Mediastinoscopy Health Article

ORGANIZATIONS

American Board of Surgery. 1617 John F. Kennedy Boulevard, Suite 860, Philadelphia, PA 19103. (215) 568-4000, fax: 215-563-5718. <http://www.absurgery.org>.

American Cancer Society. 1599 Clifton Rd. NE, Atlanta, GA 30329. (800) 227-2345, <http://www.cancer.org> .

American College of Surgeons. 633 North St. Clair Street, Chicago, IL 60611-32311. (312) 202-5000, fax: (312) 202-5001. <postmaster@facs.org>. <http://www.facs.org>.

American Lung Association. 1740 Broadway, New York, NY 10019-4374. (800) 586-4872. <http://www.lungusa.org>.

American Medical Association. 515 N. State Street, Chicago, IL 60610. (312) 464-5000, <http://www.ama-assn.org>.

Society of Thoracic Surgeons. 633 N. Saint Clair St., Suite 2320, Chicago, IL 60611-3658. (312) 202-5800, fax: 312-202-5801. <sts@sts.org>. <http://www.sts.org>.

OTHER

Creighton University School of Medicine [cited May 14, 2003]. <http://medicine.creighton.edu/forpatients/mediast/mediastin.html>.

Harvard University Medical School [cited May 14, 2003]. <http://www.health.harvard.edu/fhg/diagnostics/mediastinoscopy/mediastinoscopy.shtml>.

Merck Manual [cited May 14, 2003]. <http://www.merck.com/pubs/mmanual/section6/chapter65/65i.htm>.

University of Missouri [cited May 14, 2003]. <http://www.ellisfischel.org/thoracic/testing/mediastinoscopy.shtml>.

L. Fleming Fallon, Jr., M.D., Dr.PH.

WHO PERFORMS THE PROCEDURE AND WHERE IS IT PERFORMED?

A mediastinoscopy procedure is usually performed by a thoracic or general surgeon in a hospital setting.

QUESTIONS TO ASK THE DOCTOR

• Why is this test needed?
• Is the test dangerous?
• What test preparation is required?
• How long will the test take?
• When will the results be available?
• What form of anesthesia will be used?
• Is the surgeon board certified?
• How many mediastinoscopy procedures has the surgeon performed?
• What is the surgeon's complication rate?