Experience with video-assisted surgery for suspected mediastinal tumours.
OBJECTIVE
To assess the therapeutic feasibility of video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS) in the excision of suspected mediastinal tumours.


METHODS
The case notes of 24 consecutive patients referred to a single surgeon between 1997 and 2002 for excision of suspected mediastinal tumours were reviewed. The operative, post-operative and pathological characteristics of patients treated thoracoscopically and by open procedure were analysed.


RESULTS
Thirteen of 24 patients underwent thoracoscopic excision. The mean age of the two groups was similar as was the mean operating time and duration of chest drainage. However, patients in the thoracoscopic group had less chest drainage, less pain and a shorter hospital stay.


CONCLUSIONS
Video-assisted thoracoscopic excision of mediastinal tumours is a safe and technically feasible procedure and may offer significant post-operative advantages over open procedures.
Department of Thoracic Surgery, Glenfield Hospital, Leicester LE3 9QP, UK.
G K
GK
Chetty
O A
OA
Khan
C V P
CV
Onyeaka
F
F
Ahmad
P B
PB
Rajesh
D A
DA
Waller
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D004739:England; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008479:Mediastinal Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D008875:Middle Aged; D010149:Postoperative Pain; D011183:Postoperative Complications; D020775:Thoracic Surgery, Video-Assisted; D013945:Thymoma / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D016896:Treatment Outcome