1. Extended transcervical thymectomy with partial upper sternotomy: results in non-thymomatous patients with myasthenia gravis.
- Author
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Ruffini E, Guerrera F, Filosso PL, Bora G, Nex G, Gusmano S, Giobbe ML, Ciccone G, Bruna MC, Giobbe R, Solidoro P, Lyberis P, and Oliaro A
- Subjects
- Adult, Age Factors, Female, Humans, Male, Operative Time, Remission Induction, Severity of Illness Index, Sex Factors, Sternotomy statistics & numerical data, Thymectomy statistics & numerical data, Treatment Outcome, Myasthenia Gravis surgery, Sternotomy methods, Thymectomy methods
- Abstract
Objectives: Thymectomy is a recognized treatment for myasthenia gravis (MG), but the optimal surgical approach is yet to be determined. This study analysed the results in non-thymomatous MG patients treated at our institution using an extended transcervical access with partial upper sternotomy (TC-US), in order to describe cumulative incidence of remission and its predictors., Methods: In the period 1988-2012, 215 non-thymomatous MG patients underwent thymectomy using the TC-US approach. There were 61 males and 154 females (median age: 33 years). Primary end points were complete stable remission (CSR) and pharmacological remission (PR). Clinico-pathological predictors of CSR/PR were analysed including age, gender, preoperative MG symptom duration, preoperative immunosuppression therapy and disease severity., Results: The median follow-up period was 127 months. The median preoperative duration of MG symptoms was 9 months (interquartile range 4-13). The median operative time was 65 min (range: 45-135). There was no postoperative death. Morbidity rate was 7% (14 patients, no major complication). Ten patients died at the follow-up (3 of MG). MG symptoms improved in 85% (150/176) of the patients. CSR rate was 34%, PR rate was 4%. Cumulative incidence of CSR/PR was 27, 37 and 46% at 5, 10 and 15 years, respectively. Independent predictors of increased CSR/PR rate were age (P = 0.028) and MG symptom duration <6 months (P = 0.013)., Conclusions: Our data suggest that in patients with non-thymomatous MG, thymectomy by TC-US has a remission rate not inferior to those reported after trans-sternal or video-assisted thoracic surgery techniques. The short duration of MG symptoms before thymectomy is a predictor of remission. The technique strikes a reasonable balance between the extent of thymic resection, operative and anaesthesia time, patient acceptance, neurological outcome and costs., (© The Author 2014. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the European Association for Cardio-Thoracic Surgery. All rights reserved.)
- Published
- 2015
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