Don't gamble with medical record numbers. Each label lists the patient's name, the medical record number, the tests to be performed, the type of container required, any special instructions, and the bar code that identifies the specimen.
Mediastinoscopy is a surgical procedure to look at the inside of the upper chest between and in front of the lungs (mediastinum). During a mediastinoscopy, a small cut (incision) is made in the neck just above the breastbone or on the left side of the chest next to the breastbone. Then a thin scope (mediastinoscope) is inserted through the opening.
The mediastinum is an area found in the midline of the thorax that is surrounded by the left and right pleural sacs. It is divided into the superior and inferior mediastinum, of which the latter is larger. The inferior mediastinum is further divided into the anterior, middle and posterior mediastinum. In this article, the borders of each section of the mediastinum and their contents will be discussed. Lastly, a pathological condition known as mediastinitis will be mentioned.