Original Article on Subxiphoid Surgery
Uniportal subxiphoid video-assisted thoracoscopic approach for thymectomy: a case series
Abstract
Background: Minimally invasive techniques are becoming increasingly popular in thoracic surgery. Although median sternotomy is the traditional approach for thymectomy, video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS) approaches now predominate. This study reports a case series of the novel uniportal subxiphoid-VATS approach to extended thymectomy.
Methods: Over the period of study (October 2014–January 2017) 17 patients underwent uniportal subxiphoid-VATS extended thymectomy for a thymic nodule at the Shanghai Pulmonary Centre. Ten patients were female, and the mean age of the cohort was 55 years. The mean size of nodule was 23.6 mm.
Results: The mean operative duration was 2.5 hours, with one conversion to thoracotomy for bleeding. The mean operative blood loss was 115 mL. The median length of hospital stay was 4 days. There were no episodes of phrenic nerve palsies. The 30-day survival was 100%.
Conclusions: Uniportal subxiphoid-VATS is a feasible and safe surgical approach to extended thymectomy in selected patients, with good post-operative outcomes.
Methods: Over the period of study (October 2014–January 2017) 17 patients underwent uniportal subxiphoid-VATS extended thymectomy for a thymic nodule at the Shanghai Pulmonary Centre. Ten patients were female, and the mean age of the cohort was 55 years. The mean size of nodule was 23.6 mm.
Results: The mean operative duration was 2.5 hours, with one conversion to thoracotomy for bleeding. The mean operative blood loss was 115 mL. The median length of hospital stay was 4 days. There were no episodes of phrenic nerve palsies. The 30-day survival was 100%.
Conclusions: Uniportal subxiphoid-VATS is a feasible and safe surgical approach to extended thymectomy in selected patients, with good post-operative outcomes.
