Experience of VATs for posterior mediastinal neurogenic tumors / 中华胸心血管外科杂志

ABSTRACT

ObjectiveTo review the experience of video-assisted thoracoscopic resection for posterior mediastinal neurogenic tumors,to investigate the technical features and difficulties of thoracoscopic approach.MethodsFrom May 2001 to June 2011,58 patients underwent thoracoscopic resection of posterior mediastinal tumors in our institution,including 36 males and 22 females.The average age of the patients was 38.7 years.The average tumor size was 4.9 cm.16 patients had neurogenic or pulmonary symptoms at the time of diagnosis,while the other 42 were asymptomic.24 lesions were located in the left side,33 lesions in the right side,1 lesion in bilateral sides.All procedures generally required 3 ports,and intracapsular enucleation was preferred,supplying vessels were ligated by hemoclips or Hem-o-lock clips; the nerves of origin were cut off at both edges of the tumor.For bulky tumor,dense adhesion,and massive bleeding,open conversions were performed by extending the incision anteriorly to 6-10 cm.ResultsAll procedures were successfully performed without death event occurring.The average operating time was 127.2 min.The average intraoperative blood loss was 206.4 ml.3 cases requied blood transfusion.The average chest tube duration was 2.72 days.The average postoperative stay was 5.19 days.53 procedures were performed entirely under thoracoscopy to achieve gross-total resection.Conversions to an open procedure were necessitated in 5 patients (8.6％).7 patients experienced post-operative complications,with 4 Horner syndromes.There were 25 neurilemomas,23 neurofibromas,8 ganglioneuromas,1 paraganglioma,and 1 malignant paraganglioma.No local recurrence was seen after an average follow-up of 44.9 months.ConclusionVideo-assisted thoracoscopic removes of the posterior mediastinal tumors are safe,reliable and minimally invasive for selected patients with mastered throcoscopic skills.intracapsular enucleation is a safe procedure with reduced risk,while tumors larger than 6cm and located in the apex are with increased risk.