Myasthenia is a poor prognostic factor for perioperative outcomes after robotic thymectomy for thymoma.

OBJECTIVES: The goal of this study was to compare the early and intermediate surgical outcomes, including the survival of those with and without myasthenic thymoma, following robotic thymectomy.

METHODS: This is a retrospective analysis of prospectively maintained data of 111 patients who underwent robotic thymectomy for thymoma over 7 years in a thoracic surgery centre in India. We performed a comparative analysis of demographics, intraoperative variables and postoperative outcomes including survival of those with and without myasthenic thymoma.

RESULTS: Of 111 patients, 68 patients were myasthenic and 43 were non-myasthenic. The need to resect surrounding structures and conversions was greater in the myasthenic group (P = 0.02, P = 0.04). Postoperative complications were significantly higher in the myasthenic group (P = 0.02). No differences were observed in intensive care unit stay, the need for postoperative ventilation and the hospital stay. On correlation, a higher Masaoka stage [odds ratio 1.96, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.22-3.15] and an aggressive World Health Organization histological diagnosis (odds ratio 1.58, 95% CI 1.10-2.26) were more likely in patients with myasthenia gravis. A total of 7 deaths (6.3%) occurred during the median follow-up of 4.2 years, 5 among those with myasthenic thymoma and 2 among patients with non-myasthenic thymoma. Due to the small number of deaths, there is insufficient evidence to draw any conclusion about the effect of myasthenia gravis on survival after surgery (hazard ratio 0.51, 95% CI 0.09-2.71; P = 0.43).

CONCLUSIONS: The presence of myasthenia with thymoma is associated with more adjacent structure resection, higher postoperative complications and more conversions. The use of robotic surgery for thymoma resection in patients with myasthenia could not overcome the early postoperative problems related to myasthenia gravis.