Complications of mediastinoscopy

Delayed Multifocal Tracheal Injury Following Thyroidectomy: A Case Report and Review of the Literature

Delayed presentation of tracheal injury after thyroidectomy is a rare complication. We present the case of a 24-year-old male presenting with findings of tracheal injury 12 days after total thyroidectomy. Upon surgical exploration, multifocal, transmural tracheal injuries were identified. Repair was performed with a combination of acellular dermal matrix allograft, local-regional flaps, silicone stenting, and tracheostomy. Herein we also review published cases of delayed tracheal injury. Our findings suggest that delayed tracheal necrosis and rupture is an uncommon yet potentially devastating complication of thyroidectomy. Surgeons should maintain a low threshold to suspect such injuries when patients present with neck swelling and subcutaneous emphysema, even up to 40 days post-operatively. Complex injuries may require a multidisciplinary approach and an armamentarium of reconstructive techniques.

Anesthetic Considerations for Mediastinal Staging Procedures for Lung Cancer

Tumor staging is critical for the treatment of lung malignancies. Invasive techniques of lung tumor staging can be accomplished via mediastinoscopy, endobronchial ultrasound, and video-assisted thoracoscopy. Anesthesiologists taking care of patients undergoing mediastinal staging procedures might face different challenges. In this narrative review, the authors summarize the literature on the anesthetic considerations for mediastinal staging procedures.

[The application of mediastinoscopy in the differential diagnosis and preoperative staging on lung cancer]

背景与目的

探讨纵隔镜检查术对纵隔肿物诊断和肺癌鉴别诊断/术前分期的临床应用价值。

方法

共计361例患者纳入研究，其中术前未确诊的纵隔肿物患者162例，疑诊或确诊肺癌并伴有纵隔淋巴结肿大（短径≥1.0 cm）患者199例。所有患者均接受手术，其中经颈纵隔镜检查术（SCM）308例，经胸骨旁纵隔镜检查术（PM）53例。

结果

① 纵隔镜检查术对纵隔肿物诊断的准确性98.11%，敏感性97.62%，特异性100%，阳性预测值100%，阴性预测值91.67%。②纵隔镜检查术对肺癌纵隔淋巴结转移诊断的准确性98.28%，敏感性98.03%，特异性100%，阳性预测值100%，阴性预测值100%。手术相关并发症共计7例，发生率为1.93%。

结论

纵隔镜检查术创伤轻微、安全可靠、取材足量，对纵隔肿物的诊断价值极高，也是肺癌鉴别诊断和术前分期的重要方法和金标准。

Is video mediastinoscopy a safer and more effective procedure than conventional mediastinoscopy?

A best evidence topic in cardiothoracic surgery was written according to a structured protocol. The question addressed was whether video-assisted mediastinoscopy (VAM) is a more effective procedure than conventional mediastinoscopy (CM). A total of 108 papers were identified using the search as discussed below. Of which, eight papers presented the best evidence to answer the clinical question as they included a sufficient number of patients to reach conclusions regarding the issues of interest for this review. Complications, complication rates, number of lymph nodes biopsies, number of stations sampled and training opportunities were included in the assessment. The author, journal, date and country of publication, patient group studied, study type, relevant outcomes, results and study weaknesses of the papers are tabulated. Literature search revealed that CM is a safe procedure associated with low mortality (0-0.05%) and morbidity (0-5.3%). CM has high levels of accuracy (83.8-97.2%) and negative predictive value (81-95.7%). Training in CM can be difficult as the limited vision means that the trainer cannot monitor directly the dissection and the areas biopsied by the trainee as one operator and effectively see at any time. VAM is also a safe procedure with comparable results to that of CM in term of mortality (0%), morbidity (0.83-2.9%), accuracy (87.9-98.9%) and negative predictive values (83-98.6%). The main advantage is higher number of biospsies taken (VAM, 6-8.5; CM, 5-7.13) and number of mediastinal lymph node stations sampled (VAM, 1.9-3.6; CM, 2.6-2.98). VAM can be associated with more aggressive dissecting and that can lead to more complications. The use of VAM can provide a better and safer training opportunity since both trainer and trainee can share the magnified image on the monitor. All studies available are comparing heterogeneous groups of non-matched group of patients which can bias the outcomes reported. There is a lack of comprehensive randomized studies to compare both procedures and to support any preference towards VAM over CM. We conclude that there is actually very little objective evidence of VAM superiority over CM.

Successful management of severe pulmonary artery injury during mediastinoscopy

Although many reports have shown that mediastinoscopy is an extremely safe procedure, the most serious complication that can occur is hemorrhage from the large vessels in the mediastinum. A patient with severe pulmonary artery injury during mediastinoscopy that was successfully repaired through a right posterolateral thoracotomy is reported. Digital compression based on the anatomy was highly effective in controlling the hemorrhage caused by a longitudinal tear.

Endoscopic ultrasound-guided fine-needle aspiration when combined with positron emission tomography improves specificity and overall diagnostic accuracy in unexplained mediastinal lymphadenopathy and staging of non-small-cell lung cancer

BACKGROUND

The aim of this study was to assess the incremental value of endoscopic ultrasound (EUS)-guided fine-needle aspiration (FNA) to positron emission tomography (PET) in the diagnosis of unexplained mediastinal lymphadenopathy and staging of non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC).

METHODS

Patients who had both EUS-guided FNA and PET were retrospectively identified from an EUS database at a tertiary hospital. All EUS-guided FNA were carried out by one endoscopist between August 2002 and April 2005, either for the diagnosis of unexplained mediastinal lymphadenopathy or for the staging of NSCLC. Results of PET and EUS were compared with histology. A true histological positive result was defined as histological involvement in either surgery (mediastinoscopy or resection) or EUS-guided FNA. A true histological negative result was defined as negative involvement at surgery (mediastinoscopy or resection).

RESULTS

Forty-nine patients who had both PET scanning and EUS-guided FNA for diagnosis of unexplained mediastinal lymphadenopathy or staging of NSCLC were identified. Of these, 33 (73% males, n = 24, age range = 44-78 years, mean = 62 years) had surgical confirmation of mediastinal lymph node pathology. In these patients, PET alone showed sensitivity, 95%; specificity, 90%; positive predictive value, 87%; negative predictive value, 90% and accuracy, 88%; whereas the addition of EUS-guided FNA increased the overall specificity and positive predictive value to 100%, with an overall accuracy of 97%.

CONCLUSIONS

This study suggests that EUS-guided FNA complements PET by improving the overall specificity and thereby the accuracy for diagnosis of unexplained mediastinal lymphadenopathy. It provides a minimally invasive technique to assess the mediastinum in patients with NSCLC and is particularly valuable in cases in which PET findings are equivocal.

Safety of Mediastinoscopy in Anatomical Variations of the Mediastinum: The Situs Inversus Syndrome

Mediastinoscopy has been widely used by thoracic surgeons to evaluate the superior mediastinum since 1959. Large series of mediastinoscopy have been reported with very low morbidity and no mortality. Proper attention to surgical techniques and mediastinal anatomy are essential to maintain the safety of the procedure. Situs inversus totalis is exceedingly rare, but variations in mediastinal anatomy in this group of patients can render the procedure challenging for the thoracic surgeon. A case of mediastinoscopy in a situs inversus patient is presented with emphasis on anatomical variations of the mediastinum and technical pitfalls of the procedure in this rare group.

An Unusual Endobronchial Foreign Body: A Gauze That Migrated from the Mediastinum

The authors report a 48-year-old white male with lung cancer who was admitted to their clinic with a 1-year history of cough and shortness of breath. The patient was hospitalized because of progression of his complaints over 1 month. On the 3rd day of hospitalization, he expectorated a piece of gauze. The authors performed a fiber-optic bronchoscopy and saw pieces of gauze originating from granulation tissue located in the angle of the lower trachea and left main bronchi. A detailed anamnesis revealed that a mediastinoscopy had been performed 3 years ago for lung cancer staging: the gauze had migrated from the mediastinum to the endobrochial space.

Tratamento cirúrgico de cisto broncogênico paratraqueal por mediastinoscopia cervical

Os cistos broncogênicos do mediastino são lesões benignas congênitas, usualmente descobertas na idade adulta. O tratamento cirúrgico clássico, quando indicado, é a ressecção da lesão por toracotomia ou por videotoracoscopia. Descrevemos aqui um caso em que foi realizada a ressecção completa de um cisto broncogênico paratraqueal por mediastinoscopia cervical, com uma breve revisão e discussão da literatura.

Cost-effectiveness analysis of strategies introducing FDG-PET into the mediastinal staging of non-small-cell lung cancer from the French healthcare system perspective

AIM

To determine the most cost-effective strategy using PET for mediastinal staging of potentially operable non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC).

METHODS

Four decision strategies based on French NSCLC work-up practices for the selection of potential surgical candidates were compared, comprising CT only, PET for negative CT, PET for all with anatomical CT, and CT and PET for all cases. The medical literature was surveyed to obtain values for all variables of interest. Costs were assessed with reimbursements from the French healthcare insurance for the year 1999. Expected cost and life expectancy were calculated for all possible outcomes of each strategy. Sensitivity analysis was performed to determine the effects of changing variables on the expected cost and life expectancy.

RESULTS

Compared with the CT only strategy, CT and PET for all resulted in a relative reduction of 70% of surgery for persons with mediastinal lymph node metastasis. PET for all with anatomical CT was shown to be a cost-effective alternative to the CT only, with life expectancy increased by 0.10 years and expected cost savings of 61 euros. This strategy was more favourable than PET for negative CT. Overall, sensitivity analyses showed the robustness of the results.

CONCLUSION

The introduction of thoracic PET for NSCLC staging is potentially cost-effective in France. Further clinical investigation might help to validate this result.

Treatment of Iatrogenic Injury of Membranous Trachea With Intercostal Muscle Flap

Iatrogenic injuries of the membranous trachea are rare but potentially lethal, and most commonly require surgical treatment. Such injuries occur intraoperatively during specific thoracic surgery procedures or are associated with endotracheal anesthesia. Special technical difficulties in managing them surgically are encountered when lacerations are in proximity to the rigid rings of the trachea because of the lack of membranous tissue distal to the tear. We describe our technique used in a patient with such an iatrogenic tracheal injury during resection of invasive lung carcinoma.

Surgical exploration of the mediastinum: mediastinoscopy and intraoperative staging

Lung resection remains the therapy of choice offering the greatest potential for cure in non-spread lung cancer. Prognostic importance of lymph-node involvement has been underlined by several studies. So, exploration of the mediastinum is of major importance for defining the therapeutic strategy in a possibly curative setting. Pre-resectional exploration of the mediastinal lymph-nodal status is mandatory to define tumour stage exactly and establish specific therapy. Cervical mediastinoscopy is the primary diagnostic procedure and remains the gold standard in invasive surgical staging. Complementary, parasternal mediastinoscopy, extended mediastinoscopy, and video-assisted thoracoscopy may be performed. These techniques allow accurate assessment of mediastinal lymph-node involvement, resulting in an appropriate judgement as to resectability and possible treatment options. Different techniques are established for intraoperative exploration and staging. In terms of curative surgery of lung cancer we demand accurate staging which is achieved by systematic and complete Lymph-node dissection. So, individually and dependent on primary tumour site, accurate mediastinal staging of Lung cancer should be performed in combination with definitive lung resection.

Initial surgical staging of lung cancer

Many patients with early stage lung cancer (stage I and II) are curable by surgical resection. In patients with locally advanced disease surgery plays an important role in order to provide local tumor control. Therefore, the aim of all staging efforts in NSCLC must be to identify all patients, who might be potential candidates for a surgical approach. Current staging tools include imaging techniques like CT- and PET-scan, transthoracic, transbronchial or transeosophageal needle biopsies and finally surgical staging methods including mediastinoscopy and video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS). With respect to mediastinal lymph node staging, cervical mediastinoscopy is reported to have a sensitivity between 81 and 89%. This mainly due to the fact, that some lymph node levels (# 8, 9, 5, 6) are not accessible by the standard cervical approach. The morbidity and mortality of cervical mediastinoscopy is in experienced centers only minimal. In series with more than 1000 patients, the mortality was almost 0% and morbidity varied between 0.5 and 1%. Cervical mediastinoscopy can be performed also as an outpatient procedure. In addition to 'simple' lymph node staging, mediastinoscopy clarifies the local resectability of central tumors (T-factor). Currently, cervical mediastinoscopy is recommended by almost all scientific societies in patients with apparently resectable NSCLC who present with enlarged mediastinal lymph nodes of >1 cm in short axis diameter. Video-mediastinoscopy allows that the procedure gets even more standardized and preliminary data suggest that the sensitivity might be improved in comparison to conventional mediastinoscopy. Since VATS is widely accepted by the community of thoracic surgeons, it has become an important staging tool in many situations. VATS can be used to rule out or confirm a suspected contralateral lung metastasis. Furthermore, VATS is extremely useful to exclude malignant pleural effusions in otherwise operable patients. This examination can be done in the operating room immediately prior to formal thoracotomy. Additionally, VATS is effective to explore the local resectability in patients with suspected mediastinal infiltration or a lymphangiosis carcinomatosa within the mediastinum. VATS allows an accurate staging of more than 90% of the patients with suspected stage IIIB NSCLC. With respect to lymph node staging, VATS is complimentary to cervical mediastinoscopy because it helps to stage the lymph nodes in the A-P. window (#5, 6), as well as the lymph nodes paraesophageal (#8) and in the pulmonary ligament (#9). In conclusion, surgical staging methods provide a 100% specificity in combination with a high sensitivity and only a minimal morbidity. Currently, surgical staging is recommended by the majority of scientific societies for the staging of patients with apparently resectable NCSLC.

Management of major hemorrhage during mediastinoscopy

OBJECTIVE

The management of major hemorrhage complicating mediastinoscopy is not well described. We reviewed our experience to determine the frequency, optimal management strategy, and outcome of these injuries.

METHODS

A retrospective review of all mediastinoscopies performed at a single institution during a 12-year period (January 1990-January 2002) was performed. Major hemorrhage was defined as that requiring exploration for definitive control.

RESULTS

During the study period, 3391 mediastinoscopies were performed. Fourteen patients (0.4%) experienced major hemorrhage. Most patients (12/14) had non-small cell lung cancer, and only 1 patient each underwent preoperative radiation, repeat mediastinoscopy, or extended mediastinoscopy. The most common biopsy site (4/14 cases) resulting in major hemorrhage was the lower right paratracheal region (level 4R), and the most frequently injured vessels were the azygos vein and the innominate and pulmonary arteries. Initial control of hemorrhage was achieved through packing in 93% (13/14), and the most common initial approach for exploration was sternotomy (8/14). Four patients underwent a planned pulmonary resection after definitive control of bleeding. The median amount of blood transfused was 2 units (range 0-18 units). Postoperative complications occurred in 2 of 14 patients (14%). There were no intraoperative deaths, but 1 patient died postoperatively (1/14, 7% mortality). The median postoperative length of stay was 6 days (range 1-19 days).

CONCLUSIONS

Major hemorrhage during mediastinoscopy is an uncommon but potentially morbid event. Initial control can usually be achieved through packing. Subsequent management presents a technical challenge but can result in minimal morbidity and mortality.

Tracheal trauma

The etiology, presentation, and management of blunt and penetrating injuries of the trachea has been reviewed. The approach to and outcome following management of more unusual situations such as iatrogenic injuries has also been briefly reviewed. Early recognition of these problems and careful attention to the details of acute management can convert a life-threatening situation into one that can usually be successfully managed by the techniques of tracheal surgery developed and popularized by Dr. Grillo.

Mediastinal lymph node staging in suspected lung cancer: comparison of positron emission tomography with F-18-fluorodeoxyglucose and mediastinoscopy

BACKGROUND

In patients with bronchogenic carcinoma, mediastinal lymph node staging is essential for determining treatment options. In this retrospective analysis we compared the results of positron emission tomography (PET) using F-18 fluorodeoxyglucose with those of mediastinoscopy in nodal staging for suspected bronchogenic carcinoma.

METHODS

From March 1997 to June 2001, 102 patients (86 male,16 female, age 62 +/- 9 years) underwent both PET and mediastinoscopy for radiologically suspected mediastinal lymph node disease in bronchogenic carcinoma. Total body emission scans were acquired 90 to 150 minutes after injection of 230 MBq of F-18 fluorodeoxyglucose. Mediastinoscopic evaluation of lymph node stations was performed according to the method of Mountain and Dresler (1R, 1L, 2L, 2R, 4L, 4R,7). Patients were eligible if surgical staging was performed within 6 weeks after the PET scan. RESULTS. Of the 102 patients, benign lesions were diagnosed in 15. In 87 patients malignant disease was proven by histology, and bronchogenic carcinoma was found in 82. Of 469 nodal stations analyzed, malignancy was documented by histology in 84. In PET analysis 79 true-positive and 304 true-negative samples were found. Five lymph node stations were false negative, and 81 samples were false positive. False-positive findings in PET frequently were seen in inflammatory lung disease. The sensitivity of PET was 94.1%, specificity was 79% with a diagnostic accuracy of 81.6%. The positive predictive value of PET was 49.3%, and the negative predictive value was 98.4%.

CONCLUSIONS

In patients with positive PET scan results histologic verification appears necessary for exact lymph node staging. In view of the negative predictive value mediastinoscopy can be omitted in patients with bronchogenic carcinoma whose PET scan results were negative.

Video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery for diagnosis, staging, and management of lung cancer with suspected mediastinal lymphadenopathy

The aim of this report was to evaluate the effectiveness of video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS) in staging, diagnosis, and treatment of lung cancer. Fifty-two patients were scheduled for mediastinal lymph node VATS biopsy at the Oncologic Thoracic Surgery Department of the National Cancer Institute in Milan. Fifty patients underwent lymph nodal thoracoscopic biopsy (96%), whereas for the other 2 patients, histologic diagnosis was done by pleural metastatic nodule thoracoscopic biopsy (4%). We performed 17 lymph nodal biopsies in level 5 (33%), 14 in level 6 (27%), 12 in level 7 (23%), and 7 in level 8 (13%). No postoperative complications were observed, and 19 subjects (36%) underwent open lung resection. The histologic diagnosis was adenocarcinoma in 25 cases (48%), epidermoid carcinoma in 14 (27%), microcytoma in 9 (17%), and giant-cell lung carcinoma in 4 (8%); 10 patients were at stage I (19%), 9 at stage II (17%), 31 at stage III (60%), and 2 at stage IV (4%). The use of VATS allowed diagnosis of the suspected involved mediastinal lymph nodes in lung cancer patients and obviated the need for painful thoracotomy, enabling accurate staging and thus selection of the optimal treatment.

Mediastinal transthoracic needle and core lymph node biopsy: should it replace mediastinoscopy?

STUDY OBJECTIVES

Primary assessment of mediastinal lymph nodes (N2 or N3) for staging lung cancer by transthoracic needle with or without core biopsy. Mediastinoscopy only performed after FNA failed to yield a diagnosis.

DESIGN AND SETTINGS

A retrospective study in a university setting.

PATIENTS

Eighty-nine patients with mediastinal lymphadenopathy (> 1.5 cm in short-axis diameter) by CT.

METHODS

Mediastinal transthoracic fine-needle aspiration (FNA) with or without core biopsy was performed prior to mediastinoscopy in 89 patients with mediastinal lymphadenopathy (lymph node > 1.5 cm in short-axis diameter) or masses by CT.

RESULTS

Mediastinal transthoracic FNA was used alone in 39 of 89 patients, or with core biopsy in 50 of 89 patients. Mediastinal transthoracic FNA with or without core biopsy was diagnostic in 69 of 89 patients (77.5%) for cancer cell type, sarcoidosis, or caseating granulomas with or without tuberculosis. Transthoracic FNA with or without core biopsy of nodal stations (total, 94 biopsies) judged readily accessible by mediastinoscopy (n = 59) included paratracheal (n = 56) and highest mediastinal (n = 3); those more difficult (n = 26) included subcarinal (n = 20) and aorticopulmonary window (n = 6); and those impossible (n = 9) included paraesophageal and pulmonary ligament (n = 6), parasternal (n = 2), and para-aortic (n = 1). Innovative lung protective techniques for CT-guided biopsy access windows included "iatrogenic-controlled pneumothorax" (n = 10) or saline solution injection creating a "salinoma" (n = 11). Pneumothorax was detected in only 10% with a "protective" technique but 60% when traversing lung parenchyma. Transthoracic FNA with or without core biopsy failed to yield a diagnosis in 20 of 89 patients (22.5%); all then underwent mediastinoscopy, with 11 of 20 procedures (55%) diagnostic for cancer, and 9 of 20 procedures diagnostic of benign diagnosis or no cancer.

CONCLUSION

Transthoracic FNA with or without core biopsy accesses virtually all mediastinal nodal stations is diagnostic in 78% of cases with mediastinal adenopathy or masses, and should precede mediastinoscopy in the staging of lung cancer or workup of mediastinal masses.

Surgical management of severe common carotid artery injury after mediastinoscopy

Mediastinoscopy is a widely used method to achieve pathologic diagnosis of enlarged lymph nodes or undefined mediastinal solid mass. Aortic arch penetration and injury of the supraaortic arteries are rare but very dangerous complications of mediastinoscopy. We describe the hazardous transportation of a 57-year-old woman after mediastinoscopic injury of the right common carotid artery and its successful repair with cardiopulmonary bypass and deep hypothermia.

Mediastinoscopy--its role and value today in the differential diagnosis of mediastinal pathology

Mediastinoscopy has been an important method in the differential diagnosis of mediastinal pathology since it was presented by Carlens in 1959. Present investigation methods in radiology such as computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging as well as the new developments in ultrasonography have resulted in a decrease in the number of mediastinoscopies performed. In addition, better results of fine-needle aspiration and core-needle biopsy investigations together with new techniques in thoracoscopy have brought alternative possibilities in examining mediastinal masses. To evaluate the role of mediastinoscopy today, a retrospective study was conducted comprising 249 consecutive patients who had undergone mediastinoscopy in the years 1989 1997 at Turku University Central Hospital. Mediastinoscopy was technically possible in 229 of the 249 cases (92.0%) and a definitive diagnosis was obtained in 210 cases (84.3%). The mortality rate was zero and only 13 complications (5.2%) were reported. Six cases of paresis of the left recurrent nerve were reported, four of which were temporary. There were also five minor intraoperative and two postoperative bleedings, which were easily controlled. We still consider mediastinoscopy as a safe and efficient way of examining mediastinal pathology.

The current role of mediastinoscopy in the evaluation of thoracic disease

OBJECTIVE

Mediastinoscopy is a common procedure used for the diagnosis of thoracic disease and the staging of lung cancer. We sought to determine the current role of mediastinoscopy in the evaluation of thoracic disease.

METHODS

We conducted a retrospective review of all mediastinoscopies performed by members of our service between January 1988 and September 1998.

RESULTS

We performed mediastinoscopies on 2137 patients. A total of 1745 patients underwent mediastinoscopy for known or suspected lung cancer. In 422 of these procedures, N2 or N3 disease was identified; only 28 of these patients underwent resection. The remaining 1323 had no evidence of metastatic disease. In these patients 947 had lung cancer. Only 76 of the patients with lung cancer were found to have N2 disease at exploration. Among the 1323 patients with a negative mediastinoscopy result, 52 underwent resection of a nonbronchogenic malignancy, and 217 had resection of a benign lesion. A total of 392 patients underwent mediastinoscopy for the evaluation of mediastinal adenopathy in the absence of any identifiable pulmonary lesion. Of these, 161 had a nonbronchogenic malignancy, 209 had benign disease, and 25 had no diagnosis established; mediastinoscopy established a definitive diagnosis in 93.6% of patients. In the entire group of 2137 patients, there were 4 perioperative deaths and 12 complications. Only one death was directly attributed to mediastinoscopy. No deaths or complications occurred in patients undergoing mediastinoscopy for benign disease.

CONCLUSIONS

Mediastinoscopy is a highly effective and safe procedure. We believe that mediastinoscopy should currently be used routinely in the diagnosis and staging of thoracic diseases.

Mediastinoscopic subtotal removal of mediastinal cysts

STUDY OBJECTIVE

Evaluate the use of mediastinoscopy in the surgical diagnosis and treatment of mediastinal cystic masses in adults.

DESIGN

Case reports and literature review.

SETTING

Academic department of surgery.

PATIENTS

Three consecutive adults with mediastinal masses identified on plain radiographs and CT.

INTERVENTIONS

Operative mediastinoscopy.

MEASUREMENTS AND RESULTS

All patients were successfully treated with removal of cyst wall, establishment of diagnosis, and same-day hospital discharge.

CONCLUSIONS

Simple mediastinoscopic removal of mediastinal cysts offers the same potential for diagnosis and treatment as more conventional methods, with a potential for less morbid and more cost-effective care.

[Descriptive study of complications caused by mediastinoscopy]

To analyze the surgical and non surgical complications of mediastinoscopy in a series of 200 consecutive patients. Retrospective study of all surgical patients between 1 January 1994 and 1 May 1997. Any complication presenting between time of surgery and patient release is analyzed. Complications were seen in 8 out of 200 cases (4%). In three cases, there were lesions in neighboring structures (recurrent nerve, bronchial artery and innominate artery). The rest were non surgical complications (3 cases of arrhythmia, 2 of prolonged mechanical ventilation). One male patient (0.5%) died from cerebral infarction, probably as a result of arterial occlusion needed to suture damage to the innominate artery. Superior win cava syndrome affected 20% (1 in 5) and morbidity was 60% (3 in 5). Morbidity involving both medical and surgical complications in this series is higher than that reported elsewhere in the literature, in series for which non surgical complications go unreported.

Mediastinoscopy vs thoracoscopy for mediastinal biopsy. Results of a prospective nonrandomized study

OBJECTIVE

To assess the results and the morbidity of thoracoscopy compared with conventional mediastinoscopy for the approach of mediastinal solid masses and lymph nodes, we have performed a prospective study about the respective yields, complication rates, and the length of hospital stay for patients.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

We have included 114 patients in the study. The criteria of inclusion were the accessibility of the lymph nodes and/or mass to cervical mediastinoscopy through CT scan view. There were 2 groups: 52 patients underwent a mediastinoscopy (group M) and 62 underwent a thoracoscopy (group T).

RESULTS

There were 3 failures in group M (5.7%) and 5 failures in group T (8.1%) (not significant; NS). In group M, the three procedures were converted to anterior mediastinotomy (two cases) and to thoracoscopy (one case). In group T, the five procedures were converted to anterior mediastinotomy (two cases), mediastinoscopy (two cases), and thoracotomy (one case). The diagnostic yield was 94.3% in group M and 91.9% in group T (NS). After conversion, a diagnosis was reached in all patients in group M (100%) and in all but 1 patient in group T (98.3%) (NS). There was no intraoperative complication in group M, while 2 complications occurred in group T (3.2%) (p < 0.05). The overall morbidity was zero in group M and 4.8% in group T (p < 0.05).

CONCLUSION

The diagnostic yield of mediastinoscopy is comparable to thoracoscopy. Complication rate and hospital stay of patients undergoing mediastinoscopy are significantly inferior. Thoracoscopy should be indicated only for lesions that are not within the reach of the mediastinoscope or when multiple biopsy specimens are necessary.

Cerebrovascular accident complicating extended cervical mediastinoscopy

The safety and efficacy of staging cervical mediastinoscopy is well established. Extended cervical mediastinoscopy has been proposed as a safe and effective method of staging left upper lobe lung cancers. We report a case of cerebrovascular accident complicating extended cervical mediastinoscopy.

Mediastinoscopic injury to the bronchus: use of in-continuity bronchial flap repair

There is little written in the literature regarding the management of major bronchial disruptions occurring during mediastinoscopy. This report illustrates the use of an in-continuity flap bronchoplasty of middle lobe bronchial tissue to repair such an iatrogenic intermediate bronchus injury.

Anesthesia in repeat mediastinoscopy: a retrospective study of 101 patients

In most medical textbooks, a mediastinoscopy is considered an absolute contraindication for a repeat mediastinoscopy. Retrospectively, perioperative data from 101 patients were evaluated in whom repeat mediastinoscopy was performed. The complication rate was 23% in 18 patients; 10% of these were directly related to the surgery. The surgical complications observed were hemorrhage, biopsy of the esophagus, paresis of a recurrent laryngeal nerve, and pneumothorax, which were all treated successfully. The patients receiving a nondepolarizing relaxant had fewer complications than patients given only a single dose of succinylcholine. In this patient population, the mortality rate was zero. This review concludes that an earlier mediastinoscopy is not necessarily an absolute contraindication for repeat mediastinoscopy.

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Background

Convenient approaches for accurate biopsy are extremely important to the diagnosis of lung cancer. We aimed to systematically review the clinical updates and development trends of approaches for biopsy, i.e., CT-guided PTNB (Percutaneous Transthoracic Needle Biopsy), ENB (Electromagnetic Navigation Bronchoscopy), EBUS-TBNA (Endobroncheal Ultrasonography-Transbronchial Needle Aspiration), mediastinoscopy and CTC (Circulating Tumor Cell).

Methods

Medline and manual searches were performed. We identified the relevant studies, assessed study eligibility, evaluated methodological quality, and summarized diagnostic yields and complications regarding CT-guided PTNB (22 citations), ENB(31 citations), EBUS-TBNA(66 citations), Mediastinoscopy(15 citations) and CTC (19 citations), respectively.

Results

The overall sensitivity and specificity of CT-guided PTNB were reported to be 92.52% ± 3.14% and 97.98% ± 3.28%, respectively. The top two complications of CT-guided PTNB was pneumothorax (946/4170:22.69%) and hemorrhage (138/1949:7.08%). The detection rate of lung cancer by ENB increased gradually to 79.79% ± 15.34% with pneumothorax as the top one complication (86/1648:5.2%). Detection rate of EBUS-TBNA was 86.06% ± 9.70% with the top three complications, i.e., hemorrhage (53/8662:0.61%), pneumothorax (46/12432:0.37%) and infection (34/11250:0.30%). The detection rate of mediastinoscopy gradually increased to 92.77% ± 3.99% with .hoarseness as the refractory complication (4/2137:0.19%). Sensitivity and specificity of CTCs detection by using PCR (Polymerase Chain Reaction) were reported to be 78.81% ± 14.72% and 90.88% ± 0.53%, respectively.

Conclusion

The biopsy approaches should be chosen considering a variety of location and situation of lesions. CT-guided PTNB is effective to reach lung parenchyma, however, diagnostic accuracy and incidence of complications may be impacted by lesion size or needle path length. ENB has an advantage for biopsy of smaller and deeper lesions in lung parenchyma. ENB plus EBUS imaging can further improve the detection rate of lesion in lung parenchyma. EBUS-TBNA is relatively safer and mediastinoscopy provides more tissue acquisition and better diagnostic yield of 4R and 7th lymph node. CTC detection can be considered for adjuvant diagnosis.