Thoracoscopic mediastinal lymph node dissection: an experimental study in pigs

Publisher Website
Google Scholar
Abstract
Thoracoscopic lobectomy is feasible and can be performed correctly interms of anatomy. Its application in bronchial carcinoma is oftencriticized, partly because of incomplete mediastinal lymph node dissection(MLD). We therefore developed the technique and studied the completeness ofMLD in an animal experiment. Ten pigs were anesthetized and intubated witha double-lumen tube and the left lung was excluded from ventilation. Fourtrocars were inserted. Using a modified endo- Babcock clamp for traction weresected all ipsilateral tracheobronchial, pretracheal and paratracheal andparaesophageal lymph nodes (LNs) as well as nodes in the aortopulmonarywindow. An average of 19 +/- 5 mediastinal LNs were removed. Macroscopiccontrol through a thoracotomy did not show any residual LNs at the site ofoperation. Complete resection of all ipsilateral LNs in the paratrachealand paraesophageal region as well as the aortopulmonary window can beperformed thoracoscopically in pigs. This may offer further perspectives inthe thoracoscopic treatment of bronchial carcinoma.

This publication has 0 references indexed in Scilit: