This is a limited surgical procedure where a small incision is made in the neck, just above the breast bone (sternum). The surgeon inserts a tube with a camera inside (video mediastinoscope) into this incision so that the center of the chest (mediastinum) can be viewed. There are many lymph nodes in the mediastinum, around the trachea (wind pipe). The lymph nodes are biopsied and sent to pathology for analysis. This tells if any cancer has spread to the lymph nodes and is part of the “staging” process. It is done under general anesthesia in the operating room.

Preparation
You will come to the hospital the morning of the procedure. You may not eat or drink after midnight the night before. You will have an IV placed in your arm so that medications to put you to sleep can be given. If this is the only procedure you are having you will be in the hospital for approximately five to six hours and will go home the same day. You will need someone to drive you home due to the sedation.

Advantages
Advantages to a mediastinoscopy include knowing if the preliminary results are positive for cancer the day of the procedure. The final pathology report will take up to three to five working days.

Possible Risks

• Bleeding
• Infection
• Collapsed Lung

What to expect after the procedure
You will have the pain at the incision site for up to two weeks. You will go home with a small dressing, called a steri-strip, over the incision. You will need to keep the incision site clean and dry for 48 hours, then you may shower. Your sutures are internal and dissolvable so you don't have to worry about having them removed. The steri-strip will fall off on it’s own within two weeks as the incision heals.

WHAT TO REPORT TO YOUR PHYSICIAN

1. Redness at the incision site.
2. Drainage of blood or pus from the incision site
3. Fever more than 101 degrees
4. Progressive swelling at the incision site