title: Thoracoscopic thymectomy using anterior chest wall lifting method.
abstract: We performed a thoracoscopic resection of thymus and thymoma using a novel method whereby the chest wall was lifted by costal hooks placed on the bilateral third ribs. Since the thymus and fat tissue were also elevated, the mediastinal dissection was started at the underlying vessels and pericardium. This technique conforms to the purpose of endoscopic surgery, as it maximizes the operative field and minimizes chest wall trauma. We have applied this approach to benign mediastinal tumor and stage I thymoma with satisfactory results.
authors.affiliation: Department of General Thoracic Surgery, Osaka University, Graduate School of Medicine, Suita, Osaka, Japan. ohta@surg1.med.osaka-u.ac.jp
authors.forename: Mitsunori
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ohta
authors.forename: Hirohisa
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Hirabayasi
authors.forename: Meinoshin
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Okumura
authors.forename: Masato
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Minami
authors.forename: Hikaru
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Matsuda
mesh_terms: D006801:Humans; D035441:Thoracic Wall; D013906:Thoracoscopy / Q000379:methods*; D013934:Thymectomy / Q000379:methods*; D013945:Thymoma / Q000601:surgery*; D013953:Thymus Neoplasms / Q000601:surgery*