title: Thoracoscopic thymectomy in a previous sternotomy.
abstract: A video assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS) thymectomy is a viable alternative to conventional open thymectomy in myasthenia gravis (MG). A previous operation in the same anatomical region is generally considered a relative contraindication to any minimally invasive approach in the same area. Few cases of VATS on previously operated chests have been reported. We report a case of a VATS thymectomy in a patient who had undergone two previous sternotomies for cardiac disease.
authors.affiliation: Department of Thoracic Surgery, National Cancer Center and Singapore General Hospital, Singapore. soumil_v@yahoo.com
authors.forename: Soumil
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Vyas
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Agasthian
authors.forename: Meng Huat
authors.initials: MH
authors.lastname: Goh
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Shankar
mesh_terms: D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D009157:Myasthenia Gravis / Q000150:complications / Q000601:surgery*; D012086:Reoperation; D012214:Rheumatic Heart Disease / Q000150:complications / Q000601:surgery; D020775:Thoracic Surgery, Video-Assisted; D013934:Thymectomy / Q000379:methods*