Subxiphoid Mediastinoscopic Autonomous Double Fenestration.

Abstract

The coexistence of pleural and pericardial effusions in frail patients with or without confirmed neoplasia necessitates the use of a minimally invasive technique that has a minor impact on the patient's general status and allows for fast fluid evacuation and biopsy sampling if necessary. We present a subxiphoid mediastinoscopic autonomous (simultaneous noncommunicating) double fenestration approach for these patients with both diagnostic and therapeutic advantages in selected cases. Using the mediastinoscope alone through the subxiphoid incision can considerably reduce the duration of operation, allow for fluid evacuation, and significantly alleviate the patient's symptoms. This method enables the sampling of pleural and pericardial fluids and targeted tissue, if necessary.