[How great is the risk of injury to vessels during mediastinoscopy? (author's transl)].

In performing mediastinoscopy the scope will pass the innominate artery, the innominate vein, the aortic arch, and the right pulmonary artery. The pretracheal fascia will protect these vessels if the tube is inserted exactly between the trachea and the fascia. However, bleeding could be caused by injuring a lymph node vessel or a bronchial artery. If this happens the bleeding can be stopped by packing the wound canal with a gauze wick soaked in adrenaline, by electrocoagulation, or by using an Ethislipknot. When mediastinoscopy is performed as micromediastinoscopy by means of using the Zeiss operation microscope and special instruments in most cases bleeding will be avoided.