[Imaged thoracoscopic surgery for bronchogenic cyst in posterior mediastinum--a case report]

A 44-year-old female with bronchogenic cyst in the posterior mediastinum was treated successfully by employing imaged thoracoscopic surgical methods in the same way as laparoscopic cholecystectomy. The patient was placed in the left lateral decubitus position. A first 3.5 cm skin incision was made in the seventh intercostal space on the mid-axillary line. A 10 mm, 0-degree Olympus wide angle telescope was inserted for observation into the thoracic cavity. And three more small skin incisions were done. A grasping forceps, a padron retractor and an electrode with J-hook tip were introduced through each incision. The cyst was completely dissected almost with the J-hook electrode. She was discharged on the 10th-postoperative day without complication and with minimal pain. We suggest that an indication of the imaged endoscopic surgery could be established for some benign mediastinal tumors.