An animal experimental study on access to mediastinum with flexible endoscope via suprasternal fossa / 中华消化内镜杂志

ABSTRACT

Objective To evaluate the feasibility and safety of mediastinum examination with flexible endoscope via suprasternal fossa.Methods A total of 20 healthy pigs were enrolled.Mediastinocosopy was performed via a tunnel to thoracix through a 1.5 cm incision on suprastemal fossa.Mediastinum was observed and complications were recorded.Results Mediastinocosopy was successfully achieved in all pigs.No severe bleeding or death occurred during the procedure.Five pigs got fever after the procedure with elevated white blood cell count.Four pigs had pneumothorax and three of them died in 1-6 days.Conclusion Mediastinocosopy with flexible endoscope through suprastemal fossa is feasible to diagnose mediastinal diseases,which can be important experimental evidence for the mini-invasive therapy of mediastimum diseases.