Introduction:

Compensatory sweating is a side effect of videothoracoscopic sympathectomy. It presents high incidence and may cause dissatisfaction to operated patients.

Objective:

To determine the characteristics of compensatory sweating in patients who underwent videothoracoscopic sympathectomy for palmar hyperhidrosis.

Methods:

A retrospective, cross-sectional and descriptive study was carried out with 42 patients who presented compensatory sweating after surgery for palmar hyperhidrosis. Incidence, location, severity, change in quality of life and level of satisfaction were analyzed.

Results:

Light compensatory sweating predominated, with location on back and abdomen. There was a high level of tolerance, with only one dissatisfied patient and 100% of improvement in quality of life.

Conclusions:

Compensatory sweating did not influence negatively the patients' quality of life.

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