1. Thoracoscopic thymectomy using anterior chest wall lifting method
Mitsunori Ohta, MD, Hirohisa Hirabayasi, MD, Meinoshin Okumura, MD, Masato Minami, MD, Hikaru Matsuda, MD 
The Annals of Thoracic Surgery 
Volume 76, Issue 4, Pages (October 2003)
DOI: /S (03)

2. Fig 1
In a supine position, trocars are introduced into the bilateral pleural cavity through the third, fourth, and fifth intercostal spaces. Short skin incisions are made approximately 2 cm lateral of the sternum at the third intercostal space on both sides. The hooks are inserted into the pleural cavity through this wound and then used to lift the chest wall. When the thymus and adherent fat were free from mediastinum, they were placed in a plastic bag and then removed through the trocar wound of the fifth intercostal space.
The Annals of Thoracic Surgery  , DOI: ( /S (03) )

3. Fig 2
Intraoperative photograph of the right mediastinum (top) and interpretation (bottom) of patient with thymoma show aortic arch (Ao-arch), left brachiocephalic vein (LBCV), superior vena cava (SVC), phrenic nerve (Phrenic N), and anterior chest wall clearly.
The Annals of Thoracic Surgery  , DOI: ( /S (03) )