By Dr. Roman Zamarriego
Cali, Colombia

Excessive sweating, which is also known as Hiperhidrosis (Hyper = too much, excess; Hydros=Water), is a condition that has  been with human kind from its beginning.  

Sweat is one of the body temperature regulation methods, allowing heat loss by means of evaporation, which helps to keep the body working properly.

Sometimes, an excessive sweating is produced without a normal stimulation (such as heat, stress, anxiety, fear, exercising, etc.) but during tranquility moments, in fresh environments.

Severe sweating is present mainly in the facial area, armpits, hands, torso and feet. This excessive sweating deeply affects the normal behavior of the individual. Simple actions as shaking hands are avoided due to the fear to be rejected because of "wet hands", sweaty shirts at any time of the day, unability to write on a paper without moisting it with sweat, are situations that affect self esteem, and frequently, making that person to avoid any social contact.

It is considered that in the world, only 1% of the population suffers this condition, but as long as new definitive treatments are discovered, it is possible that this percentage will increase.

Hyperhidrosis symptoms can appear even during infancy, and usually they pass unnoticed or missunderstood as a "normal" childhood or early adolescence event. But as the person grows and social interaction increases, this situation becomes a nightmare, making this person to avoid social contact because he/she is afraid to be rejected due to the huge amounts of sweating or bad odor generated by soggy garments.

Situation gets worse when the individual becomes an adult. Work relationships are very important, and great businesses start with a hand shake.

In their search for a cure or a treatment that allows them to reach an adequate life quality, people use topic medicaments (creams, ointments, deodorants, antiperspirants, electrical therapies, botox, etc.), obtaining temporary, partial results, and symptoms get back as soon as the treatment is  suspended.

Because of these reasons, a surgical procedure, called BILATERAL VIDEO-THORACOSCOPICAL SYMPATHECTOMY has been developed as the ideal method in which, through two small incisions, and guided by  a video camera, sympathetic nerve chain is cut. This method provides a definitive control of sweating in 98% of patients with facial, axillary and palmar hyperhidrosis, and 60% of patients with plantar hyperhidrosis.

Sympathectomy is a procedure taht does not require hospitalization. Recovering is not painful and patients can go back to their daily activities in a short time span.