Median sternotomy as an approach for pulmonary surgery.

A median sternotomy incision was employed in 73 cases of pulmonary surgery instead of posterolateral thoracotomy. An anterior mediastinal approach was used in three groups of patients: group 1 patients (47 cases) underwent simultaneous bilateral surgery for pulmonary disorders on both sides, in group 2 patients (15 cases), this approach was selected to facilitate surgery on the involved mediastinal structures, and group 3 patients (11 cases) had left lung cancer with extensive dissection of lymph nodes done via median sternotomy, as well as routine dissection of nodes by posterolateral thoracotomy. A median sternotomy approach for pulmonary surgery provided an excellent operative field, and most patients experienced less postoperative pain and a quicker recovery. The surgical indications for this approach, the surgical procedure, the results, and the advantages and disadvantages of using a median sternotomy incision are discussed.