Mediastinoscopy

Remove glasses, contact lenses, and dentures or a removable bridge just before the test. You'll be asked to take off your jewelry.

Before the surgery, an intravenous (I.V.) line will be placed in a vein to give you fluids and medicines. After you are asleep, a tube will be placed in your throat to help you breathe.

The doctor will make an incision just above your breastbone at the base of your neck or on the left side of your chest near the breastbone. The scope will be inserted through the opening. Your doctor will look at the space in your chest between your lungs and heart. Lymph nodes or abnormal tissue will be collected for testing. After the scope is taken out, the incision will be closed with a few stitches and covered with a bandage.

After the test, you will be taken to the recovery room. You may feel sleepy for several hours.

Some people may go home if they can swallow fluids without gagging or choking. Others may need to stay in the hospital for 1 or 2 days.

This test is done to:

• Look for problems of the lungs and mediastinum, such as sarcoidosis.
• Diagnose lung cancer or lymphoma (including Hodgkin disease). It is often done to check lymph nodes to see if you should have lung removal surgery to treat lung cancer. Treatment may include surgery, radiation, or chemotherapy.
• Diagnose certain types of infection, such as tuberculosis.

Problems from mediastinoscopy aren't common. But they may include bleeding, infection, a collapsed lung, a tear in the esophagus, damage to a blood vessel, or injury to a nerve near the voice box (larynx) which may cause permanent hoarseness.

Activity

• You can do your normal activities when it feels okay to do so.
• Many people are able to return to work within a few days after this procedure.

Diet

• You can eat your normal diet. If your stomach is upset, try bland, low-fat foods like plain rice, broiled chicken, toast, and yogurt.

Medicines

• Be safe with medicines. Read and follow all instructions on the label.
• If the doctor gave you a prescription medicine for pain, take it as prescribed.
• If you are not taking a prescription pain medicine, ask your doctor if you can take an over-the-counter medicine.
• If you take aspirin or some other blood thinner, be sure to talk to your doctor. He or she will tell you if and when to start taking this medicine again. Make sure that you understand exactly what your doctor wants you to do.
• Your doctor will tell you if and when you can restart your medicines. He or she will also give you instructions about taking any new medicines.

Incision care

• You will have a dressing over the cut (incision). A dressing helps the incision heal and protects it. Your doctor will tell you how to take care of this.
• If you have strips of tape on the cut the doctor made, leave the tape on for a week or until it falls off.
• If you had stitches, your doctor will tell you when to come back to have them removed.
• You may shower 24 to 48 hours after the procedure, if your doctor okays it. Pat the incision dry. Do not take a bath for the first 2 weeks, or until your doctor tells you it is okay.