A thymectomy is surgery to remove the thymus gland. This gland is located in the upper portion of the chest, behind the sternum (breastbone).
The thymus gland helps control immune cell growth. It is usually very active when you are an infant, but its function tapers off as you get older. The thymus acts abnormally when a person has myasthenia gravis . This is a disease characterized by weakness of skeletal muscles of the body. This happens because the body's immune system attacks the area where the nerves attach to the muscles. Thymectomy is used to treat myasthenia gravis.
A thymectomy may also be done if the thymus has a tumor.
Complications are rare, but no procedure is completely free of risk. If you are planning to have a thymectomy, your doctor will review a list of possible complications, which may include:
If you are age 60 or older, you are at increased risk of complications.
General anesthesia will be given. You will be asleep.
There are three common methods:
You will be taken to a recovery room. There you will be monitored for any complications.
About 1-3 hours
Anesthesia will block the pain during the surgery. You may feel some pain as the anesthesia wears off. Your doctor will give you medicine to help manage the pain.
The usual length of stay is 1-3 days. Your doctor may choose to keep you longer if complications arise.
You will be given fluids and medicine via an IV line. You will be instructed to practice deep breathing, coughing, and frequent turning. Nurses will measure your muscle strength and breathing ability to determine the effectiveness of the surgery.
The recovery time varies from patient to patient, depending on the surgical approach. It may take as little as 1-2 weeks or as long as three months before you can return to work or school. Be sure to follow your doctor’s instructions.
If the surgery was done for myasthenia gravis:
After you leave the hospital, contact your doctor if any of the following occurs:
RESOURCES:
Myasthenia Gravis Foundation of America
http://www.myasthenia.org/
National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke
http://www.ninds.nih.gov/
CANADIAN RESOURCES:
Health Canada
http://www.hc-sc.gc.ca/index-eng.php
Muscular Dystrophy Canada
http://www.muscle.ca/
References:
General Information about Thymoma and Thymic Cancers. National Cancer Institute. Available at: http://www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/pdq/treatment/thymoma. Accessed February 13, 2008.
Myasthenia gravis fact sheet. National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke website. Available at: http://www.ninds.nih.gov/disorders/myasthenia_gravis/detail_myasthenia_gravis.htm#84053153. Accessed February 13, 2008.
Practice parameter: thymectomy for autoimmune myasthenia gravis (an evidence-based review). National Guideline Clearinghouse website. Available at: http://www.guideline.gov/summary/summary.aspx?ss=15&doc_id=2826&nbr=2052. Accessed February 13, 2008.
Sabiston Textbook of Surgery. 17th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Saunders; 2004.
Surgical treatment options for myasthenia gravis. University of Maryland Medical Center website. Available at: http://www.umm.edu/mg/surgery.html. Accessed February 13, 2008.
Thymectomy. Myasthenia Gravis Association of Pennsylvania website. Available at: http://www.mgawpa.org/pages/thymectomy.htm. Accessed February 13, 2008.
Last reviewed November 2009 by Igor Puzanov, MD
Please be aware that this information is provided to supplement the care provided by your physician. It is neither intended nor implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice. CALL YOUR HEALTHCARE PROVIDER IMMEDIATELY IF YOU THINK YOU MAY HAVE A MEDICAL EMERGENCY. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider prior to starting any new treatment or with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition.
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