Thymectomy by Partial Sternotomy for the Treatment of Non-Thymomatous Myasthenia Gravis

Myasthenia gravis is an autoimmune disease characterized by weakness and fatigue of voluntary muscles. Thymectomy is considered an effective therapeutic option for patients with myasthenia gravis . The purpose of this study is to evaluate the efficacy of thymectomy by partial sternotomy for the treatment of non-thymoma tous myasthenia gravis . Materials and Methods: From 2002 to 2006, patients with non-thymomatous myasthenia gravis who underwent thymectomy through a partial median sternotomy were studied prospectively and analyzed to evaluate the results of thymectomy performed by this technique . Results: There were 10 patients (8 women and 2 men) and the mean age at the time of thymectomy was 25.9 years. Eight pat ients (80%) were in class I/A of Osserman s classification whJ1e 2 patients (20%) were in class /lB. Mean duration of symptoms before operation was 2 years . Mean fol/ow-up was 9±3 months. Mean postop erative hospital stay was 6.1 days (5 to 10 days). Pathology examination revealed thymus hyperplasia in al/ patients. There was no mortality. Complications occurred in two (20%) patients. One (10%) patient needed mechanical ventilation for 24 hours postoperatively. After 6 months of Iollow-up, 2 patients (20%) had complete remission of symptoms, 5 (50%) had a significant improvement, 2 (20%) had a mild improvement, whereas one patient (10%) had no improvement in his clinical symptoms. conctuston: Partial median sternotomy may be a useful surgical approach to the thymus, as demonstrated by the good functional and aesthetic results, assoc iated with low morbidity and no mortality. (Tanaffos 2006; 5(4): 43-46)