Independent long-term result of robotic thymectomy for myasthenia gravis, a single center experience

BACKGROUND: Robotic thymectomy has been suggested a feasible and safe approach for myasthenia gravis (MG). Few investigations have revealed the independent effect of robotic thymectomy without the confounding impact of immunosuppressive (IM) therapy. METHODS: Between May 2009 and December 2012, robotic extended thymectomy was carried out for patients with diagnosis of MG. The clinical data, subsequent neurological therapy and postintervention status were collected. RESULTS: Data of 37 cases was available for analysis. The mean follow-up was 70.0±13.3 months. The median age was 40 years. Twelve (32.4%) patients kept free of IM therapy, and 25 (67.6%) patients accepted postoperatively. The overall 5-year complete stable remission (CSR) rate was 40.6% and improvement rate was 81.6%. The young (age ≤40) displayed a significant better CSR rate (P=0.015) and a trend of better improvement rate (P=0.050) compared to the old (age >40). Patients without usage of IM therapy showed significant higher CSR rate (P=0.014) and improvement rate (P=0.024) compared to those with usage of IM therapy. Patients with Myasthenia Gravis Foundation of America (MGFA) classes I showed a trend of higher remission rate by multivariate analysis. No significant differences were found for the remission rate according to gender, pathology, and the duration of symptoms. CONCLUSIONS: The mono-therapy of robotic thymectomy may bring with a satisfactory long-term result for part of MG patients. Precision selection and individualized therapy are of the most importance.