Myasthenia gravis: prognostic significance of clinical data in the prediction of post-thymectomy respiratory crises.
Medical records of 170 patients who had undergone thymectomy for myasthenia gravis were reviewed from the point of view of respiratory disturbances. In the group of patients requiring mechanical ventilation for over 24 hours after operation the incidence of high preoperative cholinesterase inhibitor intake, severe bulbar symptoms and severe myasthenia gravis with anamnestic respiratory crisis and cardiorespiratory disease were much higher than in the group of patients who could have their trachea extubation within 24 hours. The presence of a thymic tumour, patients' age over 50 years and the so-called precrisis have revealed differences between the two groups, while the patient groups were identical in mean age, duration of myasthenia gravis and sex distribution. The above clinical data are recommended to be considered in the evaluation of the need for postoperative mechanical ventilation or extubation and preparation of preventive tracheotomy.
Intensive Care Unit, Buda Hospital, Hungarian State Railways, Budapest.
E
E
Turáni
I
I
Szathmáry
J
J
Molnár
A
A
Szobor
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009157:Myasthenia Gravis / Q000150:complications / Q000601:surgery*; D011183:Postoperative Complications; D012121:Respiration, Artificial; D012131:Respiratory Insufficiency / Q000209:etiology* / Q000628:therapy; D012307:Risk Factors; D013934:Thymectomy; D013945:Thymoma / Q000150:complications / Q000601:surgery; D013953:Thymus Neoplasms / Q000150:complications / Q000601:surgery; D014139:Tracheostomy