[VATS THYMECTOMY IN MYASTHENIA GRAVIS TREATMENT--A CASE REPORT]

Myasthenia gravis (MG) is a chronic autoimmune disease characterized by weakness of skeletal muscles, specifically ocular. Relationship between the thymus gland and MG is not fully understood yet. Thymectomy is recommended for individuals with thymoma, but should be considered in all patients under 60 years of age with generalized MG in cases with no thymomatous tissue. We report a 27-year-old female patient with ocular type myasthenia gravis and radiological findings of anterior mediastinal mass, treated by VATS thymectomy. The intervention was carried out by 3-portal right-sided thoracoscopic approach. Single-lung ventilation and carbon-dioxide insufflation provided working space, and harmonic scalpel was used for the dissection and ligation. The patient's postoperative course was uncomplicated and the patient was discharged on the third postoperative day. The aim of our case report is to stress the importance of VATS technique in faster recovery and better cosmetic effect than in sternotomy procedures.