[Case of a giant pericardial cyst went under the thoracoscopic surgery using a double-balloon catheter]

A 45-year-old female was referred to our hospital due to right anterior chest pain. A chest X-ray and a computed tomographic examination showed a large cystic lesion in the right pleural cavity above the diaphragm. The internal surface of the cyst seemed to be smooth and the content was homogeneous suggesting clear liquid. Under the diagnosis of the benign pericardial cyst, a thoracoscopic surgery was performed using a double-balloon catheter. Aspiration of the cyst content by the double-balloon catheter minimized the spillage of the content into the thoracic cavity. Furthermore, the double-balloon catheter allowed the cyst wall to be more easily grasped and manipulated. We confirmed the usefulness of a double-balloon catheter for the thoracoscopic resection of giant cystic lesions.