Diving after a thoracic sympathectomy
Fri, 2011-12-02 11:30
Hi all,
I'm considering going through an endoscopic thoracic sympathectomy as a treatment for facial hyperhidrosis. I’m a bit reluctant about the surgery as I’m a diver and the procedure in the chest cavity. I would like to know if this surgery might prevent me to work as a commercial diver or if it could potentially cause any dive-related complication.
Thanks for the help.
Best,
Gabe
Thu, 2012-01-19 23:18
#1
It might be worth you seeing
It might be worth you seeing if anyone in your area can perform percutaneous (perhaps CT giuded) chemical or radiofrequency sympathectomy for your hyperhidrosis. I have had this done on several patients for pain control and it works well for this indication (and is well described for control of hyperhidrosis). It has the benefit of preserving the pleural space intact, and is a less invasisve procedure. They are not always permenant, but obviously can be repeated without too much difficulty, if needed.