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Brandolini. Mini-invasive Surg 2020;4:45 Mini-invasive Surgery
DOI: 10.20517/2574-1225.2020.27

Original Article Open Access

Video-assisted thoracoscopic thymectomy: bilateral
approach

Jury Brandolini 1,2

1 Department of Thoracic Surgery, Maggiore Teaching Hospital, Bologna 40133, Italy.
2 Department of Thoracic Surgery, Sant’Orsola University Hospital, Bologna 40138, Italy.
Correspondence to: Dr. Jury Brandolini, Department of Thoracic Surgery, Maggiore Teaching Hospital, Bologna 40133, Italy;
Department of Thoracic Surgery, Sant’Orsola University Hospital, Bologna 40138, Italy.
E-mails: jury.brandolini@ausl.bologna.it; jury.brandolini@gmail.com
How to cite this article: Brandolini J. Video-assisted thoracoscopic thymectomy: bilateral approach. Mini-invasive Surg
2020;4:45. http://dx.doi.org/10.20517/2574-1225.2020.27
Received: 27 Feb 2020 First Decision: 27 Apr 2020 Revised: 13 May 2020 Accepted: 21 May 2020 Published: 19 Jul 2020

Academic Editors: Noriyoshi Sawabata, Piergiorgio Solli Copy Editor: Cai-Hong Wang Production Editor: Jing Yu

Abstract
Aim: The advantages and feasibility of video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS) in the surgical management
of early resectable thymoma and thymic hyperplasia have largely been described and adopted in many thoracic
surgery units. In order to allow for resection of all immunogenic thymic cells in patients with myasthenia gravis,
surgical removal of the whole thymus gland including perithymic and pericardiophrenic fatty tissue becomes
imperative. It is also important to achieve radical resection and excision in cases of thymoma.

Methods: Numerous technical variations of VATS thymectomy have been reported in literature. In this study, the
surgical technique of a minimally invasive, extended thymectomy through a bilateral approach is illustrated with
key features highlighted.

Results: In our experience, no conversion to the open transternal approach, surgical mortality or major complications
were observed; the median length of hospital stay was 3 days.

Conclusion: Bilateral video-assisted extended thymectomy is an effective, safe and well-tolerated approach, with
surgical benefits and clinical outcomes similar to other thoracoscopic techniques.

Keywords: Thymoma, video-assisted thoracic technique, thymectomy, bilateral video-assisted thoracoscopic
surgery

© The Author(s) 2020. Open Access This article is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0
International License (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted use,
sharing, adaptation, distribution and reproduction in any medium or format, for any purpose, even commercially, as long
as you give appropriate credit to the original author(s) and the source, provide a link to the Creative Commons license,
and indicate if changes were made.

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