RESUMO
BACKGROUND: Due to its less invasive nature and superior visual field, video-assisted thoracoscopic excision of mediastinal mass is thought to be comparable to open thoracotomy. MATERIAL AND METHOD: From January 1995 to August 2001, the medical records of 38 patients who underwent video-assisted thoracoscopic excision of mediastinal mass was retrospectively analyzed. The outcome of these patients were compared with 5 patients who converted to thoracotomy. RESULT: Male to female ratio was 13(34.2%) : 25(65.8%), and mean age was 39.2 +/-35.4 years. Regarding the pathology, there were 8 neurilemmomas(21.1%), 6 thymic cysts (15.8%), 5 teratomas(13.2%), 5 ganglioneuromas(13.2%), 4 bronchogenic cysts(10.5%), 3 pericardial cysts(7.9%), 3 thymomas(7.9%), and 2 lymphangiomas(5.3%). The mean operation time was 110.6+/-7.0 minutes, mean postoperative tube stay was 4.2+/-0.4 days, mean postoperative hospital stay was 5.2+/-0.4 days, and mean number of injection of analgesics was 1.9+/-0.4 times. Although the mean values for the above indices were less than those of the thoracotomy conversion cases, they were statistically insignificant. Postoperative complications of video- assisted thoracoscopic excision included chylothorax, prolonged air leakage, and unilateral phrenic nerve palsy, all of which recovered before patient discharge. There was, however, permanent unilateral ptosis in one patient. CONCLUSION: As video-assisted thoracoscopic excision of mediastinal mass is safe, less painful, conducive to earlier recovery and cosmetically more appealing, a more active application of this technique is recommeded.
