Successful reoperation for myasthenia gravis-a case report-

Abstract

Recently, a 27 year-old man with myasthenia gravis was admitted to our hospital. One year ago, he had a total thymectomy at a different hospital. Upon admission to our hospital, he complained of weakness throughout his extremities. He was given high dose steroid tables and subsequently complained of dyspnea. We detected a high level of anti-acethylcholine receptor antibodies and surmised that residual thymus tissue was present. We performed an extended thymectomy using a median sternotomy. After the operation the weakness in his extremities and his dyspnea disappeared. The level of anti-acethylcholine receptor antibodies decreased.