title: [Intercostal video-mediastinoscopy: a report of 701 cases].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To summarize the experience of intercostal video-mediastinoscopy (VMS) in treatment for mediastinal masses, malignant pleural effusion and palmar hyperhidrosis.
  
  
  METHODS
  The clinical data of 701 patients received intercostal VMS from November 2001 to June 2007 were summarized retrospectively. Forty-eight patients with mediastinal masses and 46 patients with suspected malignant pleural effusion underwent intercostal VMS pleural biopsy (39 cases with talc pleurodesis) and 607 patients with palmar hyperhidrosis underwent bilateral intercostals VMS thoracic sympathectomy.
  
  
  RESULTS
  No mortality and morbidity were reported in this group. Definitive pathologic diagnosis had been made through VMS mediastinal masses biopsy in mediastinal masses and pleural biopsy in pleura effusion. The efficiency of talc pleurodesis was 100% for 39 cases. The symptoms of sweating of hands in 607 patients with palmar hyperhidrosis disappeared completely, all patients' hands became dry with a 1.5 degrees C to 3.0 degrees C increase of the skin temperature immediately after operation. No recurrence occurred during the follow-up.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  VMS is a simple, convenient and alternative procedure for the treatment of mediastinal masses, malignant pleural effusion and palmar hyperhidrosis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Thoracic Surgery, the First People's Hospital of Foshan, Foshan 528000, China. yjie@fsyyy.com
authors.forename: Jie
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.forename: Jia-ju
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Tan
authors.forename: Jun
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Guo-lin
authors.initials: GL
authors.lastname: Ye
authors.forename: Wei-quan
authors.initials: WQ
authors.lastname: Gu
authors.forename: Jun
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Ye
authors.forename: Le-wei
authors.initials: LW
authors.lastname: Zhu
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D006945:Hyperhidrosis / Q000601:surgery; D008297:Male; D008479:Mediastinal Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000601:surgery; D008481:Mediastinoscopy / Q000379:methods*; D008875:Middle Aged; D016066:Pleural Effusion, Malignant / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000601:surgery; D018700:Pleurodesis / Q000379:methods; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013562:Sympathectomy / Q000379:methods; D020775:Thoracic Surgery, Video-Assisted / Q000379:methods*; D016896:Treatment Outcome