Possible Complications

What to Expect

Call Your Doctor

En Español

Mediastinoscopy

(Cervical Mediastinoscopy; Cervical Mediastinal Exploration; CME)

How to Say It: Mee-dee-ah-stine-OS-scoh-pee

by Amy Scholten, MPH

Definition

A mediastinoscopy is surgery to view the space between the lungs (mediastinum).

The Lungs (Cut-away View)

Reasons for Procedure

This is done to examine the lungs and chest. A biopsy may be taken to check for diseases, such as:

Cancer of the lungs, airways, and chest tissue
Lymphoma—cancer in the lymphatic system, such as Hodgkin disease
Infection
Sarcoidosis—a condition that affects the lungs, liver, lymph nodes, and spleen

It is also done to find out if lung cancer has spread.

Possible Complications

Problems are rare, but all procedures have some risk. The doctor will go over some problems that could happen, such as:

Excess bleeding
Problems from anesthesia, such as wheezing or sore throat
Infection
Damage to other organs or structures
Leakage of lymphatic fluid into the chest (chylothorax)
Pneumothorax—air that gets trapped between the lungs and chest wall

Things that may raise the risk of problems are:

Smoking
Drinking
Chronic diseases such as diabetes or obesity

What to Expect

Prior to Procedure

The care team may meet with you to talk about:

Anesthesia options
Any allergies you may have
Current medicines, herbs, and supplements that you take and whether you need to stop taking them before surgery
Fasting before the procedure, such as avoiding food or drink after midnight the night before
Whether you need a ride to and from surgery

Anesthesia

The doctor will give you general anesthesia. You will be asleep.

Description of the Procedure

A small incision will be made in the front of the lower neck. A small tube with a light (mediastinoscope) will be inserted. It will let the doctor see the space between the lungs and chest. Tissue samples may be taken from the lungs, lymph nodes, or other parts of the chest. The tube will be removed. The incision will be closed with stitches. A bandage will be placed over the site.

Immediately After the Procedure

Right after the procedure, the staff may give you pain medicines. A chest x-ray may be taken to check for bleeding or air inside your chest space.

The tissue samples will be sent to the laboratory for testing.

How Long Will It Take?

It will take 30 minutes to 2 hours.

Will It Hurt?

Pain is common in the first few days. Medicine and home care can help.

Average Hospital Stay

The usual length of stay is up to 24 hours. If you have problems, you may need to stay longer.

Post-procedure Care

At the Hospital

Right after the procedure, the staff may give you pain medicines.

During your stay, the hospital staff will take steps to lower your risk of infection, such as:

Washing their hands
Wearing gloves or masks
Keeping your incisions covered

There are also steps you can take to lower your risk of infection, such as:

Washing your hands often and reminding visitors and staff to do the same
Reminding staff to wear gloves or masks
Keeping your incisions covered

At Home

It will take a few weeks for the incision to heal. Physical activity may be limited during this time. You may need to delay your return to work.

Call Your Doctor

Call your doctor if you are not getting better or you have:

Signs of infection, such as fever and chills
Redness, swelling, excess bleeding, or discharge from the incision
Chest pain
Shortness of breath
Swelling in the neck
Difficulty swallowing

If you think you have an emergency, call for medical help right away.

RESOURCES:

American Cancer Society
http://www.cancer.org

American Lung Association
http://www.lung.org

CANADIAN RESOURCES:

Canadian Cancer Society
http://www.cancer.ca

Health Canada
https://www.canada.ca

References:

Mediastinoscopy. Harvard Health Publications website. Available at:
...(Click grey area to select URL)
Accessed January 15, 2021.

Onat S, Ates G. The role of mediastinoscopy in the diagnosis of non-lung cancer diseases. Ther Clin Risk Manag. 2017; 13: 939–943.

Sarcoidosis in adults. EBSCO DynaMed website. Available at: https://www.dynamed.com/condition/sarcoidosis-in-adults. Accessed January 15, 2021.

Last reviewed February 2020 by EBSCO Medical Review Board Marcin Chwistek, MD
Last Updated: 1/15/2021

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