title: Endoscopic thymectomy: a neurologist's perspective.
abstract: Myasthenia gravis (MG) is an autoimmune neuromuscular disease characterized by the presence of antibodies interacting at the neuromuscular junction (NMJ), resulting in loss of strength and severe exhaustibility of striated muscles. The abnormal production of these antibodies is triggered mainly in the thymus, and hence thymectomy in MG is considered a universally recommended treatment in order to improve the symptomatologic condition of this pathology. Currently, minimally invasive thymectomy using the Da Vinci robot system is certainly one of the most innovative techniques, performed in Pisa since 2001. This approach provides a valuable alternative to the traditional thymectomy through median sternotomy. The contribution of a neurologist is fundamental for preoperative patient selection and for the peri-operative clinical assistance in both approaches. We believe that in the robotic approach, the multidisciplinary collaboration between the neurologist, thoracic surgeon and anesthetist is important in reducing perioperative complications and ensuring a higher rate of complete remission or stable clinical improvement of MG.
authors.affiliation: 1 Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, Neurology Unit, 2 Division of Thoracic Surgery, Robotic Multidisciplinary Centre for Surgery, Cardiothoracic and Vascular Surgery Department, University of Pisa, Italy ; 3 Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, James Cook University Hospital, Middlesbrough, UK.
authors.forename: Roberta
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Ricciardi
authors.affiliation: 1 Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, Neurology Unit, 2 Division of Thoracic Surgery, Robotic Multidisciplinary Centre for Surgery, Cardiothoracic and Vascular Surgery Department, University of Pisa, Italy ; 3 Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, James Cook University Hospital, Middlesbrough, UK.
authors.forename: Franca
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Melfi
authors.affiliation: 1 Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, Neurology Unit, 2 Division of Thoracic Surgery, Robotic Multidisciplinary Centre for Surgery, Cardiothoracic and Vascular Surgery Department, University of Pisa, Italy ; 3 Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, James Cook University Hospital, Middlesbrough, UK.
authors.forename: Michelangelo
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Maestri
authors.affiliation: 1 Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, Neurology Unit, 2 Division of Thoracic Surgery, Robotic Multidisciplinary Centre for Surgery, Cardiothoracic and Vascular Surgery Department, University of Pisa, Italy ; 3 Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, James Cook University Hospital, Middlesbrough, UK.
authors.forename: Anna
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: De Rosa
authors.affiliation: 1 Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, Neurology Unit, 2 Division of Thoracic Surgery, Robotic Multidisciplinary Centre for Surgery, Cardiothoracic and Vascular Surgery Department, University of Pisa, Italy ; 3 Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, James Cook University Hospital, Middlesbrough, UK.
authors.forename: Afroditi
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Petsa
authors.affiliation: 1 Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, Neurology Unit, 2 Division of Thoracic Surgery, Robotic Multidisciplinary Centre for Surgery, Cardiothoracic and Vascular Surgery Department, University of Pisa, Italy ; 3 Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, James Cook University Hospital, Middlesbrough, UK.
authors.forename: Marco
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Lucchi
authors.affiliation: 1 Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, Neurology Unit, 2 Division of Thoracic Surgery, Robotic Multidisciplinary Centre for Surgery, Cardiothoracic and Vascular Surgery Department, University of Pisa, Italy ; 3 Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, James Cook University Hospital, Middlesbrough, UK.
authors.forename: Alfredo
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Mussi
keywords: Myasthenia gravis (MG); acetylcholine receptor antibodies (AchRAb); robotic thymectomy; thymic hyperplasia; thymoma