Abstract
BACKGROUND: Thymectomy plays an important role in patients with myasthenia gravis (MG) and video-assisted thoracoscopic (VATS) extended thymectomy has been widely used in recent years. The traditional thoracoscopic procedure requires three intercostal incisions. Our study improved the surgical approach and operation method by using single-utility port thoracoscopy. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of single-utility port VATS extended thymectomy for MG. METHODS: A retrospective analysis was performed in 45 patients with MG who underwent single-utility port VATS extended thymectomy in Beijing Hospital from July 2017 to December 2018. The safety and effectiveness of this surgical approach were summarized. RESULTS: All operations were accomplished successfully, without conversion to thoracotomy, requirement of additional incisions or postoperative death. The mean operation time was (141.3±39.2) min; the mean intraoperative blood loss was (64.2±45.5) mL; the median thoracic drainage duration was 3 days (range 2 days to 8 days); the mean pleural drainage was (890.4±439.1) mL, and the median postoperative hospital stay was 6 days (range 3 days to 91 days). There were 13 cases (28.9%) with postoperative complications, including 5 cases (11.1%) with myasthenia crisis, 6 cases (13.3%) with pulmonary complications, 4 cases (8.9%) with poor incision healing, 4 cases (8.9%) with atrial fibrillation, and 1 case (2.2%) with delayed pericardial hemorrhage. The median follow-up time was 18.5 months (range 12.5 months to 29.2 months). According to the effect of 1 year after surgery, 1 case (2.2%) showed pharmacologic remission; 18 cases (40.0%) showed minimal manifestations; 23 cases (51.1%) got improvement; 1 case (2.2%) showed no changs and 2 cases (4.4%) were worse. CONCLUSIONS: Single-utility port VATS extended thymectomy is a safe and feasible minimally invasive procedure for MG. During the perioperative period, special attention should be paid to prevent myasthenic crisis, pulmonary complications, and incision complications.