Sweaty Palms

What are Sweaty Palms (Palmar Hyperhidrosis)?

Sweaty palms (Palmar hyperhidrosis) is a physical condition with uncontrollable excessive hand sweating. It may cause severe psychological, social and/or professional disability. Problems such as difficulties handling paper, pens, buttons, tools, electronic equipment, as well as the need to avoid handshakes force many people to seek treatment.

The pathophysiological cause for the excessive sweating is still unknown but the condition is related to over-activity in the so-called “sympathetic nervous system”, a system of nerves over which we have no control. Emotional stimuli seem to have a stronger effect on the sweat glands in certain individuals.

How can we treat it?

Endoscopic Transthoracic Sympathetomy is a reliable and simplified operative technique to completely eliminate severe hand sweat. During the procedure, the surgeon simply cuts a short segment of the “sympathetic nervous system” which lies in the thoracic cavity. This procedure uses an endoscopic (keyhole) technique to interrupt the sympathetic nervous system. This surgical procedure is performed under general anaesthesia and requires only one to two nights stay in the hospital.