[Prognostic factors and outcome of thymectomy in 80 cases of myasthenia gravis]. / Análisis de factores pronósticos y resultados de la timectomía en 80 casos de miastenia gravis.

OBJECTIVES: To analyze the results of thymectomy in our series of patients with myasthenia gravis (MG) and to study the influence of the most common prognostic factors. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Eighty MG patients over a period of 23 years underwent thymectomy consecutively in our hospital. Preoperative assessment included clinical evaluation of muscle weakness, edrophonium testing, electromyography, lung function testing, chest X-rays and CAT scans. Symptoms were assessed by the Osserman scale. The surgical approach was amplified transsternal thymectomy. The prognostic factors studied were sex, age, clinical stage, duration of disease before surgery and histology of the thymus. Clinical outcome was assessed using Millichap and Dodge's criteria. Follow-up was by the chest surgery and neurology departments. RESULTS: Complete remission was observed in 29 cases (36.2%) and significant improvement in 42 (52.5%). Complications developed in 9 patients (11.2%). Most patients were women (53/27) and outcomes for men and women were not statistically different. Mean age was 36 years (range 11-79), with no significant difference in outcome for patients who were older or younger than 60 years of age. Nor were differences evident related to presurgical clinical stage or levels of severity (I + IIa/IIb + III). Differences in outcome were highly significantly related to duration of disease (< 24 / > 24 months) (p = 0.0022), such that outcome was more satisfactory when the pre-surgical course of disease was shorter, provided that no thymoma was present. CONCLUSIONS: Amplified transsternal thymectomy was safe and effective for those patients with MG. When disease had been present for less than two years, the prognosis was better.

Análisis de factores pronósticos y resultados de la timectomía en 80 casos de miastenia gravis / Prognostic factors and outcome of thymectomy in 80 cases of myasthenia gravis

OBJETIVOS: Analizar los resultados de la timectomía en pacientes con miastenia gravis (MG) en nuestra serie y estudiar la influencia de los factores pronósticos más comúnmente investigados. MATERIAL Y MÉTODOS: Durante 23 años 80 pacientes con MG fueron timectomizados consecutivamente en nuestro hospital. El estudio preoperatorio se hizo mediante evaluación clínica de la fatigabilidad muscular, test de edrofonio, electromiografía, pruebas funcionales respiratorias (PFR), radiografía de tórax y TAC. La distribución clínica se hizo según la escala de Osserman. La técnica quirúrgica fue la timectomía trans-esternal ampliada. Los factores pronósticos estudiados son: sexo, edad, estadio clínico, tiempo de evolución prequirúrgico e histología del timo. La respuesta clínica se evaluó según los criterios de Millichap y Dodge. El seguimiento fue realizado por los servicios de cirugía torácica y neurología. RESULTADOS: En 29 casos (36,2 por ciento) se obtuvo la remisión completa y en 42 (52,5 por ciento), una mejoría clínica importante. Hubo complicaciones en 9 casos (11,2 por ciento). Existe un predominio femenino (53/27), sin diferencias significativas en las respuestas respecto a los varones. La edad media es de 36 años (rango, 11-79), sin diferencias significativas entre pacientes mayores o menores de 60 años. No hubo diferencias por el estadio clínico prequirúrgico, ni aun agrupándolos en estadios leves/graves (I + IIa/IIb + III). Comparando las respuestas en los pacientes según el tiempo de evolución (< 24 meses/evolución superior), encontramos diferencias muy significativas (p = 0,0022), favorables a los pacientes con menos tiempo de evolución, cuando no existía un timoma asociado. El estudio no pudo demostrar diferencias significativas en la respuesta según la histología del timo. CONCLUSIONES: La timectomía transesternal ampliada resultó ser un procedimiento seguro, con un alto índice de respuestas clínicas satisfactorias en pacientes con MG. Una evolución inferior a 2 años se reveló como un indicador de buen pronóstico (AU)

Pneumothorax in active pulmonary tuberculosis: resurgence of an old complication?

With the recent resurgence of tuberculosis (TB) in western countries, the incidence of complicating secondary pneumothorax has also increased. The work-up and management of this complication differs from that in other types of secondary spontaneous pneumothorax (SSP). Our objective was to assess clinical features and therapeutic modalities of SSP in patients with and without active pulmonary tuberculosis (APTB). All patients diagnosed with SSP seen at the Hospital Xeral of Vigo from January 1990 to June 1995 were candidates for this study. Full clinical, radiological and examinations were performed in all patients. Invasive procedures (thoracic catheter aspiration, thoracoscopy and thoracotomy) and mean hospital stay were compared in patients with and without APTB. Forty-eight patients with SSP were enrolled. Eleven patients (10 males and one female, mean age 30 +/- 11 years) had APTB; and 37 patients (31 males and six females, mean age 49 +/- 20 years) had conditions other than APTB. Chest pain, cough and fever were more frequent in patients with APTB (90% vs 59%; 45% vs 13.5%; 36% vs 5%, respectively). Catheter aspiration was successful in three of 10 (30%) of patients with APTB and in 15/23 (60.86%) of those without APTB. Catheter aspiration time was longer in the former group (25 +/- 22 days vs 13 +/- 11 days, P = 0.17). As initial treatment, thoracoscopy was performed in seven of 37 (18.91%) of those without APTB and in one of 10 (10%) patients with APTB. For patients with unsuccessful catheter aspiration, thoracoscopy was performed in eight of nine (89%) patients without APTB and in none of the patients with APTB. Thoracotomy was performed in only one of nine (11%) without APTB and in four of seven (57%) patients with APTB. Patients with APTB had a longer hospitalization (41 vs 18 days, P < 0.001). We concluded that SSP and APTB was a frequent association in our study. Patients with APTB showed a lesser and slower response to catheter aspiration. Despite severe clinical presentation and demand for more invasive procedures, patients with APTB showed a favourable response.