Definition | Reasons for Procedure | Possible Complications | What to Expect | Call Your Doctor

Definition

A thymectomy is surgery to remove the thymus gland. This gland is located in the upper portion of the chest, behind the sternum (breastbone).

Thymus Gland

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Reasons for Procedure

The thymus gland helps control immune cell growth. It is usually very active when you are an infant, but its function tapers off as you get older. The thymus acts abnormally when a person has myasthenia gravis. This is a disease characterized by weakness of skeletal muscles of the body. This happens because the body's immune system attacks the area where the nerves attach to the muscles. Thymectomy is used to treat myasthenia gravis.

A thymectomy may also be done if the thymus has a tumor (called thymoma). These types of tumors are associated with myasthenia gravis.

Possible Complications

Complications are rare, but no procedure is completely free of risk. If you are planning to have a thymectomy, your doctor will review a list of possible complications, which may include:

  • Bleeding
  • Infection
  • Damage to other organs
  • Nerve injury
  • Respiratory failure

Factors that may increase the risk of complications include:

What to Expect

  • Your doctor will likely do the following:
    • X-rays —a test that uses radiation to take a picture of structures inside the body
    • Blood tests
    • Urine tests
    • Muscle strength tests
    • Breathing tests
  • Follow a special diet, which may include withholding foods and fluids before surgery.
  • Take prescribed medicines.
  • Talk to your doctor about your medicines. You may be asked to stop taking some medicines up to one week before the procedure, like:
    • Aspirin or other anti-inflammatory drugs
    • Blood thinners, such as clopidogrel (Plavix) or warfarin (Coumadin)
  • Arrange to have someone drive you to and from the procedure. Ask for help at home after your procedure.

General anesthesia will be given. You will be asleep.

There are three common methods:

You will be taken to a recovery room. There you will be monitored for any complications.

About 1-3 hours

Anesthesia will block the pain during the surgery. You may feel some pain as the anesthesia wears off. Your doctor will give you medicine to help manage the pain.

The usual length of stay is 1-3 days. Your doctor may choose to keep you longer if complications arise.

You will be given fluids and medicine via an IV line. You will be instructed to practice deep breathing, coughing, and frequent turning. Nurses will measure your muscle strength and breathing ability to determine the effectiveness of the surgery.

The recovery time varies from patient to patient, depending on the surgical approach. It may take as little as 1-2 weeks or as long as three months before you can return to work or school. Ask your doctor about when it is safe to shower, bathe, or soak in water. Be sure to follow your doctor’s instructions.

If the surgery was done for myasthenia gravis:

  • Improvement in muscle strength may take several months to a few years.
  • It is important to work with a neurologist during the recovery period to regulate medicines.

Call Your Doctor

After you leave the hospital, contact your doctor if any of the following occurs:

  • Signs of infection, including fever and chills
  • Redness, swelling, increasing pain, excessive bleeding, or any discharge from the incision site
  • Pain that you cannot control with the medicines you have been given
  • Cough, difficulty breathing, or chest pain
  • Pain, burning, urgency, or frequency of urination, or persistent bleeding in the urine
  • Persistent nausea and/or vomiting
  • Pain and/or swelling in your feet, calves, or legs
  • Any other worrisome symptoms

In case of an emergency, call for medical help right away.