Skip to main content

Video-Assisted Thoracoscopic Thymectomy

  • Chapter
  • First Online:
Minimally Invasive Thoracic and Cardiac Surgery

Abstract

Over the period of the last two decades, minimally invasive thymectomy has gained increasing popularity in surgical treatment of myasthenia gravis (MG) [1–3]. The main reason for this phenomenon is an avoidance of sternotomy previously regarded the gold standard approach for thymectomy for MG. Minimally invasive techniques include transcervical thymectomies and videothoracoscopy-assisted (VATS) thymectomies, the last one being the topic of this chapter.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

Chapter
USD 29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD 129.00
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as EPUB and PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book
USD 169.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info
Hardcover Book
USD 249.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Durable hardcover edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Institutional subscriptions

References

  1. Yim A, Kay R, Izaat M, Ng S (1999) Video-assisted thoracoscopic thymectomy for myasthenia gravis. Semin Thorac Cardiovasc Surg 11:65–73

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  2. Mineo T, Pompeo E, Lerut T, Bernardi G, Coosemans W, Nofroni I (2000) Thoracoscopic thymectomy in autoimmune myasthenia: results of left-sided approach. Ann Thorac Surg 69:1537–1541

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  3. Roviaro G, Varoli F, Nucca O, Vergani C, Maciocco M (2001) Videothoracoscopic approach to primary mediastinal pathology. Chest 117:1179–1183

    Article  Google Scholar 

  4. Novellino L, Longoni M, Spinelli L, Andretta M, Cozzi M, Faillace G, Vitellaro M, De Benedetti D, Pezzuoli G (1994) “Extended” thymectomy, without sternotomy performed by cervicotomy and thoracoscopic technique in the treatment of myasthenia gravis. Int Surg 79:378–381

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  5. Zielinski M, Kuzdzal J, Szlubowski A, Soja J (2004) Transcervical-subxiphoid-videothoracoscopic “maximal” thymectomy—operative technique and early results. Ann Thorac Surg 78:404–409

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  6. Kido T, Hazama K, Inoue Y, Tanaka Y, Takao T (1999) Resection of anterior mediastinal masses through an infrasternal approach. Ann Thorac Surg 67:263–265

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  7. Uchiyama A, Shimizu S, Murai H, Kuroki S, Okido M, Tanaka M (2001) Infrasternal mediastinoscopic thymectomy in myasthenia gravis: surgical results in 23 patients. Ann Thorac Surg 72:1902–1905

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  8. Hsu C (2002) Subxiphoid approach for thoracoscopic thymectomy. Surg Endosc 16:1105

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  9. Rea F, Marulli G, Bortolotti L, Feltracco P, Zuin A, Sartori F (2006) Experience with the “da Vinci” robotic system for thymectomy in patients with myasthenia gravis: report of 33 cases. Ann Thorac Surg 81: 455–459

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  10. Cooper J (1998) Video-assisted thoracic surgery for myasthenia gravis: commentary. Chest Surg Clin N Am 8:827–833

    Google Scholar 

  11. Zieliński M, Hauer L, Hauer J, Pankowski J, Nabiałek T, Szlubowski A (2010) Comparison of complete remission rates after 5-years follow-up of three different techniques of thymectomy for myasthenia gravis. Eur J Cardiothorac Surg 37:1137–1143

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  12. Ruckert J, Walter M, Muller J (2000) Pulmonary function after thoracoscopic thymectomy versus median sternotomy for myasthenia gravis. Ann Thorac Surg 70:1656–1661

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  13. Toker A, Tanju S, Ziyade S, Ozkan B, Sungur Z, Parman Y, Serdaroglu P, Deymeer F (2009) Early outcomes of video-assisted thoracoscopic resection of thymus in 181 patients with myasthenia gravis: who are the candidates for the next morning discharge? Interact Cardiovasc Thorac Surg 9:995–998

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  14. Kalso E, Mennander S, Tasmuth T, Nilsson E (2001) Chronic post-sternotomy pain. Acta Anaesthesiol Scand 45:935–939

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  15. Machens A, Emskotter T, Busch C, Izbicki J (1998) Postoperative infection after transsternal thymectomy for myasthenia gravis: a retrospective analysis of 125 patients. Jpn J Surg 28:808–810

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  16. Ashour M (1995) Prevalence of ectopic thymic tissue in myasthenia gravis and its clinical significance. J Thorac Cardiovasc Surg 109:632–635

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  17. Jaretzki A, Wolff M (1988) “Maximal” thymectomy for myasthenia gravis. Surgical anatomy and operative technique. J Thorac Cardiovasc Surg 96:711–716

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  18. Shigemura N, Shiono H, Inoue M, Minami M, Ohta M, Okumura M, Matsuda H (2006) Inclusion of the transcervical approach in video-assisted thoracoscopic extended thymectomy (VATET) for myasthenia gravis: a prospective trial. Surg Endosc 20(10):1614–1618

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  19. Jaretzki A (1997) Thymectomy for myasthenia gravis: analysis of the controversies regarding technique and results. Neurology 48(suppl 5):S52–S63

    Article  Google Scholar 

  20. Hiratsuka M, Iwasaki A, Shirakusa T, Yoneda S, Yamamoto S, Shiraishi T, Tsuboi Y (2006) Role of video-assisted thoracic surgery for the treatment of myasthenia gravis: extended thymectomy by median sternotomy versus the thoracoscopic approach with sternal lifting. Int Surg 91:44–51

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  21. Toker A, Tanju S, Ziyade S, Kaya S, Dilege S (2008) Learning curve in videothoracoscopic thymectomy: how many operations and in which situations? Eur J Cardiothorac Surg 34:155–158

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Marcin Zielin´ski M.D., Ph.D. .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 2012 Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg

About this chapter

Cite this chapter

Zielin´ski, M. (2012). Video-Assisted Thoracoscopic Thymectomy. In: Inderbitzi, R., Schmid, R., Melfi, F., Casula, R. (eds) Minimally Invasive Thoracic and Cardiac Surgery. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-11861-6_25

Download citation

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-11861-6_25

  • Published:

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-642-11860-9

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-642-11861-6

  • eBook Packages: MedicineMedicine (R0)

Publish with us

Policies and ethics