Transcervical-subxiphoid-videothoracoscopic “maximal” thymectomy—operative technique and early results

Background The operative technique of a transcervical-subxiphoid-videothoracoscopic “maximal” thymectomy without sternotomy is described and the early results of the follow-up of patients operated on are analyzed. Methods One-hundred “maximal” transcervical-subxiphoid-videothoracoscopic thymectomies were performed for nonthymomatous myasthenia gravis during a recent 32-month period (from September 1, 2000 to May 8, 2003). Patient characteristics, complications, pathologic findings, and the results of follow-up were analyzed. Results The study group included 83 women and 17 men. The mean age was 29.8 years (range, 10–69 years). The mean preoperative duration of myasthenia was 2.73 years (range, 3 months to 17 years). The preoperative Osserman score was I–III, 27 patients were taking steroids preoperatively. Eleven operations were performed by two teams working simultaneously and 89 operations were performed by one surgeon including four combined thymectomy-thyroid operations in patients with myasthenia and thyroid nodules. The mean operative time for two-team approach thymectomies was 159.09 minutes (range, 140–170 minutes) and the mean operative time for the thymectomy performed by one surgeon was 199.41 minutes (range, 150–270 minutes) (p = 0.0004). There was a 15.0% (15 out of 100) postoperative morbidity and no mortality. Foci of ectopic thymic tissue were found in 71.0% of the patients and were most prevalent in the perithymic fat (37.0%) and in the aorta-pulmonary window (33.0%). The mean weight of the specimen was 78.4 g (range, 14.5–253.0 g). In 48 patients followed-up for 12 months, the improvement rate was 83.3%, the no improvement rate was 14.6%, and 1 patient died during the follow-up period. Complete remission rates were 18.8% and 32.0% after 1 and 2 years of follow-up, respectively. Conclusions We conclude that the “maximal” transcervical-subxiphoid-videothoracoscopic thymectomy is a safe operative technique, avoiding a sternotomy, performed partly in an open fashion with the extensiveness comparable with the transsternal extended and “maximal” thymectomies. The two-team approach helps to reduce the operative time. However, because of the limited time of follow-up it is too early for the final assessment of the long-term results of this method in the treatment of myasthenia gravis.