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7. How long do I have to be in hospital?
Although it is possible to have this operation as a day case, in most cases you will be kept in overnight after the operation. Occasionally, if the lung takes a bit of time to expand, you may have to stay in a bit longer. Rarely, a small drain (plastic tube) is needed to help the lung expand. This is more likely if you have both sides done at one operation.
8. How successful is thoracoscopic sympathectomy?
This operation usually gives a satisfactory reduction in hand sweating in over 90% of patients and in nearly all cases the results are permanent. The operation is usually more successful for sweating of the palms, than the armpits. Sometimes the palms are so dry after the operation that moisturising cream is needed to prevent cracking of the skin. Stopping the palms and armpits sweating often results in extra sweating elsewhere. This "compensatory" sweating commonly occurs on the back below the shoulder blades, also on the legs and feet. Rarely, this is more of a nuisance than the original problem. Sometimes, sweating on the side of the face when eating can occur after the operation. For facial blushing the operation is successful in about
70% cases.
9. Are there any special complications of thoracoscopic sympathectomy?
The only particular complication is a drooping of the eyelid on the side of the operation due to damage of the nerves in the root of the neck. This is rare with thoracoscopic sympathectomy (less than 1 in 50) and usually recovers. Sometimes the ribs where the telescope was inserted into the chest are sore for a few weeks and hurt on breathing in deeply or coughing. This is due to bruising of the ribs and gradually improves.
Patient information prepared by Mr S. Ashley MS, FRCS, Consultant Vascular Surgeon and The Vascular Surgical Society of Great Britain and Ireland
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