Transthoracic endoscopic sympathectomy is an effective and simple modality to treat palmar hyperhidrosis. However, all patients need to be warned of the common complications, particularly compensatory hyperhidrosis, before surgery.

We have examined the effect of EMLA on tourniquet pain and compared it with those of subcutaneous ring anaesthesia (SRA), a double cuff technique and a single cuff (control) during i.v. regional anaesthesia. The durations of analgesia (mean 57.3 (SD 16.6) min) and tolerance (72.3 (13.9) min) to tourniquet inflation in the EMLA group were comparable to those in the SRA group (54.1 (16.2) min and 68.3 (19.0) min), but significantly (P < 0.05) greater than those in the control group (30.0 (10.7) min and 45.6 (14.0) min). The double cuff technique was the most effective method, with 91.5 (14.9) min duration of analgesia. We conclude that EMLA provided a significant analgesic effect on tourniquet pain compared with the control group, but a relatively limited analgesic effect compared with a double cuff technique.

We have examined the effect of EMLA on tourniquet pain and compared it with those of subcutaneous ring anaesthesia (SRA), a double cuff technique and a single cuff (control) during i.v. regional anaesthesia. The durations of analgesia (mean 57.3 (SD 16.6) min) and tolerance (72.3 (13.9) min) to tourniquet inflation in the EMLA group were comparable to those in the SRA group (54.1(16.2) min and 68.3(19.0) min), but significantly (P < 0.05) greater than those in the control group (30.0 (10.7) min and 45.6 (14.0) min). The double cuff technique was the most effective method, with 91.5 (14.9) min duration of analgesia. We conclude that EMLA provided a significant analgesic effect on tourniquet pain compared with the control group, but a relatively limited analgesic effect compared with a double cuff technique. (Br.