ArticleAnnals of translational medicine2014
Thoracic sympathetic nerve reconstruction for compensatory hyperhidrosis: the Melbourne technique.
Article in Annals of translational medicine, 2014. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 4 papers.
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Who cites it
4 citing papers in PubMed, 9 citations in OpenAlex.
- The history and development of sympathetic trunk reconstruction: a 40-year journey from open surgery to robotic-assisted microsurgery.Journal of robotic surgery · 2025Review
- Impact of robotic-assisted and video-assisted sympathetic nerve reconstruction on quality of life for severe compensatory hyperhidrosis after thoracic sympathectomy.Interdisciplinary cardiovascular and thoracic surgery · 2023Article
- To avoid compensatory hyperhidrosis after sympathetic surgery for craniofacial hyperhidrosis.Journal of thoracic disease · 2020Article
- Microsurgical robotic suturing of sural nerve graft for sympathetic nerve reconstruction: a technical feasibility study.Journal of thoracic disease · 2020Article
Corrections and comments
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Authors and funding
3 authors at 1 institution in 1 country.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
backgroundCompensatory hyperhidrosis (CH) is a potential complication following endoscopic thoracic sympathectomy (ETS) in the management of primary hyperhidrosis. CH is considered a permanent condition with significant psychosocial impacts but with few treatment options. Various reversal surgical techniques, aimed at reconstituting sympathetic pathways, have been developed but results have been inconsistent.
objectiveWe present two case reports of a novel technique of reversal surgery, the Melbourne technique, which was employed to treat severe CH that developed within 3-5 months following ETS. Both patients were followed-up to 8 years.
methodsThe Melbourne technique employs an endoscopic approach to expose previously sympathectomized or sympathotomized thoracic sympathetic chains. In these two cases it was performed on the right side only. Instead of an interpositional nerve graft, an autogenous vein graft was simultaneously harvested and used as a nerve conduit to bridge the secondary nerve defect after neuroma excision. Long-term outcomes were assessed using the dermatology life quality index (DLQI) and the quality of life (QoL) questionnaires, which are validated for hyperhidrosis.
resultsIn both cases, patients reported postoperative improvements in QoL scores. However, the improvement was more marked in one case compared with the other. There were no significant immediate and long-term postoperative complications.
conclusionsThe Melbourne technique shows promise as an alternative to interpositional nerve grafts or nerve transfers employed in other endoscopic reversal surgeries for CH.
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