Tracheotomy-related posterior tracheal wall rupture, trans-tracheal repair.

Laceration of the membranous part of the tracheo-bronchial tree is a rare complication that can occur after single lumen intubation, double-lumen intubation, percutaneous and surgical tracheotomy. The case of a 76-year-old male is presented in whom a posterior tracheal wall laceration, related to tracheotomy, was diagnosed and immediately treated at the end of a head and neck operation. A 6 cm long laceration started 1.5 cm below the tracheotomy level and ended 2 cm above the carina. The tear was closed from distal to proximal area via the tracheotomy opening with PDS 4/0 interrupted sutures using a thoracoscopic needle-holder. This original surgical technique is described in detail. In tracheotomy related tears, the fact that an opening in the trachea already exists and that the lesion rarely extends beyond the carina, should guide the surgeon to make every effort to repair the laceration through this already existing access.

Phase II study of interferon alpha-2a and dacarbazine in advanced melanoma.

Based on the report of some activity of combination therapy with dacarbazine (DTIC) and interferon alpha-2a (rIFN alpha-2a) in disseminated melanoma, we conducted a phase II study to determine the feasibility and efficacy in a large series of patients. DTIC was administered in 79 patients at the dose of 800 mg/m2 every 3 weeks and rIFN alpha-2a was given daily at the dose of 9 X 10(6) IU for the first 10 weeks and three times a week thereafter. Among the 75 evaluable patients, 25% achieved an objective response, with 8% complete and 17% partial remissions. The regression occurred within a mean time of 1.9 +/- 1.03 months from starting therapy and the mean duration of response was 8.2 +/- 4.2 months. The major side effects were vomiting, anorexia, fever, fatigue, and myalgia. There was one death related to sepsis after myelosuppression. In the other patients bone marrow and liver toxicities were not remarkable. Our data reveal that a combination regimen of rIFN alpha-2a with a cytotoxic agent has some therapeutic activity in the management of advanced malignant melanoma.