Video-assisted thoracoscopic thymectomy for myasthenia gravis

Abstract

Background: Thymectomy is an effective, but radical therapy for myasthenia. Video-assisted thoracic surgery (VATS) may allow a minimally invasive alternative to the standard sternotomy approach. Aims: To audit prospectively the outcome of VATS thymectomy for myasthenia gravis in a unit specializing in advanced VATS techniques. Methods: Twenty-six patients underwent VATS thymectomy between 1997 and 2001. Most underwent preoperative plasma exchange therapy. Seventeen women and nine men with a median age of 36 years (range 17-71 years) had a right-sided VATS approach to remove all anterior mediastinal fat and thymic tissue. Results: There was no perioperative mortality and all procedures were c..