Evaluation of the Post-Operative Remission and Complications after Transcervical Thymectomy in Al-Zahra Hospital during 1996 until 2003

Tabatabaie, S.A.; Heshemi, S.M.; Ghorashi, M.; Goharian, V.; Ahmadinejad, M.; Sehhat, S.

Evaluation of the Post-Operative Remission and Complications after Transcervical Thymectomy in Al-Zahra Hospital during 1996 until 2003

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

S.A. Tabatabaie ¹

S.M. Heshemi ²

M. Ghorashi ³

V. Goharian ⁴

M. Ahmadinejad ⁴

S. Sehhat ⁵

¹ Associate Professor of Thoracic Surgery, Esfahan University of Medical Sciences and Health Services, Al-Zahra Hospital, Esfahan, Iran

² Assistant Professor of Thoracic Surgery, Esfahan University of Medical Sciences and Health Services, Al-Zahra Hospital, Esfahan, Iran

³ Resident of Geneal Surgery, Esfahan University of Medical Sciences and Health Services, Al-Zahra Hospital, Isfahan, Iran

⁴ Resident of Thoracic Surgery, Esfahan University of Medical Sciences and Health Services, Al-Zahra Hospital, Isfahan, Iran

⁵ Professor of Surgery, Esfahan University of Medical Sciences and Health Services, Esfahan, Iran

Abstract

Introduction & Objective: It remains controversial whether transcervical thymectomy offers results equivalent to thymectomy by way of median sternotomy in the treatment of myasthenia gravis. Furthermore preoperative prognostic factors have not been clearly defined. Materials & Methods: This study is a retrospective chart review and interview of 37 patients completing transcervical thymectomy for myasthenia between 1996 and 2003 out of age, sex, drug resumption, operation time and complication were studied. Data were analyzed by Kaplan-Meier test and P<0.05 was significant. Results: From 37 patients, there were 65.8% women. Mean of age (+SD) was 31.36+10.4. There was no preoperative mortality, we had morbidities in 10.8% of patients. Mean length of stay was 5.5+1.44 days and mean follow up time was 35.39+20.44 months. The crude cumulative complete remission was 11.7%. Kaplain - Meier estimates of remission were 70.6% and 85.3% at 2 and 5 years, respectively. The significant relation was present between pathology of thymus, type of drug resumption before-operation and remission. Conclusions: Overall, extended transcervical thymectomy offers results that are comparable to those published for transternal procedure. Also, there is controversial about preoperatively predictor factor for remission.

Keywords

Transcervical Thymectomy

Myasthenia Gravis

Median Sternotomy