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Adjuvant pneumomediastinum in thoracoscopic thymectomy for myasthenia gravis
T C Mineo1, E Pompeo, V Ambrogi
1Department of Thoracic Surgery, Tor Vergata University School of Medicine, Rome, Italy.
To facilitate initial visualization and subsequent mobilization of the thymus, adjuvant pneumomediastinum was preoperatively induced in 4 patients who underwent video-assisted thoracoscopic thymectomy. Neither mortality nor technique-related morbidity was observed. This experience shows video-assisted thoracoscopic thymectomy to be a safe and reliable procedure. In addition, we believe that adjuvant pneumomediastinum seems to facilitate the dissection maneuvers and could shorten operative time.
To facilitate initial visualization and subsequent mobilization of the thymus, adjuvant pneumomediastinum was preoperatively induced in 4 patients who underwent video-assisted thoracoscopic thymectomy. Neither mortality nor technique-related morbidity was observed. This experience shows video-assisted thoracoscopic thymectomy to be a safe and reliable procedure. In addition, we believe that adjuvant pneumomediastinum seems to facilitate the dissection maneuvers and could shorten operative time.