Thymectomy for Myasthenia Gravis

Everyone gets sore muscles. But this is far more than just sore arms from trimming the hedge. This is an all-day muscle weakness — and maybe even more alarming symptoms like drooping eyelids or double vision. You need expert answers and experienced care right away.

Those symptoms — along with difficulty standing, lifting objects or even speaking and swallowing — may be signs of a rare autoimmune disease known as myasthenia gravis. This disease affects how your nerves communicate with your muscles and causes that telltale muscle weakness. It also brings severe and unpredictable attacks (myasthenic crisis) that may require intensive care. There isn’t a cure, and while treatment may help manage your symptoms, it often involves daily medications and procedures, including high doses of steroids that may lead to complications over time.

But you’ve got other options, including removing the thymus gland. This can significantly lower the dose of medications you need and improve your quality of life. Highly qualified consultants at Cleveland Clinic London excel in thymus removal for myasthenia gravis. We use research-based methods that lead to excellent outcomes.

When you come to Cleveland Clinic London, you’ll be in the expert care of one of the few private hospitals in the U.K. offering thymus removal for myasthenia gravis. Thoracic (lung and airway) surgeons, many of whom are leaders in the field, perform thymectomies. We stay current with the latest research, so you receive safe, appropriate care that brings healing.

Highlights of our service include:

• Coordination: Neurologists specialising in myasthenia gravis diagnose and guide initial therapies. If you appear to be a candidate for a thymectomy, they refer you to our thoracic surgeons for further evaluation. Before you have the surgery, our neurologists and thoracic surgeons work together to optimise symptom management.
• Minimally invasive surgery: Your surgeons will perform the thymectomy using keyhole (thoracoscopic) techniques that require small incisions — rather than the large incision necessary for traditional surgeries. Tiny instruments and real-time imaging enable us to remove the thymus with less disruption to nearby tissue. This approach is gentler on your body and minimises visible scarring on your chest.
• Robotic surgery: We also perform thymectomies using the da Vinci^® Xi robotic surgical system. This highly accurate robotic surgical technology enables surgeons to remove the thymus gland with the highest level of precision. Find out more about robotic thoracic (chest) surgery.
• Comprehensive care: Cleveland Clinic London has all the consultants and services you need. Even if myasthenia gravis symptoms aren’t well-managed, we can help you. Our Acute Admissions Unit provides 24/7 care for myasthenic crises. Thoracic surgeons can perform thymectomy on patients with unstable symptoms who are on ventilators.
• Timely services: Our team sees new patients promptly. If symptoms are well-managed, you may have a thymectomy within a week of your initial consultation. Get started by calling +44 20 3423 7500.

We perform a thorough evaluation to determine whether you might benefit from thymus removal for myasthenia gravis.

You may be eligible if you:

• Are younger than 50.
• Have a specific type of myasthenia gravis (AChR antibody positive myasthenia gravis).
• Have had myasthenia gravis for a few years with moderate to severe symptoms. Have mild symptoms affecting the muscles that help you breathe and swallow. Take high-dose steroids. Aren’t getting relief from quick-acting medications, like anticholinesterase drugs. Have a thymoma.

Removing the Thymus: What To Expect

If you’re interested in thymectomy for myasthenia gravis, here’s what happens:

1. Consultation: You meet with a thoracic surgeon to determine your eligibility for the procedure. They review your medical history, perform an exam and discuss your care with neurologists.
2. Presurgical treatment (if necessary): We may recommend additional treatments to stabilise symptoms so you have a safe procedure. Care may include intravenous immune globulin or plasma exchange, which temporarily improves symptoms.
3. Surgery: You’ll have surgery in operating theatres with leading-edge technology. Anaesthesiologists knowledgeable in the unique needs of patients with myasthenia gravis use medications to keep you safe and comfortable.
4. Recovery: You’ll start your recovery in our Neuro-Intensive Therapy Unit, one of the very few of its kind in the U.K. And you’ll have 24/7 care and monitoring from consultants and nurses who specialise in neurological conditions. We check to make sure incisions are healing as expected, and myasthenia gravis symptoms stay manageable.
5. Follow-up: After surgery, your myasthenia gravis symptoms may temporarily worsen before they get better. We carefully monitor your progress through regular follow-up visits. Neurologists perform assessments and adjust medication regimens as needed.

More Information About Thymus Removal for Myasthenia Gravis

Your thymus is a gland in the upper front part of your chest. It supports immune system development during early adolescence but serves no role in adulthood. In people with myasthenia gravis, the thymus may be enlarged or overactive. In some cases, there’s a cancerous tumour (thymoma).

Surgically removing the thymus (thymectomy) reduces myasthenia gravis symptoms. After surgery, many people manage symptoms with fewer medications. In some people, the condition resolves completely, and they no longer experience myasthenic crises.

Thoracic Surgery Self-Pay Services

Contact us or call +44 20 3423 7500 for more information about thymus removal for myasthenia gravis.

We make it easier to access expert care in the U.K. Read more about payment information, including options for self-pay and private medical insurance. If you’re coming to us from another country, learn more about coordination available through Global Patient Services.