Thymectomy Side Effects and Warnings

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

If you are age 60 or older, you are at increased risk of complications.

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 911.