1. Outcome of an Original Video-Assisted Thoracoscopic Extended Thymectomy for Thymoma 
Sadanori Takeo, MD, PhD, Shuichi Tsukamoto, MD, PhD, Daigo Kawano, MD, Masakazu Katsura, MD 
The Annals of Thoracic Surgery 
Volume 92, Issue 6, Pages (December 2011)
DOI: /j.athoracsur
Copyright © 2011 The Society of Thoracic Surgeons Terms and Conditions

2. Fig 1
Sternum lifting method. To elevate the sternum, a 10 mm cotton string (10 mm wide, about 2 m long) is inserted in a stainless steel stick at the side of the head and tied to the hook of a Kent retractor at the level of the thigh.
The Annals of Thoracic Surgery  , DOI: ( /j.athoracsur )
Copyright © 2011 The Society of Thoracic Surgeons Terms and Conditions

3. Fig 2
Schematic diagram of the procedure. A 4 cm cervical incision and a 6 cm transverse abdominal incision are made, and three 5 mm thoracoports are placed in the third, fourth, and sixth intercostal spaces in the anterior axillary line.
The Annals of Thoracic Surgery  , DOI: ( /j.athoracsur )
Copyright © 2011 The Society of Thoracic Surgeons Terms and Conditions