MyMedR

Anaesthetic management of patients with myasthenia gravis undergoing thymectomy

Lim Say Wan, Gunendran A

Med J Malaya, 1969 Dec;24(2):128-37.

PMID: 4244138

Matched MeSH terms: Thymectomy*

Fulltext Thymectomy for Myasthenia Gravis: A 10-year Review of Cases at the Hospital Universiti Sains Malaysia

Muhammed J, Chen CY, Wan Hitam WH, Ghazali MZ

Malays J Med Sci, 2016 Jul;23(4):71-8.

PMID: 27660548 MyJurnal DOI: 10.21315/mjms2016.23.4.10

A thymectomy is considered effective for patients with myasthenia gravis (MG). Although a few studies have described the role of a thymectomy in the treatment of MG in Asians countries, there are no published data on the application of this surgical approach for MG in Malaysia. We aimed to describe the clinical outcomes of MG patients who underwent a thymectomy and the factors affecting these outcomes.

Matched MeSH terms: Thymectomy

Outcome of children with acetylcholine receptor (AChR) antibody positive juvenile myasthenia gravis following thymectomy

Heng HS, Lim M, Absoud M, Austin C, Clarke D, Wraige E, et al.

Neuromuscul Disord, 2014 Jan;24(1):25-30.

PMID: 24239058 DOI: 10.1016/j.nmd.2013.09.013

Most evidence supporting the benefit of thymectomy in juvenile myasthenia gravis (JMG) is extrapolated from adult studies, with only little data concerning paediatric populations. Here we evaluate the outcome of children with generalized JMG who underwent thymectomy between 1996 and 2010 at 2 tertiary paediatric neurology referral centres in the United Kingdom. Twenty patients (15 female, 5 male), aged 13months to 15.5years (median 10.4years) at disease onset, were identified. Prior to thymectomy, disease severity was graded as IIb in 3, III in 11, and IV in 6 patients according to the Osserman classification. All demonstrated positive anti-acetylcholine receptor (AChR) antibody titres. All patients received pyridostigmine and 14 received additional steroid therapy. Transternal thymectomy was performed at the age of 2.7-16.6years (median 11.1years). At the last follow-up (10months to 10.9years, median 2.7years, after thymectomy), the majority of children demonstrated substantial improvement, although some had required additional immune-modulatory therapies. About one third achieved complete remission. The postoperative morbidity was low. No benefit was observed in one patient with thymoma. We conclude that thymectomy should be considered as a treatment option early in the course of generalised AChR antibody-positive JMG.

Matched MeSH terms: Thymectomy*

Single-Port Robotic Trans-Subxiphoid Surgery for Anterior Mediastinal Disease: A Pilot Trial

Cheng C, Tagkalos E, Ng CB, Hsu YC, Huang YY, Wu CF, et al.

Innovations (Phila), 2024;19(3):268-273.

PMID: 38725287 DOI: 10.1177/15569845241248641

OBJECTIVE: In recent years, there has been an increasing focus on minimally invasive mediastinal surgery using a trans-subxiphoid single-port thoracoscopic approach. Despite its potential advantages, the widespread adoption of this method has been hindered by the intricate surgical maneuvers required within the confined retrosternal space. Robotic surgery offers the potential to overcome the limitations inherent in the thoracoscopic technique.

METHODS: This was a clinical trial (NCT05455840) to evaluate the feasibility and safety of utilizing the da Vinci® SP system (Intuitive Surgical, Sunnyvale, CA, USA) for trans-subxiphoid single-port surgery in patients with anterior mediastinal disease. The primary endpoints encompassed conversion rates and the secondary endpoints included the occurrence of perioperative complications.

RESULTS: Between August 2022 and April 2023, a total of 15 patients (7 men and 8 women; median age = 56 years, interquartile range [IQR]: 49 to 65 years) underwent trans-subxiphoid robotic surgery using da Vinci SP platform for maximal thymectomy (n = 2) or removal of anterior mediastinal masses (n = 13). All surgical procedures were carried out with success, with no need for conversion to open surgery or the creation of additional ports. The median docking time was 2 min (IQR: 1 to 4 min), while the console time had a median of 152 min (IQR: 95 to 191 min). There were no postoperative complications and patients experienced a median postoperative hospital stay of 2 days with no unplanned 30-day readmission.

CONCLUSIONS: This study shows that trans-subxiphoid single-port robotic surgery employing the da Vinci SP system in patients with anterior mediastinal disease is clinically viable with acceptable safety and short-term outcomes.

Matched MeSH terms: Thymectomy/methods

Thymoma-associated myasthenia gravis and LGI1-encephalitis, with nephrotic syndrome post-thymectomy

Hor JY, Lim TT, Cheng MC, Chia YK, Wong CK, Lim SM, et al.

J Neuroimmunol, 2018 04 15;317:100-102.

PMID: 29395322 DOI: 10.1016/j.jneuroim.2018.01.011

Thymoma is associated with a wide spectrum of autoimmune paraneoplastic syndromes, though it is uncommon for multiple paraneoplastic syndromes to be present in a single individual. We report a rare case of an elderly gentleman who was found to have thymoma-associated myasthenia gravis and LGI1-encephalitis with myokymia, who presented with nephrotic syndrome (minimal change glomerulopathy) after thymectomy. The latter two paraneoplastic syndromes had manifested when prednisolone was tapered down to low dose. This case serves to remind neurologists that apart from paraneoplastic neurological manifestations, thymoma may also be associated with renal disease. Nephropathy in myasthenia patients with thymoma should be properly evaluated, as it is treatable with immunotherapy, and it may even occur post-thymectomy.

Matched MeSH terms: Thymectomy

Fulltext Unusual Presentation of Myasthenia Crisis Following Thymectomy and Thyroidectomy

Mohamed Daud A, Mat Baki M, Azman M, Kamaruzaman E, Mohamed AS

Indian J Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg, 2019 Oct;71(Suppl 1):118-120.

PMID: 31741945 DOI: 10.1007/s12070-017-1146-x

Respiratory distress after thyroidectomy and thymectomy can be challenging. We encountered a 70-year-old lady with a long-standing goiter with concomitant thymoma. She underwent the surgery and developed respiratory distress upon extubation with loss of laryngeal sensation causing severe aspiration. She was diagnosed myasthenia gravis and symptoms resolved with MG treatments.

Matched MeSH terms: Thymectomy

Fulltext Case of severe refractory myasthenia gravis in HUKM

Hamizah R, Norlinah MI, Tan HJ, Soehardy Z, Halim AG, Rohana AG, et al.

Med J Malaysia, 2006 Dec;61(5):633-5.

PMID: 17623968 MyJurnal

A 20-year-old girl first notice bilateral ocular muscle weakness in 2001. Two months later, she developed acute muscle paralysis and respiratory failure which required ventilation. Serum anti-acetylcholine receptor antibodies and repetitive nerve stimulation test was positive and consistent with myasthenia gravis (MG). CT scan thorax revealed thymic enlargement and she underwent a video assisted thymectomy (VATS). However, over the next three years, despite maximal doses of various immunosuppressive agents with plasmapheresis and intravenous immunoglobulin, she was admitted with recurrent myasthenic crisis without any obvious precipitant. She was then commenced on mycophenolate mofetil and together with regular plasmapheresis, cyclosporine and prednisolone, her symptoms have finally improved and brought under control.

Matched MeSH terms: Thymectomy*

Fulltext Follicular thyroid carcinoma in a patient with myasthenia gravis and thymoma: a rare association

Ni H, Htet A

Ecancermedicalscience, 2012;6:274.

PMID: 23074376 DOI: 10.3332/ecancer.2012.274

Myasthenia gravis (MG) is an autoantibody-mediated disorder affecting the neuromuscular junction causing characteristic fatigable muscle weakness. Though it can be associated with tumours of the thymus as well as thyroid disorders, it is rare for both to coexist. The exact prevalence of thyroid carcinoma in MG with thymoma is not known but only about a dozen cases have been reported in the literature. We report a case of a 38-year-old Myanmar lady who presented with weakness and breathlessness due to MG with neck swelling. On examination, she had fatigable proximal muscle weakness and thyroid enlargement with no obvious features of hyperthyroidism. Mediastinal widening and an enlarged thyroid gland were noted on her chest X-ray and chest CT. A subtotal thyroidectomy and thymectomy were done. The histology showed follicular carcinoma of the thyroid and benign thymoma. The majority of the reported cases of thyroid carcinoma in association with MG were papillary carcinoma. Follicular carcinoma thyroid associated with MG has not yet been reported in the literature.

Matched MeSH terms: Thymectomy

Fulltext Myasthenia gravis--a clinical survey in Malaysia

Tan CT, Loh TG

Med J Malaysia, 1980 Dec;35(2):144-9.

PMID: 7266408

A retrospective study of 62 cases of myasthenia gravis in Malaysia is reviewed. It shows an apparent prevalence among the ethnic Chinese compared with the Malay and Indian. The incidence of male and female and their average age of onset are similar. Unlike the western figure, among those with age of onset less than 20 years. both sexes are equally affected. The symptomatology, morbidity and mortality and incidence of thymoma are the same as those
reported elsewhere.

Matched MeSH terms: Thymectomy

Fulltext An association of myasthenia gravis with Hashimoto's thyroiditis in a patient with a multinodular goitre

Mohamed N, Mohd Zin F, Mohd Yusoff SS

Malays Fam Physician, 2017;12(2):29-31.

PMID: 29423128

Introduction: The association of myasthenia gravis (MG) with other autoimmune diseases including autoimmune thyroid disease (ATD) is well recognised, although rare. The occurrence of both diseases can occur in two ways: either disease preceding the other, or concurrently. The presentation of MG in association with ATD can range from ocular to generalised disease.

Case Summary: A 26-year-old Malay female with persistent hyperthyroidism secondary to Hashimoto's thyroiditis in multinodular goitre was diagnosed with generalised MG after 2 years. She presented with right eye ptosis (ocular) and difficulty in swallowing and chewing (bulbar). The diagnosis of MG was confirmed by fatigability testing, electromyography and the presence of AChR antibodies. Her symptoms showed improvement with pyridostigmine (Mestinon) 60 mg 6-hourly. Her antithyroid drug was tapered down according to her thyroid function test. Throughout a year of follow-ups, her hyperthyroidism and fatigability symptoms improved with treatment. She was later counselled for total thyroidectomy and thymectomy.

Conclusion: Myasthenia gravis and hyperthyroidism may present with similar symptoms such as dysphagia due to neuromuscular weakness or fatigue. When the diseases occur together, one of the diagnoses may be missed. Therefore, the occurrence of new symptoms in a patient with underlying ATD should should trigger the early identification of other autoimmune diseases by primary care doctors.

Matched MeSH terms: Thymectomy

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