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Transcervical thymectomy
1Department of Surgery, The University of Chicago, IL 60637, USA.
Transcervical thymectomy is appropriate for managing carefully selected patients with myasthenia gravis due to its noninvasive nature, good cosmetic results, and favorable long-term outcomes. Contraindications to its use include the presence of a thymoma and advanced age. In optimally prepared patients, the operative complication rate is negligible and the average length of hospital stay is 1 to 2 days. The ultimate results of therapy often are not evident for several years postoperatively, indicating that comprehensive preoperative and postoperative treatment by a qualified neurologist is essential in optimizing outcomes. A meta-analysis of long-term results shows that 90% of patients who undergo the operation are improved, 80% become asymptomatic, and 50% achieve a complete remission.
Transcervical thymectomy is appropriate for managing carefully selected patients with myasthenia gravis due to its noninvasive nature, good cosmetic results, and favorable long-term outcomes. Contraindications to its use include the presence of a thymoma and advanced age. In optimally prepared patients, the operative complication rate is negligible and the average length of hospital stay is 1 to 2 days. The ultimate results of therapy often are not evident for several years postoperatively, indicating that comprehensive preoperative and postoperative treatment by a qualified neurologist is essential in optimizing outcomes. A meta-analysis of long-term results shows that 90% of patients who undergo the operation are improved, 80% become asymptomatic, and 50% achieve a complete remission.