Hybrid combination of small subxiphoid incision and thoracoscopic thymectomy for juvenile myasthenia gravis.

BACKGROUND/PURPOSE: Myasthenia gravis is an autoimmune disease that usually responds positively to treatment with thymectomy. Various approaches via video-assisted thoracic thymectomy as a substitute for conventional sternotomy have been reported. We reported a less invasive technique for thymectomy in pediatric groups.

METHODS

Four adolescents with juvenile myasthenia gravis all underwent hybrid combination of small subxiphoid incision and thoracoscopic thymectomy at our institute. Clinical characteristics and surgical outcome were consecutively collected.

RESULTS

In these 4 patients, 2 presented with Osserman class III and 2 with class IIb. The mean operative time was 180 minutes. There was no conversion to sternotomy, and there was only minimal blood loss. Follow-up duration was 3 to 64 months. Postoperatively, 1 patient had complete remission and 3 patients had improvement in clinical symptoms.

CONCLUSION

Hybrid combination of small subxiphoid incision and thoracoscopic thymectomy may be an effective alternative with low surgical invasiveness for treating juvenile myasthenia gravis.