title: [Thymectomy in myasthenia gravis].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  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.
authors.affiliation: Katedra i Klinika Chirurgii Klatki Piersiowej Akademii Medycznej w Gdańsku. wrzyman@amg.gda.pl
authors.forename: Witold
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Rzyman
authors.forename: Jan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Skokowski
authors.forename: Tomasz
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Marjański
authors.forename: Agnieszka
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Walczak
authors.forename: Amelia
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Szymanowska
authors.forename: Małgorzata
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Bilinska
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009157:Myasthenia Gravis / Q000601:surgery*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D013934:Thymectomy / Q000379:methods; D016896:Treatment Outcome