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Surgical Endoscopy

Published in:

01-01-2012

Robot-assisted thymectomy is superior to transsternal thymectomy

Authors: Benny Weksler, Jonathan Tavares, Timothy E. Newhook, Christopher E. Greenleaf, James T. Diehl

Published in: Surgical Endoscopy | Issue 1/2012

Abstract

Background

Complete thymectomy is the procedure of choice in the treatment of thymomas and in treating selected patients with myasthenia gravis. Transsternal thymectomy is the gold standard for most patients. Robot-assisted thymectomy has emerged as an alternative to open transsternal surgery. The goal of this study was to compare perioperative outcomes in patients who underwent transsternal or robot-assisted thymectomy.

Methods

We performed a retrospective review of all patients who underwent robot-assisted or transsternal thymectomy at our institution from February 2001 to February 2010. Data are presented as mean ± SD. Significance was set as P < 0.05.

Results

Fifty patients underwent either transsternal (n = 35) or robot-assisted (n = 15) thymectomy. Patient demographics and the incidence of myasthenia gravis were similar between groups. There were no intraoperative complications or conversions to open surgery in the robot-assisted group. Intraoperative blood loss was significantly higher in the transsternal group (151.43 vs. 41.67 ml, P = 0.01). There were 20 postoperative complications and 1 postoperative death in the transsternal group and 1 postoperative complication in the robot-assisted group (P = 0.001). Hospital length of stay was 4 days (range 2–27 days) in the transsternal group and 1 day (range 1–7 days) in the robot-assisted group (P = 0.002).

Conclusions

Robot-assisted thymectomy is superior to transsternal thymectomy, reducing intraoperative blood loss, postoperative complications, and hospital length of stay. Further investigation of the long-term oncologic results in thymoma patients and long-term remission rates in patients with myasthenia gravis who underwent robot-assisted thymectomy is warranted.

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Title: Robot-assisted thymectomy is superior to transsternal thymectomy
Authors: Benny Weksler
Jonathan Tavares
Timothy E. Newhook
Christopher E. Greenleaf
James T. Diehl
Publication date: 01-01-2012
Publisher: Springer-Verlag
Published in: Surgical Endoscopy / Issue 1/2012
Print ISSN: 0930-2794
Electronic ISSN: 1432-2218
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00464-011-1879-7

At a glance: The STEP trials

Springer Medicine

Robot-assisted thymectomy is superior to transsternal thymectomy

Abstract

Background

Methods

Results

Conclusions

At a glance: The STEP trials

Springer Medicine

Abstract

Background

Methods

Results

Conclusions

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