[Resection of posterior mediastinal cyst under thoracoscopy]

A 52-year-old woman with left posterior mediastinal cyst underwent surgical removal using thoracoscopy. Under general anesthesia by use of one lung ventilation, thoracoscopy was introduced through a trocar at the mid-axillary line of the 7th intercostal space. Grasping forceps were introduced through a incision in the anterior-axillary line of 4th and 5th intercostal space. The lung was held with grasping forceps. The lung was fixed to the region of anterior-mediastinum with the weight of forceps. Then posterior-mediastinum was able to be observed well by the operator. The thin cyst-wall was biopsied and excised as much as possible. Residual cyst-wall was burned by electric knife. A pathological diagnosis probed that the tumor was bronchogenic cyst without malignancy. Post operative pain markedly reduced. The patient rapidly recovered and was discharged on the 6th postoperative day. Thoracoscopic resection of mediastinum cyst may be a useful approach.