Removal of the Thymus?

begin quotes:

AI Overview

Learn more

A thymectomy is a surgical procedure to remove the thymus gland, which is located in the front of the chest behind the breastbone. The thymus is part of the immune system and plays a key role in development during infancy and early childhood. After puberty, the thymus shrinks and becomes mostly fatty tissue, and it's not very important in adulthood. For this reason, removing the thymus in adulthood usually doesn't cause any problems with the immune system. 

A thymectomy may be recommended for:

• Patients under 60 with moderate to severe weakness from myasthenia gravis
• Patients with mild weakness that affects breathing or swallowing
Anyone with a thymoma 

There are a couple of ways to perform a thymectomy:

Median sternotomy
The surgeon makes a cut in the skin of the chest and then cuts through the breastbone to remove the thymus. 

Video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS)

The surgeon makes several small cuts in the chest and uses a long, thin, lighted camera and surgical tools to remove the thymus. VATS is a less invasive procedure that usually results in a quicker recovery. 

After a thymectomy, a patient typically stays in the hospital for 1–3 days after VATS, or 4–6 days after a median sternotomy.