LA TIMECTOMIA VIDEOTORACOSCOPICA

Aim. The objective is to study the irnpact of traditional and videoassisted thymectomy on the incidence ofremission of patients with M.G. Methods . The general conditions of our patients were evaluated by means of a retrospective telephon questionnaire. 17 patients (12 female and 5 Males) referred for thymectorny between June 1994 and Januay 2002 were incIuded in the analysis. Transternal and videotoracoscopic thymectomies were performed. Results . In the latter a minimal cervical incision is perforrned to withdraw the specimem that is dissected free through three bilateral thoracic trocars. Good results were achieved in 87,5 % with complete (31%) and partial (56 %) remission of syntoms. Conclusions . Minimally invasive thymectomies seem to give the same results than more invasive procedures and are associated with very little morbidity and very low complication rate; cosmetical results are excellent. Important favourable prognostic factors are young age and a short time between diagnosis and surgery,