[Video assisted thoracoscopic thymectomy for myasthenia gravis]

Thymectomy is now an established approach to the treatment of myasthenia gravis (MG). We used video assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS) in thymectomy. From June 1993 to May 1995, we performed VATS thymectomy for 10 cases (6 males, 4 females with age ranging from 9 to 76 years). Complete thymectomy was achieved in every case by examination of the thymic bed and resected specimen. There was no mortality and complications were few. Average hospital stay was 4.1 days. Compared with the conventional median sternotomy approach, VATS was associated with a shorter postoperative hospital stay and analgesic requirement. We believe that VATS thymectomy is technically feasible. However, its true role in the treatment of MG requires further study.