title: Transcervical-subxiphoid-VATS "maximal" thymectomy for myasthenia gravis.
abstract: A maximally extended thymectomy is performed through four incisions: a transverse 5-8 cm incision in the neck, a 4-6 cm subxiphoid incision and two 1 cm incisions for videothoracoscopic ports. The cervical part of the procedure is performed with an open technique, the intrathoracic part of the procedure is performed with the videothoracoscopy assisted (VATS) technique. The whole thymus with the surrounding fatty tissue containing possible ectopic foci of the thymic tissue is removed. The need for sternotomy is avoided while the completeness of the operation is retained.
authors.affiliation: Department of Thoracic Surgery, Pulmonary Hospital, Zakopane, ul. Gładkie 1, 34-500 Zakopane, Poland.
authors.forename: Marcin
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Zielinski
authors.forename: Jaroslaw
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Kuzdzal
authors.forename: Tomasz
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Nabialek