Novel intraoperative near-infrared imaging strategy to identify abnormalities in the anterior mediastinum.

Thoracic surgeons are frequently asked to biopsy suspicious tissues in the anterior mediastinum to discriminate between a reactive versus malignant pathology such as lymph nodes. The most common benign cause of a mediastinal lymph node is a reactive lymph node from a prior infection or inflammatory process such as post-COVID or granulomatous disease. The most common malignant cause is a lymphoproliferative disorder but also metastatic disease from neck, breast and other regional cancers. Biopsies in this location are challenging because they are far from the trachea and the sternum is a barrier to most diagnostic procedures. Thus, a surgical biopsy is frequently required and a common procedure for Thoracic surgeons. Technically, identifying these lesions can be challenging, particularly for small lesions or those in patients with high body mass index. In order to improve contrast between diseased tissue in the anterior mediastinum and surrounding adipose tissue, we have been studying near-infrared imaging during surgery using indocyanine green (ICG) to give contrast to the abnormal tissues and to avoid an unnecessary extended resection. We developed a modified technique to give ICG to a patient during a biopsy in the anterior mediastinum to specifically highlight abnormal tissues. As a proof-of-principle, we present a case of a young woman with a suspicious 2 cm mediastinal lymph node that required surgical biopsy.

Bedside Mediastinotomy for Tension Pneumomediastinum With Tamponade in COVID-19.

Tension pneumomediastinum is a rare but life-threatening cause of tamponade. Mechanical ventilation is a described source of tension pneumomediastinum. Here, we present a case of a 72-year-old man who developed cardiovascular collapse from tension pneumomediastinum in the setting of coronavirus disease 2019-related acute respiratory distress syndrome. We successfully performed bedside mediastinotomy and mediastinal tube placement under local anesthetic to alleviate his hemodynamic instability. Bedside mediastinotomy can be used to relieve tension pneumomediastinum in this setting.