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@#Objective To compare and analyze the occurrence of acute and chronic pain after subxiphoid and transcostal thoracoscopic extended thymectomy. Methods A retrospective analysis was performed on 150 patients who underwent thoracoscopic extended thymectomy in our hospital from July 2020 to June 2022, among whome 30 patients received subxiphoid video-assisted thoracic surgery, and 120 patients received transcostal video-assisted thoracic surgery. The patients were matched by the propensity score matching method. Postoperative pain was evaluated by numeric rating scale (NRS). The intraoperative conditions and postoperative pain incidence were compared between the two groups. Results After matching, 60 patients were enrolled, 30 in each group, including 30 males and 30 females with an average age of 50.78±12.13 years. There was no difference in the general clinical data between the two groups (P>0.05), and no perioperative death. There were statistical differences in the intraoperative blood loss, postoperative drainage volume, postoperative catheter duration, postoperative hospital stay, postoperative pain on 1 d, 2 d, 3 d, 7 d, 3 months and 6 months after the surgery (P<0.05), but there was no statistical difference in the operation time or the postoperative 14 d NRS score (P>0.05). Further univariate and multivariate analyses for postoperative chronic pain showed that surgical method and postoperative 14 d NRS score were risk factors for chronic pain at the 3 months and 6 months after the surgery (P<0.05). Conclusion The subxiphoid thoracoscopic extended thymectomy has advantages over transcostal thoracoscopic surgery in the postoperative acute and chronic pain.
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@#Objective To compare the clinical efficacy of subxiphoid video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (XVATS) and conventional intercostal VATS (CVATS) extended thymectomy for myasthenia gravis (MG). Methods The clinical data of MG patients who underwent extended thymectomy in the Department of Thoracic Surgery of Xuzhou Central Hospital from October 2016 to October 2021 and finished the follow-up were retrospectively reviewed. They were divided into an XVATS group and a CVATS group according to the procedure. The perioperative variables and clinical efficacy of the two groups were compared. Results A total of 84 patients were collected, including 43 males and 41 females, with a mean age of 52.3 years. There were 41 patients in the XVATS group and 43 patients in the CVATS group. There was no mortality, cardiopulmonary thrombosis, prolonged air leak, or mediastinal infection. Additionally, the CVATS group recorded 5 (11.6%) patients of conversion to open thoracotomy, 1 (2.3%) patient of postoperative MG crisis, 1 (2.3%) patient of bleeding in thorax, and 1 (2.3%) patient of chylothorax. The operation time (127.4±50.4 min vs. 122.9±38.6 min), intraoperative bleeding [46.9 (25.7, 79.2) mL vs. 45.7 (21.9, 92.1) mL], incidence of complications [0 vs. 7.0% (3/43)], chest tube duration (4.3±1.9 d vs. 4.8±2.8 d), follow-up time (19.1±8.5 months vs. 22.5±13.7 months), the proportion of residual mediastinal fat tissue [12.2% (5/41) vs. 4.7% (2/43)], and total MG remission rate [29.3% (12/41) vs. 51.2% (22/43)] were not statistically different between the two groups (P>0.05). However, the two groups showed significantly different incidence of conversion to open thoracotomy [0 vs. 11.6% (5/43), P=0.024], postoperative hospital stay time (8.2±3.3 d vs. 11.4±5.8 d, P=0.003) and total drainage volume [396.7 (173.8, 542.5) mL vs. 218.8 (102.1, 430.0) mL, P=0.038]. Conclusion XVATS extended thymectomy is technically safe and feasible; however, more evidence is warranted before the recommendation of this approach for the treatment of MG.
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@#Myasthenia gravis (MG) is an autoimmune disease with indefinite pathogenesis. MG is closely related to thymic diseases, and thymectomy is an important way for MG treatment. However, there are some controversies regarding thymectomy, including indications, operation opportunities, operative procedures, surgical approaches, perioperative managements, and efficacy evaluations, etc. Therefore, based on the literature and the experience of Chinese experts, this consensus has been written after careful discussion and inquiry and 29 recommendations have been made, aiming to guide surgical treatment of MG and improve the clinical outcomes.
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Objective:To summarize the surgical treatment experience of extended thymectomy for myasthenia gravis(MG), and to explore the surgical treatment of MG.Methods:Retrospectively analyzed the clinical data of 527 MG patients undergoing extended thymectomy in our hospital from June 1996 to October 2017, including 242 males and 285 females, aged 5 to 77 years, with a mean age of(52.6±13.7) years old. The course of illness was 12 days to 18 years. There were 22 cases of hyperthyroidism, 7 cases of pure red blood cell aplastic anemia, 1 case each of hypothyroidism, irritable bowel disease, rheumatoid arthritis, ankylosing spondylitis and thrombocytopenia syndrome. There were 272 cases of MG in Osserman Ⅰ, 72 cases inⅡa, 78 cases inⅡb, 81 cases in Ⅲ, and 24 cases in Ⅳ, respectively. The muscle fatigue test and neostigmine test of all patients were positive, and the diagnosis was confirmed by chest CT examination. Meanwhile, summarize the perioperative data and postoperative follow-up.Results:3 cases died during the postoperative period, all of which were thymoma with MG, including 2 cases of Osserman Ⅲ MG and 1 case of Ⅳ MG; 15 cases of postoperative myasthenia crisis, including 2 OssermanⅡb cases, 11 Osserman Ⅲ cases and 2 Osserman Ⅳ cases, also including 7 cases of tracheotomy; 70 cases of plasma exchange, of whom 2 cases of hypotonic syndrome and 2 cases of lower extremity venous thrombosis. The postoperative pathological types were followed by thymic hyperplasia 293 cases(55.60%), thymoma 207 cases(39.28%), thymic cyst 24 cases(4.55%) and thymic atrophy 3 cases(0.57%) in descending order. 378 cases were followed up with an average follow-up of(85.9±58.5)months; MG with complete remission, partial remission, no change and deterioration accounted for 135(35.71%), 192(50.79%), 41(10.85%) and 10(2.65%)cases, respectively. Complete remission rate ranked as Osserman typeⅠ>Ⅱa>Ⅳ>Ⅱb>Ⅲ, the deterioration rate from high to low was Osserman type Ⅲ>Ⅳ>Ⅰ. 18 OssermanⅠcases showed no effects, whose preoperative course of disease> 5-10 years; 1 OssermanⅠcase was worsening who initially was diagnosed with ophthalmic MG and underwent video-assisted thoracoscopic thymectomy. The left thymus lobe was left unresected and developed 6 years later. Another operation was performed to remove the left lobe thymus, confirming the compensatory hypertrophy of the left lobe thymus. Among the worsening patients, 6 died, all of them were thymoma with MG, including 5 cases of type Ⅲ and one case of type Ⅳ. The cause of death was omyasthenia crisis(3 cases), sudden respiratory arrest after 3 months of rapid stopping of brompistigmine(2 cases)and cholinergic crisis(1 case).Conclusion:Standardized extended thymectomy is an effective method for the treatment of MG. Earlier surgery for ocular muscle type MG can effectively reduce the risk of generalization. MG with Osserman Ⅱb or higher is prone to myasthenia crisis. Comprehensive treatments should be taken to reduce MG-related risks. Myasthenia crisis can occur repeatedly in severe patients in the long term after surgery, requiring regular medication and comprehensive MG treatments.
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Introducción: La miastenia grave adquirida es un trastorno de la transmisión neuromuscular, causado por la unión de autoanticuerpos con los componentes de la placa neuromuscular, más frecuentemente con el receptor de acetilcolina. Objetivo: Evaluar los resultados quirúrgicos inmediatos, obtenidos con la timectomía extendida en pacientes con miastenia grave timomatosa y no timomatosa. Métodos: Se realizó un estudio observacional, prospectivo y descriptivo para evaluar los resultados postoperatorios inmediatos de 21 pacientes intervenidos por miastenia grave entre junio de 2015 y mayo de 2020. Las variables estudiadas fueron edad, sexo, lesiones tímicas asociadas y resultados inmediatos: complicaciones y mortalidad ocurridas hasta 30 días de la intervención. Los datos fueron obtenidos de una base en Microsoft Access. Resultados: Dieciséis (76,2 por ciento) pertenecían al sexo femenino y 5 (23, 8 por ciento) al masculino. El mayor número correspondió a la MG con timoma, seguido por la MG e hiperplasia tímica (8) y uno con MG y restos tímicos. Se complicaron tres pacientes (14,3 por ciento). Uno presentó dos complicaciones: enfisema subcutáneo y septicemia, el siguiente, fiebre sin causa aparente y, el último, infección superficial de la herida. No hubo fallecidos. Conclusiones: La timectomía transesternal extendida permite extirpar el timo y la mayor parte de los tejidos adiposo y tímico aberrante, en el cuello y el mediastino. En pacientes tratados por equipos multidisciplinarios, con experiencia en esta cirugía, las complicaciones y la mortalidad tempranas usualmente son favorables(AU)
Introduction: Acquired myasthenia gravis (MG) is a neuromuscular transmission disorder caused by the union of autoantibodies and the components of the neuromuscular plaque, most frequently with the acetylcholine receptor. Objective: To assess the immediate surgical outcomes of extended thymectomy in patients with thymomatous and nonthymomatous myasthenia gravis. Methods: An observational, prospective and descriptive study was carried out to assess the immediate postoperative outcomes of 21 patients operated on for myasthenia gravis between June 2015 and May 2020. The variables studied were age, sex, associated thymic lesions, and immediate outcomes: complications and mortality that occurred up to thirty days after the intervention. The data were obtained from a Microsoft Access database. Results: Sixteen (76.2 percent) belonged to the female sex and five (23.8 percent) to the male sex. The highest number corresponded to MG with thymoma, followed by MG and thymic hyperplasia (8) and one with MG and thymic remains. Three patients (14.3 percent) were complicated. One had two complications: subcutaneous emphysema and septicemia; the next had unexplained fever; and the last one had superficial wound infection. There were no deaths. Conclusions: Extended transsternal thymectomy allows removal of the thymus and most of the adipose and aberrant thymic tissues in the neck and mediastinum. In patients treated by multidisciplinary teams, with experience in this surgery, outcomes regarding early complications and mortality are usually favorable(AU)
Subject(s)
Humans , Male , Female , Thymectomy/methods , Neuromuscular Junction Diseases/etiology , Myasthenia Gravis/epidemiology , Epidemiology, Descriptive , Prospective Studies , Observational Studies as TopicABSTRACT
@#Objective To investigate the clinical characteristics of uniportal and three-port subxiphoid video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (XVATS) extended thymectomy. Methods The clinical data of 60 consecutive patients of XVATS thymectomy in Xuzhou Central Hospital from January 2017 to May 2019 were retrospectively analyzed. There were 29 males and 31 females, with an average age of 53.1 (27.0-76.0) years. The patients were divided into an uniportal XVATS group (30 patients) and a three-port XVATS group (30 patients). The clinical effectiveness was compared between the two groups. Results There was no significant difference in age, sex, body mass index, tumor size, intraoperative blood loss, postoperative time of thoracic tube indwelling and thoracic drainage, or postoperative hospitalization time between the two groups (P>0.05). There was no perioperative mortality, conversion to thoracotomy, thrombosis or mediastinal infection. The operation time of the uniportal XVATS group was significantly longer than that of the three-port group (87.5±19.0 min vs. 75.8±15.7 min, P=0.012). Besides, patients in the uniportal group had significantly lower pain score during 3-14 postoperative days than that of the three-port group (P=0.001). Conclusion Uniportal XVATS extended thymectomy is feasible with less pain as compared with the patients using three-port XVATS, but it needs longer operation time at initial stage.
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To investigate the clinical efficacy of extended thymectomy by subxiphoid approach video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery(VATS) for myasthenia gravis. Methods We retrospectively analyzed the clinical date of 64 cases of myasthenia gravis treated by subxiphoid approach VATS in the same surgical team from September 2015 to April 2018. The patients were equally divided into 4 groups(A, B, C and D) according to the date of operation. Comparisons were made among the four groups in operation time, blood loss during operation, rate of conversion to thoracotomy, postoperative complications, postoperative hospital stay, duration and amount of postoperative chest tube drainage, frequenlly of surgery. The operative effect of different stage was analyzed. Results There were no intraoperative deaths. 1 patient(group A) was converted to thoracotomy. 3 patients(2 cases of group A; 1 case of group D) had lung infection. 1 patient(group B) developed myasthenia crisis after surgery, and the rest patients showed obvious improvement in postoperative myasthenia symptoms. No significant differences were found in postoperative complications, rate of conversion to thoracotomy, postoperative hospital stay, duration and amount of postoperative chest tube drainage among the 4 groups(P >0. 05). The operation time was significantly longer in group A(186. 25 ± 25. 79) min than the other 3 groups [B(128. 75 ± 16. 28) min, C(135. 00 ± 21. 29) min, D(128. 75 ± 19. 62)min], P <0. 05. The blood loss in surgery was significsntly more in group A(110. 00 ±38. 82)ml than that in the other 3 groups[B(63. 75 ±28. 26)ml, C(58. 13 ±27. 86)ml, D(58. 75 ±25. 00)ml], P <0. 05, while no statistical difference was found among group B, C and D. The frequency of surgery was increased from 1. 6 cases in group A to 2. 3, 2. 7 and 2. 7 cases one month in B, C and D, respectively. Conclusion The results of the present study have shown that subxiphoid approach VATS thymectomy is safe and feasible for the treatment of MG patients. For thoracic surgeons with certain experience in thoracoscopic technique, a plateau of the surgical skill of the subxiphoid opproach can be reached after learning curve procedures.
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BACKGROUND@#Thymoma is frequently associated with myasthenia gravis (MG). However, whether MG is a factor for the outcome of patients with thymoma following complete thymectomy remains unknown. The aim of this study is to investigate the effect of thymoma with MG prognostic factors.@*METHODS@#A retrospective analysis of The Chinese Alliance for Research in Thymomas (ChART) database within 1992-2012 complete cases 875 cases, 20 years follow-up data analysis thymic tumor tissue type credits and MG, Masaoka staging and prognosis, postoperative adjuvant therapy and relationship with the prognosis of surgical removal of the way.@*RESULTS@#Thymic tumor tissue type credit has correlation with MG, difference was statistically significant (χ²=24.908, P B3 type (65/239, 27.20%) > B1 (27/132, 20.45%) > AB (43/267, 16.10%) > type A, 10.17% (6/59), Masaoka stage has no correlation with MG (χ²=0.365, P=1.365). Survival analysis showed that the WHO classification, Masaoka stage associated with prognosis (P<0.05), and whether the merger MG (χ²=0.113, P=0.736), postoperative adjuvant radiotherapy (χ²=0.380, P=0.538) has nothing to do with the prognosis, postoperative adjuvant chemotherapy is associated with poor prognosis (χ²=14.417, P<0.001). Whether has nothing to do with the prognosis of the thymus resection (χ²=1.548, P=1.548), whether the whole correlated with the curative effect of thymus excision with MG (χ²=24.695, P<0.001).@*CONCLUSIONS@#Thymoma patients with MG and extended thymectomy have no correlation with prognosis. Extended thymectomy can improve the effect of MG patients.
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Adolescent , Adult , Aged , Aged, 80 and over , Female , Humans , Male , Middle Aged , Young Adult , Myasthenia Gravis , Diagnosis , General Surgery , Prognosis , Retrospective Studies , Survival Analysis , ThymomaABSTRACT
@#Objective To compare three surgical treatments for mediastinal mass with myasthenia gravis. Methods Retrospective analysis was performed on the clinical data of 53 patients who underwent extended thymectomy between January 2010 and December 2017 in our hospital. There were 29 males and 24 females, aged 17-73 years. Patients were divided into three groups according to the surgical methods: a group A (video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery with the da Vinci robotic system, n=22), a group B (video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery, n=12) and a group C (median sternotomy, n=19). The gender distribution, age, intraoperative blood loss, operation time, postoperative extubation time, postoperative hospital stay, Osserman classification of myasthenia gravis, postoperative myasthenic remission rate, etc were compared in three groups. Results No perioperative death was observed in 53 patients. One patient in the group C suffered from postoperative myasthenic crisis and improved after active treatment. One patient with video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery was converted to median sternotomy due to the intraoperative injury of the left brachiocephalic vein. Compared with the group B and group C, the group A had shorter operation time, less intraoperative blood loss and drainage on the first postoperative day and fewer days of extubation. Postoperative hospital stay was less in the group A than that in the group C (P<0.05). The postoperative myasthenic remission rate was higher in the group A than that in the other two groups, but there was no statistical difference. Conclusion Because of the robot’s unique minimally invasive advantage, in this study, the outcome of patients with myasthenia gravis treated with Da Vinci robots and thymectomy is better than that of the remaining two groups in terms of perioperative outcomes and myasthenic remission rate. But long-term results and a large of number matching experiments are needed to confirm. However, it is undeniable that robotic surgery must be the future of the minimally invasive surgery.
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Objective:To observe the effect of bilateral thoracoscopic surgery for invasive thymoma complicated with myasthenia gravis,and to explore feasibility of surgical procedure.Methods:Bilateral thoracoscopic extended thymectomy was performed in one patient with invasive thymoma complicated with myasthenia gravis,with complete resection of thymus and anterior mediastinal adipose tissue through bilateral approach,and the curative effect was observed.Results:Bilateral thoracoscopic thymectomy for invasive thymoma had radical effects with rapid recovery after surgery,avoiding large surgical trauma and more complications in open surgery and flawed in removing contralateral fat and ectopic thymus with unilateral thoracoscope.Conclusion:Bilateral thoracoscopic extended thymectomy has radical effects for invasive thymoma complicated with myasthenia gravis,confirming its feasible surgical procedure.
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Objective: To observe the effect of bilateral thoracoscopic surgery for invasive thymoma complicated with myasthenia gravis, and to explore feasibility of surgical procedure. Methods: Bilateral thoracoscopic extended thymectomy was performed in one patient with invasive thymoma complicated with myasthenia gravis, with complete resection of thymus and anterior mediastinal adipose tissue through bilateral approach, and the curative effect was observed. Results: Bilateral thoracoscopic thymectomy for invasive thymoma had radical effects with rapid recovery after surgery, avoiding large surgical trauma and more complications in open surgery and flawed in removing contralateral fat and ectopic thymus with unilateral thoracoscope. Conclusion: Bilateral thoracoscopic extended thymectomy has radical effects for invasive thymoma complicated with myasthenia gravis, confirming its feasible surgical procedure.
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@#Objective To assess the long-term results and relevant influencing factors of extended thymectomy and medicine-alone treatment of non-thymomatous myasthenia gravis (MG) patients. Methods We retrospectively analyzed the clinical data of 174 patients with non-thymomatous MG diagnosed and treated in our department from December 2009 to April 2017, including 81 males and 93 females, aged 13-88 (47.1±17.8) years. According to the different treatment methods, the patients were divided into two groups: an operation group (91 patients receiving extended thymectomy) and a medicine-alone group (83 patients receiving medical therapy alone). The efficacy was evaluated according to the Myasthenia Gravis Foundation of America (MGFA). Survival curves of the patients were plotted using the Kaplan-Meier method to evaluate the remission rate and survival rate. Cox regression analysis was used to assess the influencing factors of the outcomes. Results The patients were followed up for 3 to 94 (39.1±26.9) months. As a result, 29 patients (31.9%) achieved complete remission in the surgery group and 13 patients (15.7%) were completely relieved in the medicine-alone group (P=0.014). Further analysis showed that treatment pattern (P=0.018) and MG type (P=0.021) were the main factors related to the efficacy. Conclusion For patients with non-thymomatous MG, extended thymectomy is superior to the medicine-alone in terms of complete remission rate and the postoperative immunosuppression ratio.
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Objective To investigate curative effects and prognostic factors of video-assisted thoracoscopic extended thymectomy ( VATET ) for nonthymomatous myasthenia gravis ( NTMG ) . Methods Clinical records of 43 patients with an established diagnosis of NTMG who underwent VATET from December 2009 to September 2014 were reviewed. Three-port thoracoscopic right thymectomy with resection of fat tissue in anterior mediastinum was conducted.The curative effects and prognostic factors were evaluated and analyzed with the Monden standard. Results The VATET was successfully completed in all the 43 patients.The operation time was 75-240 min (mean, 115.4 min).The intraoperative blood loss was 10-200 ml (mean, 42.2 ml). No peri-operative death occurred.Follow-ups for 4 -60 months ( mean, 36.2 months) showed 12 cases of remission, 18 cases of improvement, 10 cases of unchanged disease, and 3 cases of deterioration.The effective rate was 69.8% (30/43).Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that pathological type of thymic hyperplasia was the independent risk factor for NTMG postoperative outcomes (β=0.921,95%CI:1.866-2.811, P=0.000). Conclusion Video-assisted thoracoscopic extended thymectomy is effective in most myasthenia gravis patients.
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Objective To explore the value of video-assisted thoracoscopic thymectomy in the treatment of thymoma accompanied by myasthenia gravis.Methods In this study,forty-two patients who were preoperatively con-firmed to be thymoma accompanied by myasthenia gravis from 2008.1 to 2012.12 were treated using VATS,including typeⅠin 23 cases,typeⅡa in 11 cases,typeⅡb in 7 cases,and type Ⅲ in 1 case.Thymectomy and dissection of all fatty tissue anterior to the pericardium were performed in all cases.The operation time,blood loss,chest drainage time,hospital stay and outcomes were recorded and compared.Results In this group,one patient showed myasthenic crisis after surgery and recovery well after treated by ventilatory support.the patients had fewer blood loss(<35mL) , shorter operation and postoperative drainage time, and shorter postoperative hospital stay.Conclusion Extended thymectomy by VATS is safe and feasible with the advantage of less invasion,less surgical trauma and pain,lower rate of complication,and good curative effect.
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Objective To investigate the perioperative management and video-assisted thoraco-scopic (VATS) extended thymectomy for myasthenia gravis ( MG ). Methods A total of 102 patients who received extended thymectomy for MG from June 2000 to August 2007 were divided into 2 groups by operative approach: 51 in the VATS group and 51 in the full median sternotomy group. The clinical features, including operation time, operation blood loss, post-operative drainage, inci-dence of crisis, hospital stay, and the 1-year total effective rate after the operation were compared. Complications were treated exactly and cholinesterase inhibitors were applied to control the symptom of MG before the operation. The whole thoracic gland and fat in the anterior mediastinum were removed. Steroid, cholinesterase inhibitors and plasmapheresis were used to prevent and cure masthemic crisis after the operation. Results No patients died in the operation and hospitalization. There was no sig-nificant difference in the operation time [(128.14±34.82) min vs. (130.46±28.71) min] and the 1-year total effective rate after the operation (85.8% vs. 87.2% )in the 2 groups(P>0.05).The operation blood loss, postoperative drainage, incidence of crisis, and postoperative hospital stay in the median sternotomy group were higher or longer than those in the VATS group [(93.77±21.64) mL vs. (45.42±10.96)mL,P<0.05; (174.65±21.64)mL vs. (101.33±28.76) mL,P <0.01;7.84% vs. 1.96%, P<0.05;(14.23±3.17)d vs. (8.37±1.18)d, P<0.05)]. Conclusion VATS extended thymectomy for myasthenia gravis is safe, less invasive and effective. Preoperative preparation and the perioperative managemant can decrease the incidence of crisis. The plasmapheresis is the key of curing masthemic crisis.
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Objective To explore the value of video-assisted thoracoscopic thymectomy in the treatment of myasthenia gravis. Methods A prospective randomized controlled study,fifty-four patients who were preoperatively confirmed to be MG from 2005 to 2008 were divided into VATS group (27 cases) and conventional thoracotomy group (27 cases). Thymectomy and dissection of all fatty tissue anterior to the pericardium were performed in both the groups. The operation time,blood loss,chest drainage time,hospital stay and outcomes of the two groups were recorded and compared. Results In the VATS group,one patient was converted to open surgery because of electrocoagulation injury and brachiocephalic vein. Compared with the conventional group,the patients in the VATS group had fewer blood loss [(43.0?5.2) ml vs (117.6?17.2) ml,t=-21.196,P=0.000],shorter operation and postoperative drainage time [(89.4?15.0) min vs (98.4?12.5) min,t=-2.377,P=0.021;and (2.2?1.6) d vs (4.2?1.3) d,t=-5.003,P=0.000,respectively],and shorter postoperative hospital stay [(7.0?1.2) d vs (11.0?2.5) d,t=-7.379,P=0.000].In the conventional group,3 patients developed MG crisis and 9 had lung infection,while none of the VATS group developed the crisis,and 2 showed lung infection (P=0.236; ?2=5.295,P=0.021). The 54 patients were followed up for 6 to 24 months with a mean of 18.6 months,during the period,the MG symptoms were improved in 80.8%(21/26)of the patients in VATS group and 85.2% (23/27)in conventional group (Z=-0.126,P=0.899). Conclusions Extended thymectomy by VATS is safe and feasible with the advantage of less invasion,less surgical trauma and pain,lower rate of complication,and good curative effect.