Pioneering surgery a success

Dubai: A Dubai hospital has conducted two of the first minimally invasive surgical procedures to remove a thymus gland (thymectomy).

The procedure, called a video-assisted thoracoscopic extended thymectomy, was performed by Dr Fouad M. Azoury, Chairman of the Cardiothoracic Surgery Department at the American Hospital, Dubai on young Omani female patients who were suffering from myasthenia gravis, a condition which affects the patients' ability to breathe normally.

The gland is located in the upper chest area and plays an important role in the body's immune system.

The procedure has traditionally taken the form of a major operation. However, in these cases, the surgeon made only three keyhole incisions to remove the gland, with no compromise in the results achieved and with a significantly better cosmetic outcome.

Dr Azoury said: "Myasthenia gravis (MG) is a rare condition which commonly affects young women... removal of the gland reduces by far the reliance on long-term medication and results in a cure for around 30 per cent of cases."