The mediastinal
lymph node tuberculous
abscesses (MLNTAs) are
secondary to mediastinal
tuberculous lymphadenitis.Surgical excision is often required when
cold abscesses form.This study was aimed to examine
video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (
VATS) for the
treatment of MLNTA.Clinical data of 16 MLNTA
patients who were treated in our
hospital between December 1,2013 and December 1,2015 were retrospectively analyzed.All of the
patients underwent the radical
debridement and
drainage of
abscesses,and intrathoracic lesions were removed by
VATS.They were also administered the intensified anti-
tuberculosis treatment (ATT),and engaged in normal
physical activity and follow-up for 3 to 6 months.The results showed that
VATS was successfully attempted in all of the 16 MLNTA
patients and they all had good recovery.Two
patients developed
complications after
surgery,with one
patient developing
recurrent laryngeal nerve injury,and the other
reporting poor
wound healing.It was concluded that
VATS is easy to perform,and safe,and has high rates of success and relatively few side-effects when used to treat MLNTA.