Video-mediastinoscopy in management of patients with lung cancer: A preliminary study

Cervical mediastinoscopy is widely employed for biopsy of mediastinal lymph nodes and staging of lung cancer. The application of video-assisted techno logy to mediastinoscopy in a series of patients with lung cancer has not be en reported. Preliminary experience with the use of video-mediastinoscopy i n diagnosis and staging of lung cancer is presented. Fifteen patients with lung cancer were studied. Results of previous computed tomography scans had shown the presence of enlarged mediastinal lymph nodes in the retrovascula r plane in all of the cases. Video-mediastinoscopy was performed under gene ral anesthesia using a specifically designed rigid scope connected to a mon o-charged-coupled device video camera (model INH 002756; Karl Storz-Endosko pe, Tuttlingen, Germany). Neither fatalities nor major complications relate d to the procedure were observed. In all cases, video-mediastinoscopy prove d useful for diagnosis or staging of lung cancer, therefore contributing to clinical decision making. The optimal visualization of mediastinal structu re and the possibility far the surgeon to operate with both hands are appre ciable characteristics of this technique.