Unilateral Thoracoscopic Thymectomy for Thymoma: Does Side Matter? A Single Institutional Experience

Background Thoracoscopic thymectomy is increasingly performed for the treatment of early stage thymoma. It is characterized by shorter postoperative hospital stay, decreased intraoperative blood loss, and fewer complications compared with transsternal thymectomy. Unilateral video-assisted thoracic surgery (VATS) thymectomy can be easily performed from either side of the thorax, because thymus is located in the middle of mediastinum. However, the side that provides better outcomes remains controversial. The purpose of this study was to compare the efficacy of right and left approaches in performing unilateral thoracoscopic thymectomy for thymoma. Methods Consecutive patients affected by thymoma who underwent VATS thymectomy on either side between February 2001 and March 2020 were enrolled in the study. Clinicopathologic, surgical, and oncological outcomes were retrospectively analyzed and compared among the two surgical approaches. Results Unilateral VATS approaches were performed on 29 patients: 12 (41%) on the left side and 17 (59%) on the right side. The mean age was 63.1 ± 11.3 years and the female/male ratio was 1.73:1. The mean operative time and the hospital stay for the left-side VATS and right-side VATS groups were, respectively, 168 ± 49.5 versus 171 ± 47.9 minutes (p = 0.9) and 3 ± 1.03 days versus 3.65 ± 1.93 days (p = 0.7). Postoperative complications occurred in one patient (3%) for left-side VATS group and one patient (3%) for right-side VATS. The 5-year disease-free survival was comparable between two groups (p = 0.74). Conclusions Unilateral VATS thymectomy in patients with thymoma can be safely and effectively performed by experienced surgeons in either side of the thorax with equivalent oncological outcomes.

Jobb oldali videoasszisztált thoracoscopos thymectomia a thymoma nélküli, felnőttkori myasthenia gravis sebészi kezelésében

Összefoglaló. Bevezetés: A myasthenia gravis javallatával végzett csecsemőmirigy-eltávolítás sebésztechnikai szempontból lényegesen megváltozott az elmúlt közel 30 évben. A standard műtétnek számító transsternalis és transcervicalis thymectomia mellett elterjedt a videoasszisztált thoracoscopos sebészeti (VATS), később pedig a robot sebészeti megoldás is. Két intézetünkben 2011–2012-ben vezettük be a VATS thymectomiát. Módszer: A többféle technikai megoldás közül a mediastinumot a jobb mellüreg felől megközelítő utat választottuk. Eleinte 3, később 2 pontos perimammaris portot készítettünk a thymus elérésére a beteg háton fekvő helyzetében. Minden esetben ultrahangos vágóeszközt alkalmaztunk. Kiterjesztett thymectomiára törekedve a perithymikus zsírszövetet is eltávolítottuk, szélesen megnyitva a bal oldali mellüreget is. A betegek kiválasztásában az átlagos testsúlyú vagy soványabb betegeket részesítettük előnyben. Eredmények: 8 év és 4 hónap alatt 92 beteget műtöttünk a fenti módszerrel thymoma nélküli myasthenia gravis alapbetegséggel. 20 férfi és 72 nő. Átlagéletkor 33,1 év (19–75 év). A műtéti idő 35–160 percig terjedt, átlagosan 82,3 perc volt. A tömegesebb mediastinalis zsírszövet néhány betegnél nehezítette a tájékozódást és a maradéktalan eltávolítást. Műtét alatt 4 esetben érsérülés és 3 ellenoldali tüdősérülés következett be. Két konverziót végeztünk (1-1 sternotomia és thoracotomia). Idegsérülés nem történt. Tíz beteg igényelt néhány órás művi lélegeztetést a műtét után, a többi beteget a műtőasztalon extubáltuk. Reintubáció, tracheostomia, légzési elégtelenség, műtéti halálozás nem volt. Az intenzív ápolási idő átlaga: 1,1 (0–11) nap. A teljes kórházi ápolási idő átlaga: 4,8 (3–15) nap. A drenázsidő 1–4 nap, átlagosan 1,16 nap. Két beteg (2,41%) halt meg a műtétet követően 1 és 5 éven belül. További 81 beteg 12–108 (átlag: 48) hónapos követése során a myastheniás állapotban 21 (25,3%) betegnél komplett, 4 (4,82%) betegnél gyógyszeres remisszió, 20 (24,1%) betegnél minimális manifesztáció, 28 (33,73%) betegnél egyéb javulás volt megállapítható. 4 (4,82%) beteg állapota változatlan maradt, 4 (4,82%) betegé pedig romlott. Következtetés: A VATS thymectomia teljesen új utat jelent a transsternalis módszerben járatos sebészek számára. A tömegesebb mediastinalis zsírszövet nagyon megnehezíti a műtétet. A perioperatív szak nagyon kedvező a betegek számára, és a késői eredmények is elfogadhatóak. Kérdéses, hogy a thymus minden esetben maradéktalanul eltávolítható-e ezzel a módszerrel. Summary. Introduction: Surgical technique of thymectomy performed for treatment of myasthenia gravis has considerably changed in the last almost 30 years. In addition to standard interventions – transsternal and transcervical thymectomy –, video-assisted thoracoscopic interventions (VATS), later on robotic surgery came into general use. In our two institutions, we apply VATS thymectomy since 2011. Methods: There are several different surgical techniques for this purpose; we approached the mediastinum through the right thoracic cavity. We prepared initially 3, later on 2 perimammal ports for the access of the thymus; the patients were in supine position during surgery. We used an ultrasonic cutting device in all cases. In order to perform extended thymectomy, we removed the fatty tissue around the thymus and opened widely the left thoracic cavity, too. During patient enrollment, we preferred patients with normal or lower body weight. Results: During 8 years and 4 months, we operated on 92 patients using this method for myasthenia gravis without thymoma; there were 20 male and 72 female patients at the age of 33 years on average (19–75 years). Duration of surgery was 35–160 minutes, 82.3 minutes on average. The bulky fatty tissue around the thymus made the orientation and the complete removal more difficult in a few patients. We experienced vascular injury in 4 cases and injury of the contralateral lung in 3 cases. Conversion was necessary in 2 cases (1 sternotomy and 1 thoracotomy), there were no nerve injuries. Assisted ventilation was necessary in case of ten patients in the postoperative period for a few hours; all other patients were extubated on the operating table. There was no need for repeated intubation and tracheostomy; there was no respiratory insufficiency and perioperative mortality. Duration of ICU care was 1.1 days on the average (0–11 days), that of the total hospital care 4.8 days on average (3–15 days). Duration of thoracic drainage was 1.16 days on average (1–4 days). Two patients (2.41%) died within one and five years after surgery. During 12–108 months (48 months on average) follow-up of 81 patients, 21 patients (25.3%) suffering from myasthenia total recovery was observed, pharmacologic remission was achieved in 4 patients (5.3%), minimal manifestation remained in 23 patients (24.1%), while in 28 patients (33.73%) other improvement was observed. The status of 4 patients (4.82%) remained unchanged and that of 4 patients (5.3%) worsened. Conclusion: VATS thymectomy represents a completely new surgical method for surgeons having experience in transsternal surgical technique. Bulky mediastinal fatty tissue makes surgery very difficult. The perioperative period is advantageous for the patients and also the long term follow-up results are acceptable. It is questionable that the thymus can be completely removed with this method in all cases.

Improvement in symptom remission rate following robotic thymectomy in patients with myasthenia gravis

OBJECTIVES We investigated long-term symptom control of myasthenia gravis following robotic-assisted thoracic surgery (RATS) versus video-assisted thoracic surgery (VATS) thymectomy in a retrospective single-centre cohort. METHODS From 1999 to 2015, a total of 147 patients underwent thymectomy for myasthenia gravis. Demographic data, medications, operative details, hospital length of stay (LOS), procedure complications and follow-up data were collected by chart review. The Myasthenia Gravis Foundation of America classification was used to evaluate preoperative and postoperative myasthenia gravis status. The primary outcome was complete stable remission (CSR) status. RESULTS Of the 147 patients, 86 (59%) patients underwent VATS thymectomy and 61 (42%) patients underwent RATS thymectomy. There was no operative mortality. The median follow-up was 12 years in the VATS group [interquartile range (IQR) 9–14 years] and 5 years in the RATS group (IQR 3–6 years) (P = 0.001). Two patients in the VATS (2%) and 2 patients (3%) in the RATS group had Clavien–Dindo grade 3 complications. The median LOS was 3 days in the VATS group (IQR 2–4 days) and 2 days in the RATS group (IQR 2–3 days) (P = 0.013). The rate of CSR was 18% (14/65) in the VATS group compared to 26% (16/44) in the RATS group (P = 0.06). Younger age, RATS approach and preoperative medical remission were independently predictive of CSR by Cox regression analysis. CONCLUSIONS Patients who underwent RATS thymectomy and were younger or medically remitted before surgery were more likely to achieve CSR. Both methods yield excellent perioperative outcome.

Magnesium sulfate reduces the rocuronium dose needed for satisfactory double lumen tube placement conditions in patients with myasthenia gravis

Background: Using a minimum dose of neuromuscular blockade (NMB) to achieve intubation condition is one of the goals in anaesthesia management of patients with myasthenia gravis (MG) for thoracoscopic (VATS) thymectomy. However, tracheal intubation with double lumen tube (DLT) could be challenging if intubation condition is not optimal. This double-blind randomised controlled study was designed to investigate whether magnesium sulfate would reduce the rocuronium dose needed for DLT intubation and improve the DLT placement condition for patients with MG who were scheduled for video-assisted thoracoscopic (VATS) thymectomy. Methods: Recruited patients were randomly assigned to receive magnesium sulfate 60mg.kg -1 or normal saline (control) prior to the administration of NMB. Titrating dose of rocuronium was administered to achieve train of four (TOF) ratio less than 10% before DLT intubation. The primary outcome was the rocuronium dose required to achieve TOF ratio less than 10%. The secondary outcome was intubation condition for DLT placement. Results: Twenty-three patients had received magnesium sulfate and 22 patients had received normal saline before rocuronium administration. The required rocuronium dose[mean (standard deviation)] were 0.10 (0.05) mg.kg -1 and 0.28(0.17) mg.kg -1 in patients who had magnesium sulfate and normal saline respectively( P <0.0001). With a similar depth of neuromuscular blockade and depth of anaesthesia, 100% of patients in the magnesium sulfate group and 72.7% of patients in the control group showed excellent intubation condition ( P = 0.027) respectively. The patients in both groups had similar emergence characteristics. Conclusions: Magnesium sulfate is associated with a decrease in rocuronium requirement for an optimal DLT intubation condition in patients with MG for VATS thymectomy. Trial registration: Clinical Trial Registry of China (http://www.chictr.org.cn ) identifier：ChiCTR-1800017696, retrospectively registered on August 10, 2018. Key words : Magnesium sulfate; double lumen tube; myasthenia gravis; intubation; rocuronium

Magnesium sulfate reduces the rocuronium dose needed for satisfactory double lumen tube placement conditions in patients with myasthenia gravis

Background: Using a minimum dose of neuromuscular blockade (NMB) to achieve intubation condition is one of the goals in anaesthesia management of patients with myasthenia gravis (MG) for thoracoscopic (VATS) thymectomy. However, tracheal intubation with double lumen tube (DLT) could be challenging if intubation condition is not optimal. This double-blind randomised controlled study was designed to investigate whether magnesium sulfate would reduce the rocuronium dose needed for DLT intubation and improve the DLT placement condition for patients with MG who were scheduled for video-assisted thoracoscopic (VATS) thymectomy. Methods: Recruited patients were randomly assigned to receive magnesium sulfate 60mg.kg-1 or normal saline (control) prior to the administration of NMB. Titrating dose of rocuronium was administered to achieve train of four (TOF) ratio less than 10% before DLT intubation. The primary outcome was the rocuronium dose required to achieve TOF ratio less than 10%. The secondary outcome was intubation condition for DLT placement. Results: Twenty-three patients had received magnesium sulfate and 22 patients had received normal saline before rocuronium administration. The required rocuronium dose[mean (standard deviation)] were 0.10 (0.05) mg.kg-1 and 0.28(0.17) mg.kg-1 in patients who had magnesium sulfate and normal saline respectively(P<0.0001). With a similar depth of neuromuscular blockade and depth of anaesthesia, 100% of patients in the magnesium sulfate group and 72.7% of patients in the control group showed excellent intubation condition (P = 0.027) respectively. The patients in both groups had similar emergence characteristics. Conclusions: Magnesium sulfate is associated with a decrease in rocuronium requirement for an optimal DLT intubation condition in patients with MG for VATS thymectomy.

Safety and feasibility of video assisted thoracoscopic thymectomy for myasthenia gravis: a single centre experience

Background: Myasthenia gravis (MG) is an autoimmune disease affecting acetylcholine postsynaptic receptor of voluntary muscles. Thymectomy is a mainstay in the treatment for myasthenia gravis with or without thymoma. For many years transsternal and transcervical thymectomy had been the most common approaches used, video assisted thoracoscopic thymectomy is still not accepted as approach of choice. We intend to study the role of Video assisted thoracoscopic thymectomy for myasthenia gravis in central Indian population.Methods: Study was conducted in single tertiary care institute from January 2015 to November 2018. It is a prospective study. Aims of the study were to evaluate the safety and feasibility of video assisted thoracoscopic thymectomy for patients of myasthenia gravis. All patients of myasthenia gravis who underwent underwent video assisted thoracoscopic thymectomy (VATS) were included in the study. Intraoperative and postoperative details were studied to assess the safety and feasibility of VATS for treatment of myasthenia gravis.Results: 16 patients including 7 men and 9 women with the mean age of 35.5 years were investigated. All patients had myasthenia gravis, 12 pts had thymoma while remaining 4 pts had normal thymus. Mean operating time was 104 mins, Mean intraoperative blood loss was 45 ml (range 20 to 60 ml). There was no major intraoperative or postoperative complication or mortality. Mean ICU stay and hospital stay was 33 hrs and 4.25 days respectively.Conclusions: VATS thymectomy is safe and effective approach for the treatment of MG with or without thymoma. MG treated by VATS resulted in comparable neurological outcomes to those associated with the transsternal approach.