Transaxillary endoscopic laser sympathectomy.

The authors describe a technique of achieving sympathetic denervation of the upper limbs in a 20-year-old woman with hyperhidrosis. A thoracoscope was inserted through a short incision in the axilla. A fibreoptic wave guide was passed through the thoracoscope to allow photocoagulation of the second thoracic sympathetic ganglion by Nd:YAG laser irradiation. The procedure was well tolerated and subsequent scar formation was unobtrusive.