Definition
A thymectomy is surgery to remove the thymus gland. This gland is located in the upper portion of the chest, behind the breastbone.
Reasons for Procedure
The thymus gland helps immune cell growth. It is usually active when you are an infant, but its function reduces as you get older. The thymus acts abnormally when a person has myasthenia gravis. A thymectomy is used to treat myasthenia gravis.
A thymectomy may also be done if the thymus has a tumor, which is 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:
- Smoking
- Increased age
What to Expect
Prior to Procedure
- Your doctor will likely do the following:
- X-rays
- 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
- Arrange to have someone drive you to and from the procedure. Ask for help at home after your procedure.
Anesthesia
General anesthesia will be given. You will be asleep.
Description of Procedure
There are three common methods:
- Trans-sternal approach—An incision will be made in the skin over your breastbone. The breastbone will be pulled apart. The thymus gland will then be exposed and removed. The incision will be closed with stitches or staples.
- Transcervical approach—A small incision is made across the lower part of the neck, just above the breastbone. The thymus gland will be removed. The incision will be closed with stitches or staples.
- Video-assisted thoracic surgery (VATS) or robot-assisted thoracic procedures —This is a less invasive option. Several tiny incisions are made in the area. A tiny camera will be inserted through one of the incisions. The camera will send images to a monitor in the room. Robotic arms may be used to do the surgery. Special tools will be passed through the remaining incisions to remove the thymus. After the thymus is removed, the incisions will be closed with stitches.
Immediately After Procedure
You will be taken to a recovery room. There, you will be monitored for any complications.
How Long Will It Take?
About 1-3 hours
How Much Will It Hurt?
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.
Average Hospital Stay
The usual length of stay is 1-3 days. Your doctor may choose to keep you longer if complications arise.
Post-procedure Care
At the Hospital
You will be given fluids and medicine through an IV. 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.
At Home
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.
Thymectomy Cost In India
Cost of Thymectomy in India is very reasonable when contrasted with different nations on the planet with a similar nature of therapeutic care and administrations. The general cost of Thymectomy is one of the real reasons why several patients from around the globe choose to movement to India for therapeutic treatment.
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COUNTRY
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COST
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INDIA
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$ 6,600
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UK
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$ 9,000
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US
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$ 11,000
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The Thymectomy cost is evaluated to be no less than 60 to 70 percent less in India that what a patient spends on a normal for a similar treatment in the UK and the US. The normal cost of Thymectomy stays low in India notwithstanding when extra costs, for example, boarding, lodging costs, sustenance charges, examination expenses and span of remain at the doctor’s facility are considered.
The minimal effort of Thymectomy permits individuals from over the world, particularly the immature nations, to have an entrance to world-class restorative treatment. A lion’s share of patients from such poor and not all that mechanically propelled nations have no entrance to top medicinal care and exceedingly particular treatment. Since the cost of doing Thymectomy is less, many individuals from abroad go to India every year with a would like to get treated with no monetary weight.
There are a few factors that decide the cost of Thymectomy. The kind of Thymectomy healing center that the patient chooses to get treated in and the decision of the city are two main considerations that decide the general Thymectomy cost bundle. It additionally relies upon how much the patient will overdo it on sustenance, convenience and voyaging.
