the procedure had to be split dueto too slow progress of the procedure (learning curve).Results: Mean operation time was 92.5 ±27.16 min (for 6 bilateral procedures) and 84 ±20.17 min (for the initial12 unilateral procedures). There was no postoperative mortality. Morbidity involved post-sympathectomy syndromepresenting as moderate burning pain in the buttocks and thighs up to 4 weeks postoperatively. Postoperative stay was1 day in 7 cases and 2 days in 3 cases (due to long train travel awaiting the patient on his/her way home). In themajority of patients, early postoperative results were very good, expressed by both the subjective opinion of thepatient and gravimetric results. In one case dryness of the feet was so severe that the patient had to consult a dermatologist.Conclusions: We believe that videoretroperitoneoscopic lumbar sympathectomy from a posterior approach is a goodmethod of treatment for primary hyperhidrosis with plantar symptoms, but should be reserved for surgeonsexperienced in laparoscopic and retroperitoneoscopic surgery