Procedure

Videomediastinoscopy

University Hospitals Leuven, Department of Thoracic Surgery, Herestraat 49, B-3000 Leuven, Belgium

^* Corresponding author: ^* Tel.: +32 16 346822, fax: +32 16 346821, Email: paul.deleyn{at}uz.kuleuven.ac.be

The use of videotechniques in mediastinoscopy has increased the quality of mediastinal lymph node staging due to improved visualisation and magnification on the screen. The anatomical landmarks are much more easily identified. Teaching with standard mediastinoscopy is difficult as the working channel is small. Videomediastinoscopy has made teaching much easier. It is hoped that videotaping accompanying this article may contribute to standardisation and refinement of this very important and frequently performed procedure. Indications, technique, results and complications are discussed in more detail in the procedure on conventional mediastinoscopy.

Key Words: Non-small cell lung cancer • nodal staging • video-assisted