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Thymectomy for myasthenia gravis–A review of 34 cases

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Abstract

Thirty-four patients with myasthenia gravis underwent thymectomy. Patients belonged to Group 1, Group 2A or 2B of Osserman. All patients were stabilised with neostigmine and steroids. Premedication with atropine, induction with pentothal sodium, nitrous oxide, oxygen and halothane facilitated intubation without succinylcholine. Spontaneous breathing was maintained. Tailored doses of pethidine was used. Median sternotomy was the preferred route. Extubation was done on the table. Analgin was used as postoperative analgesic. None required postoperative ventilatory support. There was no operative mortality. Symptomatic relief was complete in 24 patients and partial in 6. There was no improvement in 3. One patient on steroids died of septicaemia and coagulopathy 8 weeks later. One with malignant thymoma died six months later.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Armed Forces Medical College and Allied Hospitals, Pune, India

    R S Rajan (Additional Adviser, Professor and Head of the Department)

  2. Department of Surgery, Armed Forces Medical College and Allied Hospitals, Pune, India

    K K Maudar (Reader), J K Kar (Professor) & H C Puri (Former Professor and Director General, Armed Forces Medical Services)

  3. Department of Neurology, Armed Forces Medical College and Allied Hospitals, Pune, India

    A S Narayanaswamy (Senior Adviser) & R S Wadia (Consultant)

  4. Department of Anaesthesiology, Armed Forces Medical College and Allied Hospitals, Pune, India

    S K Biswas (Consultant)

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  1. R S Rajan
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  2. K K Maudar
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  3. A S Narayanaswamy
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  4. R S Wadia
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  5. J K Kar
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  6. S K Biswas
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  7. H C Puri
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Rajan, R.S., Maudar, K.K., Narayanaswamy, A.S. et al. Thymectomy for myasthenia gravis–A review of 34 cases. Indian J Thorac Cardiovasc Surg 4, 39–43 (1985). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02664083

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02664083

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