title: [Video-assisted thoracoscopic extended thymectomy for myasthenia gravis: report of 62 cases].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the clinical value of video-assisted thoracoscopic extended thymectomy for myasthenia gravis(MG).
  
  
  METHODS
  Sixty-two MG cases underwent video-assisted thoracoscopic extended thymectomy. The operative extension included thymus tissue and adipose tissue in anterior superior mediastinum.
  
  
  RESULTS
  All operations were performed successfully. The mean operating duration, mean intraoperative blood loss and mean postoperative hospital stay was 98 ± 26 minutes, 60 ± 29 ml and 8.2 ± 2.5 days respectively. All cases were followed up for 5 to 48 months. Among them, 20 (32.3%) patients achieved a complete relief, 32 (51.6%) had their improved symptoms, 8 (12.9%) remained stable and 2 (3.2%) became worse. And the overall relief rate was 83.9%.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Video-assisted thoracoscopic extended thymectomy is both feasible and reliable for MG with the advantages of a minimal trauma and a rapid recovery.
authors.affiliation: Department of Thoracicsurgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou 350005, China.
authors.forename: Jian-feng
authors.initials: JF
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Yuan-rong
authors.initials: YR
authors.lastname: Tu
authors.forename: Xu
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Min
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Lin
authors.forename: Fan-cai
authors.initials: FC
authors.lastname: Lai
authors.forename: Ming-lian
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Qu
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009157:Myasthenia Gravis / Q000601:surgery*; D020775:Thoracic Surgery, Video-Assisted; D013934:Thymectomy / Q000379:methods*; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D055815:Young Adult