title: A new approach for performing a one-stage operation through the mediastinum to resect bilateral lung metastases: report of a case.
abstract: We describe herein a new operative technique for reaching the opposite lung from the thoracotomy site through the mediastinum. This procedure was successfully performed on a 76-year-old woman with bilateral lung metastases whose case is presented. After resection of the right lower lobe which contained two metastases, the anterior mediastinum was opened, and contralateral metastasis located in the lingular segment was resected using a neodymium:yttrium-aluminum-garnet (Nd:YAG) laser. A chest drainage tube was inserted through the mediastinal window. This transmediastinal approach seems to be a feasible technique for preserving the respiratory function of the chest wall in patients with imbalanced bilateral metastases.
authors.affiliation: Department of Thoracic Surgery, Center for Adult Diseases, Osaka, Japan.
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Kodama
authors.forename: O
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Doi
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Higashiyama
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Yokouchi
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Aihara
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Ueda
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D001859:Bone Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D018219:Histiocytoma, Benign Fibrous / Q000473:pathology / Q000556:secondary* / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D053685:Laser Therapy; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000556:secondary* / Q000601:surgery*; D008482:Mediastinum; D011013:Pneumonectomy / Q000379:methods; D012782:Shoulder