Management of COVID-19-related post-intubation tracheal stenosis.

Introduction: The Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) pandemic has affected Italy since the beginning of 2020. Endotracheal intubation, prolonged mechanical ventilation, and tracheostomy are frequently required in patients with severe COVID-19. Tracheal stenosis is a potentially severe condition that can occur as a complication after intubation.

Mid-term outcomes of first metatarsophalangeal arthroplasty using the Primus FGT double-stemmed silicone implants.

Background: Silicone implants for first metatarsophalangeal (MTP-1) arthroplasty are regaining popularity, though most studies have long inclusion periods, or short follow-up. The authors aimed to report mid-term outcomes of a cohort that received a third-generation MTP-1 implant at minimum follow-up of 5 years.

Methods: The authors evaluated 70 MTP-1 arthroplasties performed in 64 patients using the Primus™ Flexible Great Toe implant.

Cardiac metastatic melanoma: Imaging diagnostic clues.

A 47-year-old male was admitted to hospital for severe pericardial effusion; he had undergone surgical removal of cutaneous melanoma 10 years before. Echocardiography-guided pericardiocentesis revealed the presence of intramyocardial masses, which were better defined and characterized, together with pericardial involvement, by cardiac magnetic resonance. Pericardial fluid drained was negative for malignant cells, so video-assisted thoracoscopy was performed and pathologic tissue was biopsied, leading to the diagnosis of metastatic melanoma.

Inflammatory pseudotumor of the lung in adults.

Background: Thoracic surgeons have limited experience of inflammatory pseudotumors of the lung owing to their rare occurrence in routine clinical practice.

Methods: We retrospectively investigated the clinicopathologic features of 18 patients with inflammatory pseudotumor of the lung observed between 1992 and 2002.

Results: There were 13 men and 5 women.

A new safe and stable spiral wire needle for thoracoscopic resection of lung nodules.

Background: To show the safety and stability of a spiral wire needle (Somatex; Rietzneuendorf, Germany) in the detection and subsequent thoracoscopic resection of subpleural and/or small nodules of the lung.

Methods: Under local anesthesia and CT control, 13 patients underwent the positioning of a spiral wire needle into the lung, with the spiral located close to or inside the nodule to be resected. Then the patients underwent video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery resection of the nodules with only two thoracoscopic accesses.