ENGLISH ABSTRACT
JOURNAL ARTICLE
Add like
Add dislike
Add to saved papers

[Long-term effects of video-assisted thoracoscopic thymectomy for myasthenia gravis: 5-year follow-up of 18 cases].

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the long-term effects of video-assisted thoracoscopic thymectomy for myasthenia gravis (MG).

METHODS: Eighteen MG patients, 7 males and 11 females, aged 33.4 +/- 9.4 (19 - 48), underwent video-assisted thoracoscopic thymectomy by the same surgical group from November 2001 to May 2005. Right side access was used in 14 of them, left side approach was used in 2, and bilateral approach in 1 of them. The thymus and fatty tissue in the front mediastinum were resected. The medical records were reviewed and telephone survey was conducted to understand the effects. The mean follow-up time was 26.4 +/- 10.9 months.

RESULTS: VATS was successfully conducted except in 1 case. The bleeding volume was less than 50 ml. The average chest tube drainage time was 2.1 +/- 1.2 days, and the mean hospitalization day was 6.3 +/- 3.1 days. Three of the 18 patients needed temporary mechanical ventilation less than 72 hours, and 2 needed reintubation due to either myasthenic or cholinergic crises. Nine of the 18 patients achieved complete relief (50%) and 6 of them (33.3%) had their symptoms greatly improved, and the symptoms of one case remained stable (5.6%), and the overall effective rate was 83.3%.

CONCLUSION: Video-assisted thoracoscopic thymectomy is a safe and effective method for treatment of myasthenia gravis with satisfactory long-term outcomes.

Full text links

We have located links that may give you full text access.
Can't access the paper?
Try logging in through your university/institutional subscription. For a smoother one-click institutional access experience, please use our mobile app.

For the best experience, use the Read mobile app

Mobile app image

Get seemless 1-tap access through your institution/university

For the best experience, use the Read mobile app

All material on this website is protected by copyright, Copyright © 1994-2024 by WebMD LLC.
This website also contains material copyrighted by 3rd parties.

By using this service, you agree to our terms of use and privacy policy.

Your Privacy Choices Toggle icon

You can now claim free CME credits for this literature searchClaim now

Get seemless 1-tap access through your institution/university

For the best experience, use the Read mobile app