Left-sided approach for robotic thymectomy: technical tips, advantages and drawbacks

While previously we recommended a right-sided approach for thymectomy for safety reasons and training, we now believe the field of robotics has progressed enough that we almost always recommend a left-sided approach for thymectomy. A left-sided approach ensures a more complete removal of all thymic tissue to avoid postoperative myasthenia gravis that can develop in a significant number of patients who have thymoma and do not have myasthenia gravis preoperatively. Our preferred technique is shown.