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What is Sternotomy and Mediastinal Mass Excision?

Mediastinal surgeries are used to treat abnormal growths, masses, or tumors of the mediastinum (area in the middle of your chest, consisting of the heart, esophagus, thymus and trachea). The traditional open-surgery approach for the excision of mediastinal tumors is through sternotomy. Sternotomy is indicated for large tumors.

Procedure of Sternotomy and Mediastinal Mass Excision

In this surgery, your surgeon makes a long incision in the middle of your chest, and separates the sternum (breast bone) with the help of an air-powered or electric saw, to expose the mediastinum. The tumor mass is located and removed through this incision. The bones are then brought back together and stapled with pins and the skin is sewn together.