Combined median sternotomy and video-assisted thoracoscopic resection of pulmonary metastases.

Median sternotomy has been a common approach for resection of bilateral pulmonary metastases. It provides good exposure and quick accessibility to most lesions in the lung. The retrocardiac left lower lobe may at times be a problematic area for resection of metastases. We have used a simultaneous median sternotomy and left video-assisted thoracoscopic approach to remove three such lesions in two patients, with satisfactory results.