Background: To evaluate the feasibility and effectiveness of the subxiphoid approach of video-assisted thoracoscopic anterior mediastinal mass extended resection.
Methods: Between December 2014 and June 2015, 11 patients with anterior mediastinal mass were enrolled in this study, 5 cases were male and 6 cases were female. The average age was 47 [23–69]. They all underwent subxiphoid video-assisted thoracoscopic extended thymectomy (SxVATET). As those with myasthenla gravis, the bilateral mediastinal fatty tissue was resected. The operation time, tumor size, blood loss and thoracic drainage period were recorded.
Results: The postoperative pathologies including thymic hyperplasia in 2 cases, thymoma in 3, thymic cyst in 2, bronchial cyst in 3, and mesothelium cyst in 1. The mean operation time, size of tumor, blood loss and thoracic drainage period were 90 [60–120] min, 3.1 (1.5–5.3) cm, 27 [10–100] mL, and 1.9 [1–3] days. There were no surgical complications or mortalities, and the cosmesis is satisfying.
Conclusions: Our experience demonstrates that SxVATET provides an excellent view of the bilateral pleural cavities. Resecting ample bilateral mediastinal fatty tissue in addition to the thymic gland, can be safely undertaken. Besides, the procedure is minimal invasive with a few postoperative complications and good cosmetic outcomes. But long-term outcomes still need further research.
