Catastrophes during video-assisted thoracoscopic thymus surgery for myasthenia gravis

Several series have demonstrated that video-assisted thoracoscopic (VAT) thymectomy is feasible and safe. However, VAT thymectomy is an operation that could invite catastrophes, such as major vascular injuries. We aimed to analyse the events and define the management and outcomes of these serious complications.

All patients who underwent VAT thymectomy/thymothymectomy recorded in our clinical database were evaluated. A catastrophic complication was defined as any situation that resulted in an additional unplanned major surgical procedure other than the planned closed thymic surgery. Operations were performed by two surgeons: one experienced and one junior. The order of catastrophes in each surgeon's experience was recorded.

A total of 441 VAT thymectomy/thymothymectomy operations were performed. Catastrophic complications were identified in 7 (1.5%) patients. These cases included 3 major innominate vein injuries, 1 superior vena cava injury, 1 aortic injury, 1 sudden cardiac arrest and 1 diaphragmatic injury. The first catastrophe for the experienced surgeon was his 96th case. The mean age was 37.1 ± 11.5 (minimum: 21, maximum: 53). There were 5 (71.4%) male and 2 (28.6%) female patients. Two (28.6%) of the patients had thymoma and the mean body mass index was 23.9 ± 2.8. A mean of 1.7 ± 1.4 (minimum: 0, maximum: 3) units of blood were transfused; a postoperative intensive care unit stay of 20.6 ± 25.7 h and a hospital stay of 8.4 ± 7.9 days were recorded. There were no deaths.

Catastrophic intraoperative complications of VAT thymectomy are very rare. They may not only occur in the learning curve period but also after a large experience. Experience in converting to open surgery within seconds is important to reduce morbidity and mortality.