Objective To compare the different surgical treatment methods of thymoma combined with myasthenia gravis (MG), and to discuss the clinical effectiveness of thoracoscopic combined mediastinoscopic extended thymectomy. Methods We retrospectively analyzed the clinical data of 58 patients of thymoma combined with myasthenia gravis in Northern Jiangsu People's Hospital between 2011 and 2016 year. According to the operation method, the patients were divided into three groups including a group A for thoracoscopic thymectomy (n=32), a group B for thoracoscopic combined mediastinoscopic thymectomy (n=15), and a group C for transsternal thymectomy (n=11). The clinical effects were observed and compared. Results In the group A and the group B, the bleeding volume, postoperative hospital stay and other complications were significantly lower than those in the group C with statistical differences (P<0.05). The incidence of myasthenic crisis in the group B (6.7%) was less than that in the group C (36.4 %), but the difference was not statistically different (P=0.058). The operation time of the three groups was 122.0 ± 39.4 min, 130.3 ± 42.5 min, and 142.3 ± 40.8 min respectively with no statistical difference between the two groups (P>0.05). The rate of dissection grade in the group B (grade 1, 12 patients, 80%) was significantly greater than that in the group A (grade 1, 14 patients, 43.8%,P<0.05). The effective rate of the group A, the group B, the group C was 84.4%, 93.3% and 90.9%, respectively with no statistical difference between groups (P>0.05). Conclusion The thoracoscopy combined mediastinoscopic thymectomy not only has the advantages of less trauma, quicker recovery and fewer complications, but also can more thoroughly clean the thymus and adipose tissue, which can achieve the same therapeutic effect as the transsternal thymectomy.
ObjectiveTo analyze the clinical outcomes of extended thymectomy for myasthenia gravis (MG) patients under different surgical approaches, and to determine the factors affecting the prognosis of MG. MethodsThe MG patients who underwent extended thymectomy from January 2014 to March 2021 in our hospital were retrospectively collected. According to the surgical approach, they were divided into a subxiphoid group and an intercostal group, and the perioperative results and prognosis were compared between the two groups. A “good outcome” was defined as complete stable remission (CSR), pharmacological remission (PR) or minimal manifestations state (MMS); a “poor outcome” was defined as outcomes worse than MMS. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses were performed to assess the factors associated with the good outcomes. ResultsA total of 187 MG patients were included in the study, including 82 males and 105 females, with a median age of 50 (36, 60) years. There were 134 patients in the intercostal group and 53 patients in the subxiphoid group. Compared with the intercostal group, although the operation time of the subxiphoid group was longer [200.0 (172.0, 232.0) min vs. 141.0 (118.0, 169.0) min, P<0.001], the intraoperative blood loss was less [10.0 (10.0, 20.0) mL vs. 20.0 (10.0, 50.0) mL, P<0.001], the postoperative hospital stay was shorter [3.0 (2.5, 4.0) d vs. 5.0 (3.0, 7.0) d, P<0.001], and the incidence of complications was lower [1 (1.9%) vs. 26 (19.4%), P=0.001]. A total of 159 (85.0%) patients were followed up for a median period of 46 (13, 99) months, with a good outcome rate of 90.6% and CSR rate of 33.3%. There were no statistical differences in PR, MMS or overall good outcome rates between the two groups (P>0.05). Multivariate logistic analysis showed that age≤50 years was an independent predictor for "good outcome" of MG patients. ConclusionExtended thymectomy via subxiphoid for MG is a safe, feasible and effective surgical approach.
Objective To assess the long-term results and relevant influencing factors of extended thymectomy and medicine-alone treatment of non-thymomatous myasthenia gravis (MG) patients. Methods We retrospectively analyzed the clinical data of 174 patients with non-thymomatous MG diagnosed and treated in our department from December 2009 to April 2017, including 81 males and 93 females, aged 13-88 (47.1±17.8) years. According to the different treatment methods, the patients were divided into two groups: an operation group (91 patients receiving extended thymectomy) and a medicine-alone group (83 patients receiving medical therapy alone). The efficacy was evaluated according to the Myasthenia Gravis Foundation of America (MGFA). Survival curves of the patients were plotted using the Kaplan-Meier method to evaluate the remission rate and survival rate. Cox regression analysis was used to assess the influencing factors of the outcomes. Results The patients were followed up for 3 to 94 (39.1±26.9) months. As a result, 29 patients (31.9%) achieved complete remission in the surgery group and 13 patients (15.7%) were completely relieved in the medicine-alone group (P=0.014). Further analysis showed that treatment pattern (P=0.018) and MG type (P=0.021) were the main factors related to the efficacy. Conclusion For patients with non-thymomatous MG, extended thymectomy is superior to the medicine-alone in terms of complete remission rate and the postoperative immunosuppression ratio.
Objective To explore the clinical efficacy and learning curve of robot-assisted thymectomy via subxiphoid approach. MethodsThe clinical data of patients with robot-assisted thymectomy surgery via subxiphoid approach performed by the same surgical team in the Department of Thoracic Surgery of Shanghai Pulmonary Hospital from February 2021 to August 2022 were retrospectively analyzed. The cumulative sum (CUSUM) analysis and best fit curve were used to analyze the learning curve of this surgery. The general information and perioperative indicators of patients at different learning stages were compared to explore the impact of different learning stages on clinical efficacy of patients. ResultsA total of 67 patients were enrolled, including 31 males and 36 females, aged 57.10 (54.60, 59.60) years. The operation time was 117.00 (87.00, 150.00) min. The best fitting equation of CUSUM learning curve was y=0.021 2x3–3.192 5x2 +120.17x–84.444 (x was the number of surgical cases), which had a high R2 value of 0.977 8, and the fitting curve reached the top at the 25th case. Based on this, the learning curve was divided into a learning period and a proficiency period. The operation time and intraoperative blood loss in the proficiency stage were significantly shorter or less than those in the learning stage (P＜0.001), and there was no statistical difference in thoracic drainage time and volume between the two stages (P＞0.05). ConclusionThe learning process of robot-assisted thymectomy via subxiphoid approach is safe, and this technique can be skillfully mastered after 25 cases.
Thymectomy is the main treatment for thymoma and other thymic diseases. But the incidence of non-therapeutic thymectomy is high due to the difficulty in the differential diagnosis of anterior mediastinum lesions. Formerly, it was believed that the thymus gradually degraded and lost function with aging, and the preservation of the thymus was not valued. Recent studies have found that the removal of the thymus at all ages has adverse effects on overall health and leads to a significant increase in the risk of autoimmune diseases, malignancy, and all-cause mortality. Therefore, unnecessary thymectomy should be avoided. This article reviews the influence of thymectomy, including the changes of immunological indexes and clinical prognosis, and further discusses the current situation and avoidance methods of non-therapeutic thymectomy.
ObjectiveTo investigate the safety and feasibility of laryngeal mask general anesthesia as a replacement of tracheal intubation general anesthesia in the "three-port" thoracoscopic thymectomy via subxiphoid and subcostal arch for thymoma patients without myasthenia.MethodsFrom January 2018 to June 2019, clinical data of patients with thymoma who underwent the novel "three-port" operation in our institution were analyzed retrospectively. The patients were divided into two groups according to the anesthesia methods, including a tracheal intubation general anesthesia group and a laryngeal mask general anesthesia group. There were 70 patients in the tracheal intubation general anesthesia group, including 42 males and 28 females, with an average age of 45.83±15.89 years. There were 39 patients in the laryngeal mask general anesthesia group, including 26 males and 13 females, with an average age of 43.31±15.64 years. The clinical data of the two groups were compared.ResultsThe baseline characteristics of the patients in the two groups were well balanced (P>0.05). No massive bleeding, conversion to thoracotomy, postoperative myasthenia or death occurred in those patients. No patient with laryngeal mask anesthesia had a conversion to tracheal intubation anesthesia during the operation. There was no significant difference in the operation time, intraoperative bleeding, intraoperative maximum partial pressure of CO2, lowest partial pressure of oxygen and anesthesia effect score between the two groups (P>0.05). There was also no statistical difference in postoperative aspiration, gastrointestinal discomfort, length of hospital stay, pain score and patient satisfaction degree between the two groups (P>0.05). However, the anesthesia time before operation and the time of awake after anesthesia in the laryngeal mask anesthesia group were significantly shorter than those in the tracheal intubation general anesthesia group (P<0.05), and the incidence of transient arrhythmia, laryngeal discomfort and hoarseness in the laryngeal mask general anesthesia group was significantly lower than that in the tracheal intubation general anesthesia group (P<0.05).ConclusionThe "three-port" thoracoscopic thymectomy via subxiphoid and subcostal arch under laryngeal mask general anesthesia is safe and feasible in the treatment of thymoma without myasthenia, and can be recommended routinely.
[Abstract]This study reports a case of an 83-year-old female patient with systemic severe myasthenia gravis (American Myasthenia Foundation class Ⅳb) and multiple comorbidities who achieved minimal clinical status through preoperative alemtuzumab treatment (10 mg/kg, once per week for 4 consecutive weeks). After undergoing robotic thymectomy, the patient remained clinically stable in the early postoperative period until the 5th day after surgery when she developed dysphagia. Despite intravenous immunoglobulin and other therapeutic interventions, the patient’s myasthenic symptoms continued to worsen, coughing was impaired, respiratory insufficiency intensified, non-invasive ventilation support was required, and pulmonary infection occurred. Clinical symptoms further deteriorated, with diarrhea, urinary tract infection, and progressive respiratory tract infection. She was subsequently transferred to the intensive care unit for invasive mechanical ventilation and therapeutic plasmapheresis. These interventions failed to halt the disease progression, which eventually led to multiple organ dysfunction syndrome, and the patient died. Notably, among the other 12 patients receiving alemtuzumab treatment during the same period, none experienced such severe complications. This case is exceptional, and a direct causal relationship between alemtuzumab and mortality risk cannot be established at this time. Further research is needed to clarify perioperative immune management strategies.
ObjectiveTo compare the efficacy and safety of video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS) thymectomy for the treatment of thymoma through subxiphoid uniportal approach using double sternum retractors, and subxiphoid and subcostal arch approach. Methods We retrospectively analyzed the clinical data of the patients diagnosed with thymoma who underwent VATS thymectomy from June 2023 to June 2024 in West China Hospital. Patients were categorized based on the surgical approach into two groups: a subxiphoid uniportal VATS thymectomy (SUVT) group and a subxiphoid and subcostal arch VATS thymectomy (SASAT) group. Comparisons were made between the two groups regarding surgical duration, intraoperative blood loss, postoperative drainage, thymoma size and location, and postoperative pain assessed using the visual analogue scale (VAS). ResultsThe SUVT group consisted of 20 patients, including 11 males and 9 females, with an average age of (51.5±14.3) years. The SASAT group comprised 40 patients, including 26 males and 14 females, with an average age of (50.0±13.0) years. Compared to the SASAT group, the SUVT group had significantly larger thymomas [ (5.9±2.7) cm vs. (4.2±2.1) cm, P=0.010] and a higher proportion of neoplasms located in the superior mediastinum (30.0% vs. 2.5%, P=0.007). Additionally, the VAS pain scores on postoperative days 3, 7, and 30 were significantly lower in the SUVT group compared to the SASAT group (P<0.05). There were no statistical differences between the two groups in demographic characteristics, operative time, intraoperative blood loss, duration and volume of postoperative drainage, length of postoperative hospital stay, or the VAS pain score on the first postoperative day. Conclusion SUVT using double sternum retractors significantly reduces postoperative pain and provides superior efficacy in the resection of larger thymomas or those situated in the superior mediastinum.
ObjectiveTo analyze the research hotspots and progress of surgical treatment of myasthenia gravis. MethodsThe top 100 most cited articles on surgical treatment of myasthenia gravis were identified by searching the Web of Science database, and a bibliometric analysis was conducted. ResultsThe publication year of the top 100 most cited articles ranged from 1939 to 2021, and the number of citations ranged from 55 to 850 per article. Most of the included articles were original research articles (75/100), which were mainly retrospective studies (64/75). The United States was the country with the most published articles and most citations, and Annals of Thoracic Surgery was the most sourced journal (n=20). Through VOSviewer analysis, high-density keywords were thymectomy, maximal thymectomy, extended thymectomy, transcervical thymectomy, thymoma, and autoantibodies. ConclusionThe scope of surgical resection, surgical approach and pathogenesis are the current hotspots in the field of surgical treatment of myasthenia gravis. It is hoped that this paper can provide references for future researches in this field.
ObjectiveTo investigate the clinical characteristics of uniportal and three-port subxiphoid video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (XVATS) extended thymectomy.MethodsThe clinical data of 60 consecutive patients of XVATS thymectomy in Xuzhou Central Hospital from January 2017 to May 2019 were retrospectively analyzed. There were 29 males and 31 females, with an average age of 53.1 (27.0-76.0) years. The patients were divided into an uniportal XVATS group (30 patients) and a three-port XVATS group (30 patients). The clinical effectiveness was compared between the two groups.ResultsThere was no significant difference in age, sex, body mass index, tumor size, intraoperative blood loss, postoperative time of thoracic tube indwelling and thoracic drainage, or postoperative hospitalization time between the two groups (P>0.05). There was no perioperative mortality, conversion to thoracotomy, thrombosis or mediastinal infection. The operation time of the uniportal XVATS group was significantly longer than that of the three-port group (87.5±19.0 min vs. 75.8±15.7 min, P=0.012). Besides, patients in the uniportal group had significantly lower pain score during 3-14 postoperative days than that of the three-port group (P=0.001).ConclusionUniportal XVATS extended thymectomy is feasible with less pain as compared with the patients using three-port XVATS, but it needs longer operation time at initial stage.