Thymectomy Procedure Question
 

Can anybody tell me what Thymectomy Procedure you had done and why you chose that? I.e. Transsternal, Transcervical or Videoscopic. I just asked my Neurologist, waiting for reply but I've read so many different articles they all seem to have good outcomes. The Transsternal seems to be more thorough when removing Thymus and fatty tissue possibly affected but has longer recovery period. The articles I read were posted by Universities but I would like to hear from actual patients.
Thank you for your time:)

Mine was transsternal. I questioned my cardio thoracic surgeon and he said he liked the 'wide' view it gave him. I had a thymoma too, that could have influenced his decision.

I had a thymectomy a year ago using the VATS method. I've been symptom free since July and am now tapering off Prednisone.

thymectomy procedure
 

Good morning!

My procedure was trans sternal as my surgeon did not like the limited accessibility of the other procedures. My pre-surgery CT scan showed an enlarged thymus, my surgery discovered a very enlarged thymus. After 3 years of reading of or hearing about thymectomies, I know without a doubt that I would opt for the trans sternal method again. Yes, it hurt, but the painkillers did their job. I have been symptom and medication free since 2 weeks after surgery.

Lisa

Thank you all for the information. I really appreciate it. After asking several people and reading comments I haven't come across anybody that regretted doing the surgery. Timeline on recovery varies but it definitely sounds like everybody was able to reduce or completely come off meds. I thank you all again and hope everybody is doing well.

I had VATS for thymic hyperplasia first, but later on i had second surgery for cardio mitral valve repair with medium sternotomy. Cardiothoracic surgeon had to clean up previous VATS surgery scars around thymus area. With VATS post OP, i suffered more pain with tube stucking out left rib cage. I had 3 plasmapheresis sessions before VATS Thymectomy. For heart surgery, i skipped the plasmapheresis just took shot of steroid. On the 2nd and 3rd day after heart surgery, Myasthenic Crisis hit me like a brick and almost got me for good. I cant remember how many plasmapheresis sessions got me out of the woods. There are many questions, reasons, why, what happened for further discussion. Most important thing i have learn is that Post OP team is very important.
Sorry if i over shared.

God Bless

Thymectomy VATS was about 6 hrs, ICU 24hrs, Recovery 4 days
Meds prednisone 20mg every other day

Still smiling and appreciating life with Eye spasm or twitch

Best of luck!~

Da Vinci Robotic
 

5 weeks after removal of a 5CM thymoma and feeling great, 40 mg prednisone and 90 mg mastinon,went home from hospital on third from surgery was back to work the next week. Work consisted of eMails and Phone calls though after the 2 week check from surgen I was told to let the pain be my guide to activities.

I could not be more pleased with the results achieved, the surgen compared it to giving him the clear advantage with the 10x magnafacation and also the tool used called Lightning bug whereas a dye is injected and a certain wavelength of light is used to highlight nerves , very important when working around the phrenic nerve that controls your diaphragm.

The pathology reports were a stage 1 tumor with out any cells past the capsule of the tumor.

The Da Vinci website will list surgeons and hospitals with equipment.

Full sternal thymectomy
 

Hi, I had my thymectomy in 2009, 4 months after I was diagnosed with MG, for me MG caused havoc with my breathing I went from leading a normal life to hardly been able to talk on the phone without getting breathless :eek:, anyways I was in ICU 24hrs post op with 11 days total in hospital, apart from the pain from recovery I noticed a huge difference with my breathing soon after surgery, I was in remission without any symptoms or nessesity for medications for 5 years, unfortunately symptoms started reappearing last year though not as bad I now take mestinon daily and also have monthly IVIG transfusions, my breathing is not as bad pre-op but I have my bad days and I also get the general weakness and fatigue, but hey given what I was like pre-op I'm not complaining :)