Vascular components of the posterior mediastinum: applications for video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery

This study introduced an anatomical basis for thoracoscope-assisted thoracolumbar spinal anterior approach.

This work was carried out in terms of 29 corpse specimens anatomizing and the CT three-dimensional images of 25 normal adults observing.

The observation by the thoracolumbar spine side of the adult corpse specimens showed that the segmental arteries and veins constantly existed and ran in the central supersulcus of the corresponding vertebral body's side; the segmental artery had several branches; the zone between the upper and lower segmental arteries formed a relative non-vascular nerve safe zone, where the intervertebral space(disc) located. And the observation of the three-dimensional CT image indicated that the segmental arteries were visible and ran in the central supersulcus of the corresponding vertebral body's side, while the branches were invisible. Besides, the arrangement and distribution of the segmental arteries on the three-dimensional CT images and the result were basically consistent with that on corpse specimens.

The safe zone, with the intervertebral disc as the reference mark, could provide enough operation space for surgeries such as thoracoscope-assisted anterior interbody fusion and reduce damage to blood vessels as well as surgical complications.