Video-assisted thoracoscopic resection of anterior mediastinal masses

The author reported his personal experience on the resection of anterior mediastinal masses using Video Assisted Thoracoscopic Surgery (VATS) from a single institution. From August 1993 to May 1995, 16 patients (9 males and 7 females aged from 4 to 76 years old) with anterior mediastinal masses were resected by VATS. This consisted of 12 thymectomies, 3 thymic cystectomies and one esophageal cystectomy. Complete thymectomy was accomplished in all twelve cases by examination of the thymic bed and resected specimen. We have reserved this approach for resection of benign masses only. There were no surgical mortality or intraoperative complications. The median postoperative hospital stay for the entire group was 3 days. We conclude that VATS for resection of selected anterior mediastinal masses is technically feasible and provides an alternative to the conventional approaches in carefully selected patients.