Combination video-assisted mediastinoscopic lymphadenectomy and transcervical thoracoscopy

Surgical staging of lung and pleural cancers is crucial for planning treatment and assessing prognosis. In some cases, we need to explore both the mediastinum and the pleural cavity to confirm or rule out tumor dissemination. The combination of video-assisted mediastinoscopic lymphadenectomy (VAMLA) and thoracoscopy through a single transcervical incision allows the surgeon to widen the range of the exploration and improve the staging for lung and pleural cancers.  VAMLA consists of complete removal of the mediastinal fat and lymph nodes of the subcarinal space, the right paratracheal and pretracheal areas, and the left paratracheal space. Once this mediastinal tissue is removed, the right mediastinal pleura can be identified and incised. A 30o thoracoscope is then inserted through the video-mediastinoscope into the pleural cavity to obtain samples of pleural fluid and biopsies of the parietal pleura and lung nodules, if present. In the case of left-sided thoracoscopy the access route to the left pleural cavity is anterior to the aortic arch, as for extended cervical mediastinoscopy. The combination of VAMLA and thoracoscopy is useful for exploring the mediastinum and the pleural space from a single incision and in the same surgical setting as the transcervical approach.