EAES Academy

Mediastinal neoplasms are a key problem in the practice of thoracic surgeons. A characteristic feature of these formations is asymptomatic. The most common manifestations of the disease are the large size of the tumor, which causes compression of vital structures that are located in the mediastinum. Due to the widespread use of minimally invasive surgical methods of tumor removal, the question arises in the possibility of resection of large tumors of the mediastinum by thoracoscopic method. The advantages of thoracoscopy over open surgery are less pain and trauma, better cosmetic effect, faster rehabilitation period, especially for the elderly and patients with cardiopulmonary pathology. The aim of this work was to analyze the results of surgical treatment of large and invasive mediastinal tumors using thoracoscopic access. The study is based on the materials of clinical examination and surgical treatment of forty patients with mediastinal tumors who were examined and hospitalized in the thoracoabdominal department of the Shalimov National Institute of Surgery and Transplantology for the period from 2019 to 2021, among which the largest share is large (diameter> 5 cm), as well as invasive tumors. An analysis of the treatment of large, small (diameter <5 cm) and invasive mediastinal tumors, which were removed by thoracoscopic method. The results of this study indicate that thoracoscopic interventions for large and invasive mediastinal tumors do not significantly increase the duration of surgery, postoperative recovery. Evidence of the safety and reliability of thoracoscopic surgery is the absence of significant complications.
According to the results of research by world experts, and the results of treatment of patients in the thoracoabdominal department of the Shalimov National Institute of Surgery and Transplantology it is proved that thoracoscopic surgery reduces the length of stay of patients in the hospital, causes fewer postoperative complications compared to traditional thoracotomy or sternotomy.