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Original Articles: General Thoracic

Comparative Clinical Outcomes of Thymectomy for Myasthenia Gravis Performed by Extended Transsternal and Minimally Invasive Approaches

^a Department of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center at Dallas, Dallas, Texas
^b Department of Neurology, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center at Dallas, Dallas, Texas
^c Department of Clinical Research, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center at Dallas, Dallas, Texas
^d Medical City Dallas Hospital, Dallas, Texas
^e Cardiopulmonary Research Science and Technology Institute, Dallas, Texas

Accepted for publication November 17, 2008.

^_* Address correspondence to Dr Meyer, Department of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center at Dallas, 5939 Harry Hines Blvd., 9th Floor, Suite 935, Dallas, TX 75390-8879 (Email: danm.meyer{at}utsouthwestern.edu).

Presented at the Forty-fourth Annual Meeting of The Society of Thoracic Surgeons, Fort Lauderdale, FL, Jan 28–30, 2008.

Background: Both transsternal and video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS) approaches are used for thymectomy in myasthenia gravis. We compared outcomes of simultaneous experiences in two institutions: one utilizing the transsternal approach exclusively, the other using VATS procedures for all patients. The Myasthenia Gravis Foundation of America guidelines were used to standardize reporting.

Methods: Between March 1992 and September 2006, 95 thymectomies were performed for myasthenia gravis; 48 by VATS and 47 by transsternal approach. Preoperative classification and postoperative disease status were compared between the groups.

Results: Mean age was 39.8 ± 14.9 (VATS) versus 34.4 ± 13.2 years (transsternal) (p = 0.07); the proportion of females was 52% versus 67% (p = 0.15); and preoperative duration of myasthenia gravis was 27 ± 44 versus 20 ± 45 months (p = 0.43), respectively. Clinical follow up was 89.5% complete at a mean of 6.0 ± 4.0 years and 4.3 ± 2.9 years (p = 0.03). The operative time was 128 ± 34 minutes (VATS) versus 119 ± 27 minutes (transsternal) (p = 0.22). The need for postoperative ventilation was 4.2% versus 16.2% (p = 0.07) and mean length of stay was 1.9 ± 2.6 versus 4.6 ± 4.2 days (p < 0.001). Thymomas were found in 8.3% of VATS versus 13.3% of transsternal patients (p = 0.44). No myasthenia gravis related deaths occurred and 95.8% of the VATS and 97.9% of the transsternal patients were in either complete stable remission, pharmacologic remission, or minimal manifestations status. In the VATS group, 13 of 17 (76.5%) patients stopped prednisone usage after surgery versus 5 of 14 (35.7%) in the transsternal group (p = 0.022).

Conclusions: Thymectomy is an effective treatment in patients with myasthenia gravis with equivalent clinical outcomes obtained by either approach.

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				A. Toker, S. Tanju, S. Ziyade, B. Ozkan, Z. Sungur, Y. Parman, P. Serdaroglu, and F. Deymeer Early outcomes of video-assisted thoracoscopic resection of thymus in 181 patients with myasthenia gravis: who are the candidates for the next morning discharge? Interactive CardioVascular and Thoracic Surgery, December 1, 2009; 9(6): 995 - 998. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]