title: Adjuvant pneumomediastinum in thoracoscopic thymectomy for myasthenia gravis.
abstract: To facilitate initial visualization and subsequent mobilization of the thymus, adjuvant pneumomediastinum was preoperatively induced in 4 patients who underwent video-assisted thoracoscopic thymectomy. Neither mortality nor technique-related morbidity was observed. This experience shows video-assisted thoracoscopic thymectomy to be a safe and reliable procedure. In addition, we believe that adjuvant pneumomediastinum seems to facilitate the dissection maneuvers and could shorten operative time.
authors.affiliation: Department of Thoracic Surgery, Tor Vergata University School of Medicine, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: T C
authors.initials: TC
authors.lastname: Mineo
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Pompeo
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Ambrogi
authors.forename: A F
authors.initials: AF
authors.lastname: Sabato
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Bernardi
authors.forename: C U
authors.initials: CU
authors.lastname: Casciani
mesh_terms: D004724:Endoscopy / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D009157:Myasthenia Gravis / Q000601:surgery*; D011012:Pneumomediastinum, Diagnostic / Q000379:methods*; D013906:Thoracoscopy; D013934:Thymectomy / Q000379:methods*; D014741:Video Recording