Subxiphoid thoracoscopic thymectomy for myasthenia gravis

The treatment options for myasthenia gravis (MG) include medication and thymectomy; thymectomy plus medication provides better remission of MG and reduced risk of recurrence compared with medication alone [1]. We investigated the efficacy of subxiphoid thoracoscopic thymectomy in patients with myasthenia gravis. The data of 37 consecutive cases were reviewed. 2 cases of postoperative myasthenia gravis crisis and 4 cases of residual mediastinal fat tissue were recorded. Moreover, 29 patients presented the neurological outcomes, and complete stable remission was achieved in 5 (17.2%) cases. Subxiphoid thymectomy is technically feasible. High-quality evidence is warranted before this approach can be recommended.

Automated summary

This study investigated the efficacy of subxiphoid thoracoscopic thymectomy in patients with myasthenia gravis. The results showed that the surgery is technically feasible, but more high-quality evidence is needed to support its use.