Current evidence on the safety and efficacy of transcutaneous microwave ablation for severe primary axillary hyperhidrosis is inadequate in quantity and quality. Therefore, this procedure should only be used with special arrangements for clinical governance, consent and audit or research. Find out what special arrangements mean on the NICE interventional procedures guidance page.
Clinicians wishing to do transcutaneous microwave ablation for severe primary axillary hyperhidrosis should:
Inform the clinical governance leads in their NHS trusts.
Ensure that patients understand the uncertainty about the procedure's safety and efficacy and provide them with clear written information. In particular, during the consent process patients should be informed about the possibility of nerve damage. In addition, the use of NICE's information for the public is recommended.
Audit and review clinical outcomes of all patients having transcutaneous microwave ablation for severe primary axillary hyperhidrosis (see NICE's interventional procedure outcomes audit tool).
NICE encourages further research into transcutaneous microwave ablation for severe primary axillary hyperhidrosis and may update the guidance on publication of further evidence. Further research should include information on patient selection, objective measures of physiological effect, patient-reported outcome measures and long-term outcomes.