Outpatient mediastinoscopy

The reported experience with outpatient mediastinoscopy is limited. We have performed 65 mediastinoscopies in a hospital-based ambulatory surgical unit during the past 2 1/2 years. This represents 54% of our total mediastinoscopies during the period and 85% of the total for the past year. One patient was admitted overnight because of hypoxemia that was relieved by thoracentesis. All other patients were discharged from the outpatient recovery room without problems. No other early and no late complications occurred. The cost savings were substantial, and patient satisfaction was high. We conclude that mediastinoscopy can be performed safely in the outpatient setting in many patients.