Profile of the research activity returned to the Brazilian Congress of Thoracic Surgery--Chest 2009.

Objective: To increase the knowledge of research activity in Thoracic Surgery in Brazil.

Methods: We carried out a prospective observational study of the abstracts published in the Annals of the Brazilian Congress of Thoracic Surgery - Thorax 2009, to quantitatively and qualitatively assess the geographic distribution and type of home institutions of abstracts, the types of studies and themes addressed.

Results: We published 182 abstracts, 174 (95.

T3T4 endoscopic sympathetic blockade versus T3T4 video thoracoscopic sympathectomy in the treatment of axillary hyperhidrosis.

Background: The use of endoscopic sympathetic blockade (ESB) in the treatment of axillary hyperhidrosis has grown because of its potential reversibility. But it is still not clear whether the rates of success, compensatory sweating, and satisfaction are better than those accomplished with video thoracoscopic sympathectomy (VTS).

Methods: Eighty-four patients were studied to compare the rates of success, satisfaction, and compensatory sweating in patients undergoing either ESB or VTS of the T3T4 ganglion after 2 years' follow-up.

Pectus excavatum surgery: sternochondroplasty versus Nuss procedure.

Background: The repair of pectus excavatum (PE) by minimally invasive Nuss surgery is well established, but its complication rate is high and its indication is indiscriminate. Sternochondroplasty (SCP) provides good results with a low complication rate but requires a small transverse incision.

Methods: To compare SCP and Nuss, we analyzed 40 patients with PE who underwent surgery (SCP, n = 20; Nuss, n = 20).