In this study, postoperative myasthenic crisis after transsternal thymectomy in 122 patients with myasthenia gravis was affected by the existence of preoperative bulbar symptoms, history of preoperative myasthenic crisis, preoperative serum level of anti-acetylcholine receptor antibody > 100 nmol/L, and intraoperative blood loss > 1000 mL. Meticulous preoperative and postoperative care should be carried out to prevent postoperative myasthenic crisis in patients with these prognostic factors.
Our improved criteria are therefore considered to positively contribute to a safe and definite clinical decision regarding postoperative patient management.
Adults who have undergone surgical repair of congenital diaphragmatic hernia have a prolonged illness. They usually have severe adhesions around the intrathoracic hernial sac; therefore, the adhesion itself as well as misidentification of the hernial defect can make surgical repair difficult, even in open surgery. Here, we present the successful video-assisted thoracoscopic surgical repairs of Bochdalek and Morgagni hernias in patients with severe adhesions of the hernial sac (peritoneum) to the parietal pleura lying over the thoracic wall and diaphragm. An 18-year-old woman with a Bochdalek hernia and a 28-year-old woman with a Morgagni hernia underwent thoracoscopic division of severe adhesions, proper minithoracotomy, and precise repairs of diaphragmatic defects. Postoperative courses of both patients were uneventful with no signs of recurrence of the hernia. Thus, we recommend the thoracoscopic approach as the first choice over an open or laparoscopic approach in the management of adult patients with Bochdalek or Morgagni hernias and severe adhesion.
scite is a Brooklyn-based organization that helps researchers better discover and understand research articles through Smart Citations–citations that display the context of the citation and describe whether the article provides supporting or contrasting evidence. scite is used by students and researchers from around the world and is funded in part by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health.