Marlies Keijzers1, Marc de Baets2, Monique Hochstenbag3, Myrurgia Abdul-Hamid4, Axel Zur Hausen4, Marcel van der Linden5, Jan Kuks6, Jan Verschuuren7, Fons Kessels8, Anne-Marie C Dingemans9, Jos Maessen10. 1. Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Maastricht University Medical Centre, Maastricht and GROW Research Institute for Oncology and Developmental Biology, Maastricht University, Maastricht, Netherlands Department of Pulmonology, Maastricht University Medical Centre, Maastricht and GROW Research Institute for Oncology and Developmental Biology, Maastricht University, Maastricht, Netherlands. 2. Department of Neuroscience, The School for Mental Health and Neuroscience, Maastricht University, Netherlands. 3. Department of Pulmonology, Maastricht University Medical Centre, Maastricht, Netherlands. 4. Department of Pathology, Maastricht University Medical Centre, Maastricht, Netherlands. 5. Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Maastricht University Medical Centre, Maastricht, Netherlands. 6. Department of Neurology, University Medical Centre Groningen, Groningen, Netherlands. 7. Department of Neurology, Leids University Medical Centre, Leiden, Netherlands. 8. Clinical Epidemiology and Medical Technology Assessment, Maastricht University Medical Center, Maastricht, Netherlands. 9. Department of Pulmonology, Maastricht University Medical Centre, Maastricht and GROW Research Institute for Oncology and Developmental Biology, Maastricht University, Maastricht, Netherlands. 10. Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Maastricht University Medical Centre, Maastricht, Netherlands CARIM School for Cardiovascular Diseases, Maastricht University, Maastricht, Netherlands j.g.maessen@mumc.nl.
Abstract
OBJECTIVES: Thymectomy is frequently used in the treatment of myasthenia gravis (MG). But indication, timing or surgical approach remain controversial. This study reports our experiences with robotic thymectomy and surgical and neurological outcomes in a large cohort of patients with MG. METHODS: We retrospectively analysed the outcome of 125 patients with MG who underwent a robotic thymectomy using the da Vinci Surgical System (Intuitive Surgical, Inc., Sunnyvale, CA, USA) between 2004 and 2012. The Myasthenia Gravis Foundation of America (MGFA) Classification was used to determine preoperative and postintervention status. RESULTS: Ninety-five women and 30 men underwent a robotic thymectomy. One hundred patients had a neurological follow-up of more than 12 months. Preoperative most severe MGFA classification was Stage I in 11 patients (8.8%), Stage IIA in 18 patients (14.4%), Stage IIB in 18 patients (14.4%), Stage IIIA in 7 patients (5.6%), Stage IIIB in 29 patients (23.2%), Stage IVA in 10 patients (8.0%), Stage IVB in 29 patients (23.2%) and Stage V in 3 patients (2.4%). Median surgical procedure time was 123 min (range 45-353 min). There were no major perioperative complications or deaths. The median postoperative hospital stay was 3 days (range 2-24 days). Histological analysis showed thymic remnant tissue in 41 patients (32.8%), follicular hyperplasia in 52 patients (41.6%), thymoma in 31 patients (24%), lipoma in 1 patient (0.8%) and a cyst in 1 patient (0.8%). Patients with thymic remnant tissue were significantly more preoperative steroid users compared with the follicular hyperplasia group (P = 0.02). With a median follow-up of 33 months (range 12-104 months), 77% of the patients showed neurological improvement. Three-year probability remission rate [complete stable remission (CSR) and pharmacological remission] is 28.2%. Patients who were not treated with prednisolone preoperatively showed a significant higher CSR than patients who did take prednisolone (P = 0.014). No significant difference was observed regarding timing of surgery (P = 0.37). CONCLUSIONS: Robotic thymectomy in patients with MG is safe and feasible. A neurological benefit and decreased use of steroids can be obtained in the majority of patients. No significant difference in neurological outcome was observed as the result of timing of robot thymectomy after the onset of MG.
OBJECTIVES: Thymectomy is frequently used in the treatment of myasthenia gravis (MG). But indication, timing or surgical approach remain controversial. This study reports our experiences with robotic thymectomy and surgical and neurological outcomes in a large cohort of patients with MG. METHODS: We retrospectively analysed the outcome of 125 patients with MG who underwent a robotic thymectomy using the da Vinci Surgical System (Intuitive Surgical, Inc., Sunnyvale, CA, USA) between 2004 and 2012. The Myasthenia Gravis Foundation of America (MGFA) Classification was used to determine preoperative and postintervention status. RESULTS: Ninety-five women and 30 men underwent a robotic thymectomy. One hundred patients had a neurological follow-up of more than 12 months. Preoperative most severe MGFA classification was Stage I in 11 patients (8.8%), Stage IIA in 18 patients (14.4%), Stage IIB in 18 patients (14.4%), Stage IIIA in 7 patients (5.6%), Stage IIIB in 29 patients (23.2%), Stage IVA in 10 patients (8.0%), Stage IVB in 29 patients (23.2%) and Stage V in 3 patients (2.4%). Median surgical procedure time was 123 min (range 45-353 min). There were no major perioperative complications or deaths. The median postoperative hospital stay was 3 days (range 2-24 days). Histological analysis showed thymic remnant tissue in 41 patients (32.8%), follicular hyperplasia in 52 patients (41.6%), thymoma in 31 patients (24%), lipoma in 1 patient (0.8%) and a cyst in 1 patient (0.8%). Patients with thymic remnant tissue were significantly more preoperative steroid users compared with the follicular hyperplasia group (P = 0.02). With a median follow-up of 33 months (range 12-104 months), 77% of the patients showed neurological improvement. Three-year probability remission rate [complete stable remission (CSR) and pharmacological remission] is 28.2%. Patients who were not treated with prednisolone preoperatively showed a significant higher CSR than patients who did take prednisolone (P = 0.014). No significant difference was observed regarding timing of surgery (P = 0.37). CONCLUSIONS: Robotic thymectomy in patients with MG is safe and feasible. A neurological benefit and decreased use of steroids can be obtained in the majority of patients. No significant difference in neurological outcome was observed as the result of timing of robot thymectomy after the onset of MG.
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