Outpatient endoscopic thoracic sympathectomy using 2-mm instruments

Background: For a long time it has been known that sympathectomy is an effective treatment for hyperhidrosis and other conditions. The surgical options available until recently usually have required thoracotomy or large posterior incisions, and physicians generally have been reluctant to recommend surgery for most patients with ``benign'' disorders. Recently, thoracoscopic techniques have allowed surgeons to offer these patients a permanent solution with minimal surgical trauma.