Robotic Resection of a Mediastinal Schwannoma Invading the Carina with Pericardial Fat Pad Coverage

Romulo Fajardo, MD; Abbas Abbas, MD, MS, FACS; Roman Petrov, MD, PhD, FACS; Nirag Jhala, MD; Charles Bakhos, MD, MS, FACS

Product Details
Product ID: ACS-6004
Year Produced: 2020
Length: 10 min.


Background: The aim of this video is to present the surgical technique and outcome of a symptomatic patient with a large mediastinal schwannoma invading the carina with surgical resection and pericardial fat pad coverage. Methods: A 64-year-old female with an 8-9-month history of dyspnea, cough, orthopnea, and chest pain with worsening reflux, regurgitation, nausea, and emesis. Non-contrast CT scan of the chest showed an incidental 2.5 cm x 2.9 cm subcarinal mass. Endobronchial ultrasound with fine-needle aspiration (FNA) showed a spindle cell lesion. The subcarinal lesion was PET avid with a max SUV of 8. Esophagogastroduodenoscopy (EGD) was negative for a tumor. Mediastinoscopy biopsy was consistent with a neurofibroma. The decision was made to proceed with surgical resection due to the compressive symptomatology and possible future airway compromise. Results: The procedure was performed robotically through the right chest. The tumor was resected in piece-meal fashion with preservation of the vagus nerve. Inadvertent entry into the right and left main stem bronchi was encountered and repaired primarily with V-lock sutures with an additional pericardial fat pad flap. Bronchoscopy showed intact repairs with no obvious defects. The patient was extubated on postoperative day one and discharged to home. Upon follow-up, the patient had moderate improvement of her symptoms. Final pathology showed a schwannoma with negative lymph nodes. A CT chest approximately 18 months postoperatively showed no evidence of recurrent disease. Conclusions: Robotic resection of a large mediastinal schwannoma invading the carina in a symptomatic patient is safe and feasible.