Abstract:
To determine the safety and efficacy of thymectomy is thymomas and myasthenia gravis. A prospective observational study was carried out at cardiothoracic surgery unit Lady Reading Hospital Peshawar from March 1997 to April 2000. A total of 63 patients with a male and female ratio of 23:40, age range 15-50 years (Mean age 30.5 years) were entered into the study. Thirty nine presented with myasthenia while 24 presented with a mediastinal mass. They all underwent thymectomy via median sternotomy. There was one mortality due to failure to come of the ventilator in grade IIc. Myasthenia with a malignant thymoma, who was ventilated for 9 days. Out of 39 myasthenias 21 were off medication at 18 months follow-up, 13 were on reduced medication while 5 continued on the same mediation. All thymomas without myasthenia did not need any medication. Thymoma in a thoracic surgical unt, with ventilatory backup, is a safe and effective treatment for both myesthenias and non myasthenics with thymomas, and stops the progress of an other wise crippling and fatal disease.
Page(s):
182-187
DOI:
DOI not available
Published:
Journal: Journal of Postgraduate Medical Institute, Volume: 18, Issue: 2, Year: 2004