Videothoracoscopic diagnostic and treatment of mediastinal masses

The aim of this paper is to show our experience in videothoracoscopic (VT) surgery of the mediastinum, and its value in exploration, final staging, diagnosis and treatment of mediastinal masses. We have performed 57 videothoracoscopic surgical procedures in patients with mediastinal disease, 32 diagnostics and 25 therapeutics: 12 thymectomies,exeresis of 5 bronchogenic cysts, I thymic cyst, 2 neurofibromas of Recklinghausen, 2 schwannomas, 1 metastasis of melanoma, and 2 reoperations for Myasthenia Gravis (histology had shown it was fat tissue in both cases). There were 1 intraoperative complication: bleeding (controlled by VATS) and 3 postoperative: 2 pneumothoraces and 1 quilothorax solved with drainage and chemical pleurodesis. Mortality n=l (Postransfusional multiorganic failure). Thymectomized patients for Myastenia Gravis did not need respiratory assistance and only 24 hours intensive care unit stay. In the diagnosis of mediastinal masses, the videothoracoscopy in our series was 100% sensitive and 100% specific.