Objectives and methods: To evaluate the results of thymectomy in myasthenia gravis we performed retrospective analysis of 82 consecutive patients in the mean age of 39 +/- 15 treated between 1991 and 2001. All patients underwent extended thymectomy by median sternotomy. Follow-up was assessed in 74 of 81(91.4%) patients, in the mean age of 39 +/- 15, discharged from the Department.
Results: Fifty three (71.6%) patients had symptoms of myasthenia gravis for less than 2 years. According to Osserman's classification 8 (10.8%) patients were assessed as class I, 32 (43.2%) as IIA 26 (35.2%) as IIB and 8 (10.8%) as IIC. In the postoperative period 8 (10.8%) patients had respiratory insufficiency, 5 (6.8%) were reoperated for bleeding. One patient died (1.4%) due to bilateral pneumonia and pulmonary insufficiency. After thymectomy the improvement of patient's clinical status was observed in 46 patients (86.4%) and complete remission was in 13 patients (17.6%). Prompt improvement after thymectomy (p = 0.008) and short duration of symptoms (p = 0.036) are positive predictive factors. Patients in class I had significantly better prognosis concerning complete remission (p = 0.036). Age, gender, histology of the thymus, and type of the thymoma had no influence on long time follow up.
Conclusions: Extended thymectomy is a safe procedure leading to the improvement in majority of patients treated for myasthenia gravis.