Single-center clinical experience of extended sleeve lobectomy (ESL) versus standard sleeve lobectomy (SL).

Background: Sleeve lobectomy (SL) and extended SL (ESL), which aim to preserve pulmonary function and enhance the quality of life of patients while ensuring oncological outcomes, are valuable surgical options for the treatment of centrally located non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). This study aimed to compare perioperative adverse events and long-term survival between SL and ESL in NSCLC patients, providing a comprehensive review of surgical outcomes, complications, and survival to assess the roles of SL and ESL in thoracic oncology. Methods: This single-center retrospective study assessed the outcomes of NSCLC patients who underwent SL or ESL from June 2014 to January 2022. The patients were selected based on specific inclusion criteria, and statistical analyses were conducted to examine the postoperative outcomes, overall survival (OS), and disease-free survival (DFS) of the patients. Results: A total of 218 patients met the inclusion criteria. Among 218 patients, 33 underwent ESL and 185 underwent SL. Compared to SL, ESL was associated with longer operative times and higher R0 resection rates (93.9% vs. 78.8%, P=0.047). Despite the higher complexity of ESL compared to SL, there were no significant differences in the perioperative complications or mortality rates between the groups. Survival analysis was conducted on the propensity score matching (PSM) data, the results demonstrated superior OS and DFS in the ESL group compared to the SL group. Advanced age, more advanced nodal (N) status, and non-R0 resection were significant predictors of poorer prognosis. Conclusions: ESL is a feasible and effective alternative for treating centrally located NSCLC, with better R0 resection rates and comparable survival outcomes to SL, without increasing the risk of grade III-IV complications. Further studies with larger cohorts need to be conducted to validate these findings and refine the surgical techniques.

Relationship of Surgical Approach With Financial Toxicity in Patients With Resected Lung Cancer.

INTRODUCTION: Minimally invasive surgery (MIS) reduces lengths of stay, complications, and potentially perioperative hospital costs. However, the impact of MIS on financial toxicity (FT), defined as the costs resulting from oncologic care and their negative effects on quality of life, in patients with lung cancer is unknown. Our objective was to investigate the association between surgical approach and FT in this population. METHODS: A single-institution study was performed evaluating resected lung cancer patients (2016-2021). FT was assessed using the Comprehensive Score for Financial Toxicity (COST) questionnaire. The relationship between surgical approach (MIS vs. thoracotomy) and FT was evaluated using propensity score-matched (PSM) regression analysis. A sensitivity analysis involving the entire cohort was also performed using an inverse probability-weighted generalized linear model. RESULTS: As reported previously, of 1477 patients surveyed, 463 responded (31.3%) with FT reported in 196 patients (42.3%). Resection was performed by thoracotomy in 53.3% (n = 247), and by MIS in the remainder (n = 216, 46.7%; video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery [VATS] = 115; robotic-assisted = 101). There was no difference in FT in patients who underwent VATS and robotic-assisted surgery (p = 0.515). In the PSM analysis, MIS was not associated with FT (odds ratio [OR]: 0.980, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.628-1.533, p = 0.929). Similar results were found on sensitivity analysis (OR: 1.488, CI: 0.931-2.378, p = 0.096). CONCLUSIONS: Compared to MIS, thoracotomy was not associated with FT in patients with resected lung cancer. Though there are several benefits from MIS, it does not appear to be a meaningful strategy to alleviate FT in this population.

Diversity presentations at cardiothoracic surgery meetings: Opportunity to align our actions with our values.

OBJECTIVE: Substantial efforts have been directed toward identifying and addressing cardiothoracic surgical disparities in both patient care and our workforce. We aimed to characterize the presence over time of diversity and disparities-related content at cardiothoracic surgical society meetings. METHODS: Annual meeting program books from the American Association for Thoracic Surgery and the Society of Thoracic Surgeons from 2013 to 2023 were manually reviewed to identify abstract presentations, invited talks, and dedicated sessions related to diversity, equity, or social determinants of health. Relevant presentations were further categorized as issues in the surgical workforce versus patient care. Applicable presentations and sessions were quantified in each domain and proportions compared with the χ2 test. RESULTS: Of 7812 presentations over 11 years, 167 (2.1%) were related to issues of diversity. These included 118 abstracts, among which 19 (16.1%) covered workforce diversity issues whereas 99 (83.9%) addressed patient care inequities. Among 48 invited disparities talks, 28 (58.3%) related to workforce challenges and 20 (41.7%) explored variabilities in patient care. Seventeen complete sessions were dedicated to diversity and disparities, with 9 (52.9%) addressing those in the workforce and 8 (47.1%) related to patient care. Comparing the first 5 years with the final 5 years of study, the proportion of talks (abstracts and invited) related to diversity and inclusion increased 3-fold. CONCLUSIONS: Recent years have shown an explosion in cardiothoracic surgery meeting content focused on diversity but still account for a diminutive proportion of overall content. These data highlight an opportunity to further align scholarly activity with our values.

Comparative effectiveness of perioperative physical activity in older adults with lung cancer and their family caregivers: design of a multicenter pragmatic randomized trial.

BACKGROUND: With a median age at diagnosis of 70, lung cancer remains a significant public health challenge for older Americans. Surgery is a key component in treating most patients with non-metastatic lung cancer. These patients experience postoperative pain, fatigue, loss of respiratory capacity, and decreased physical function. Data on quality of life (QOL) in older adults undergoing lung cancer surgery is limited, and few interventions are designed to target the needs of older adults and their family caregivers (FCGs). The primary aim of this comparative effectiveness trial is to determine whether telephone-based physical activity coaching before and after surgery will be more beneficial than physical activity self-monitoring alone for older adults and their FCGs. METHODS: In this multicenter comparative effectiveness trial, 382 older adults (≥ 65 years) with lung cancer and their FCGs will be recruited before surgery and randomized to either telephone-based physical activity coaching or physical activity self-monitoring alone. Participants allocated to the telephone-based coaching comparator will receive five telephone sessions with coaches (1 pre and 4 post surgery), an intervention resource manual, and a wristband pedometer. Participants in the self-monitoring only arm will receive American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) physical activity information and wristband pedometers. All participants will be assessed at before surgery (baseline), at discharge, and at days 30, 60, and 180 post-discharge. The primary endpoint is the 6-minute walk test (6MWT) at 30 days post-discharge. Geriatric assessment, lower extremity function, self-reported physical function, self-efficacy, and QOL will also be assessed. DISCUSSION: The trial will determine whether this telephone-based physical activity coaching approach can enhance postoperative functional capacity and QOL outcomes for older adults with lung cancer and their FCGs. Trial results will provide critical findings to inform models of postoperative care for older adults with cancer and their FCGs. TRIAL REGISTRATION: ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT06196008.

The Representation of Women Moderators at The Society of Thoracic Surgeons Annual Meeting.

BACKGROUND: Recently, there has been an increase in the representation of women within the cardiothoracic surgery workforce, with discussions about gender equity garnering interest. We sought to identify whether this increase is accompanied by commensurate selection for representation at national meetings. METHODS: Online archives of The Society of Thoracic Surgeons (STS) Annual Meetings were reviewed from 2015 to 2024. Data regarding the moderator's gender were abstracted. The gender distribution of moderators across the various session categories was surveyed, and subgroup analyses were performed. RESULTS: During the years of study, the STS Annual Meeting Taskforce selected 983 moderators to participate in the conference, including 218 women. The representation of women moderators demonstrated a favorable, upward trend. In 2015, 12.1% of moderators were women, with a consistent rate from 2015 to 2018. There was a noticeable rise in invited women moderators in 2019, with 25.4% of moderators being women. This proportion increased to 36.9% women in 2024. General Thoracic sessions have consistently included a greater percentage of women moderators compared with other sessions. Other topic areas, such as Education and Quality Improvement and Critical Care, transitioned to greater representation of women in recent years. CONCLUSIONS: There has been an increase over time in women moderators selected for participation in the STS Annual Meeting, with progress in gender diversity seen in most session types. Although the overall proportion of women within cardiothoracic surgery remains low, the STS has increasingly worked toward encouraging inclusivity. Efforts to further support well-rounded representation are of important benefit.

Reproductive rights legislation influences cardiothoracic surgery training options.

OBJECTIVES: Training in cardiothoracic surgery coincides with a time when many plan their families. Many choose to delay childbearing until the end of training, 33% of women and 20% of men reported using assisted reproductive technology (ART). States have varying laws regarding abortion and ART, which can influence these decisions. Our purpose was to elucidate the intersection of such laws and the training positions available in cardiothoracic surgery. METHODS: We identified abortion laws, abortion laws regarding insurance coverage, personhood laws that potentially influence ART, and insurance coverage of ART using publicly available data. We created choropleth maps with cardiothoracic surgery training positions identified using the National Resident Matching Program Match data for 2024. RESULTS: We found that 29.4% of cardiothoracic surgery programs (47 out of 160) are situated in states with abortion restrictions. Of 48 integrated training positions, 10 are in states with abortion restrictions. Similarly, 32 of 95 traditional thoracic positions and 5 of 17 congenital positions are in states abortion restrictions. A total of 25.6% of cardiothoracic training programs reside in states that grant personhood before birth, potentially affecting ART. Insurance coverage for abortion and ART are variable. CONCLUSIONS: Valuing reproductive rights like access to abortion, insurance coverage, and ART can potentially influence training opportunities in cardiothoracic surgery.

Predicting complication risks after sleeve lobectomy for non-small cell lung cancer.

Background: Sleeve lobectomy is a challenging procedure with a high risk of postoperative complications. To facilitate surgical decision-making and optimize perioperative treatment, we developed risk stratification models to quantify the probability of postoperative complications after sleeve lobectomy. Methods: We retrospectively analyzed the clinical features of 691 non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients who underwent sleeve lobectomy between July 2016 and December 2019. Logistic regression models were trained and validated in the cohort to predict overall complications, major complications, and specific minor complications. The impact of specific complications in prognostic stratification was explored via the Kaplan-Meier method. Results: Of 691 included patients, 232 (33.5%) developed complications, including 35 (5.1%) and 197 (28.5%) patients with major and minor complications, respectively. The models showed robust discrimination, yielding an area under the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve (AUC) of 0.853 [95% confidence interval (CI): 0.705-0.885] for predicting overall postoperative complication risk and 0.751 (95% CI: 0.727-0.762) specifically for major complication risks. Models predicting minor complications also achieved good performance, with AUCs ranging from 0.78 to 0.89. Survival analyses revealed a significant association between postoperative complications and poor prognosis. Conclusions: Risk stratification models could accurately predict the probability and severity of complications in NSCLC patients following sleeve lobectomy, which may inform clinical decision-making for future patients.

Signet ring cells and conditional survival after trimodality therapy for esophageal adenocarcinoma.

BACKGROUND AND METHODS: Although signet ring cell (SRC) histology is associated with resistance to neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy and worse overall survival (OS) in esophageal adenocarcinoma (EAC), its prognostic relationship among patients who survive the early period following resection is unknown. EAC patients who underwent trimodality therapy at a single institution (2006-2018) were identified. Bayesian multivariable regression (BMR) analyses of OS and additional OS from a 3-year landmark were performed. RESULTS: Of 631 patients, SRCs were present in 16.0% (N = 101). SRC was associated with shorter median OS (45.8 [95% confidence interval: 31.0-96.7] vs. 79.8 [63.0-107.2] months; p = 0.014). In BMR analysis, the absence of an SRC component was moderately associated with improved OS (probability of beneficial effect, PBE = 0.879). Three-year conditional BMR analysis of additional OS (N = 357) showed that SRC status no longer had a prognostic effect (PBE = 0.546); higher pathological stage was strongly associated with worse additional OS (PBE < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: The presence of SRC portends worse OS following trimodality therapy for EAC. However, this prognostic impact is dynamic and abates by 3 years postoperatively. In contrast, a higher pathological stage is strongly associated with poor overall and 3-year conditional survival. DISCUSSION: These findings may inform postoperative patient counseling and surveillance protocols.

Gender representation trends in cardiothoracic surgery journal editorial boards.

OBJECTIVE: We aimed to characterize chronologic trends of gender composition of the editorial boards of major cardiothoracic surgery journals in the current era. METHODS: A cross-sectional analysis was performed of gender representation in editorial board members of 2 North American cardiothoracic surgery journals from 2008 to 2023. Member names and roles were collected from available monthly issues. Validated software programming was used to classify gender. The annual proportion of women representation was compared to the thoracic surgery workforce. RESULTS: During the study period, 558 individuals (3641 names) were identified, 14.3% of whom were women. The total number of editorial board women increased for both journals. The proportion of women also increased from 2.5% (3 out of 118) in 2008 to 17.8% (71 out of 399) in 2023 (P < .001), exceeding the percentage of women in the thoracic surgery workforce, which increased from 3.8% in 2007 to 8.3% in 2021 (P < .001). The average duration of participation was longer for men than for women (53.8 vs 44.5 months; P = .01). Women in editorial board senior roles also increased from 3.3% (1 out of 30) in 2008 to 28.6% (42 out of 147) in 2023 (P < .001), almost triple the increase in nondesignated roles from 2.3% (2 out of 88) in 2008 to 11.5% (29 out of 252) in 2023 (P < .001). CONCLUSIONS: In recent years, the appointment of women to the editorial boards of high-impact cardiothoracic surgery journals and senior roles have proportionally exceeded the overall representation of women in cardiothoracic surgery. These findings indicate progress in inclusive efforts and offer insight toward reducing academic gender disparities.

Multi-institutional beta testing of a novel cervical esophagogastric anastomosis simulator.

Objective: A novel simulator developed to offer hands-on practice for the stapled side-to-side cervical esophagogastric anastomosis was tested previously in a single-center study that supported its value in surgical education. This multi-institutional trial was undertaken to evaluate validity evidence from 6 independent thoracic surgery residency programs. Methods: After a virtual session for simulation leaders, learners viewed a narrated video of the procedure and then alternated as surgeon or first assistant. Using an online survey, perceived value was measured across fidelity domains: physical attributes, realism of materials, realism of experience, value, and relevance. Objective assessment included time, number of sutures tearing, bubble test, and direct inspection. Comparison across programs was performed using the Kruskal-Wallis test. Results: Surveys were completed by 63 participants as surgeons (17 junior and 20 senior residents, 18 fellows, and 8 faculty). For 3 of 5 tasks, mean ratings of 4.35 to 4.44 correlated with "somewhat easy" to "very easy" to perform. The interrupted outer layer of the anastomosis rated lowest, suggesting this task was the most difficult. The simulator was rated as a highly valuable training tool. For the objective measurements of performance, "direct inspection" rated highest followed by "time." A total of 90.5% of participants rated the simulator as ready for use with only minor improvements. Conclusions: Results from this multi-institutional study suggest the cervical esophagogastric anastomosis simulator is a useful adjunct for training and assessment. Further research is needed to determine its value in assessing competence for independent operating and associations between improved measured performance and clinical outcomes.

Pulmonary Surgical Margins for Metastatic Osteosarcoma: Is Negative Margin Enough?

BACKGROUND: In advanced osteosarcoma, the lung is the most frequent site of distant metastasis, with metastasectomy often used for local disease control. The influence of pulmonary resection margin length on outcomes for osteosarcoma has not been well explored. This study sought to evaluate the impact of margin length relative to tumor size on local recurrence and survival in lung-limited metastatic osteosarcoma. METHODS: Patients with metastatic osteosarcoma who underwent lung resection between 2000 and 2020 were identified from a single institution. Clinicopathologic variables were collected. The margin length-to-tumor size ratio (MTR) was calculated per nodule and classified relative to an MTR of 0.5. The primary outcome was development of local recurrence per nodule. Multivariate logistic regression was used to investigate covariates. RESULTS: A total of 142 patients with 689 nodules met inclusion criteria, with mean age of 35.6 years (interquartile range [IQR], 20.9-46.6 years). Patients were predominantly male (n = 87; 61.3%) and White (n = 106; 72.5%). Most nodules (n = 644; 93.5%) were resected through thoracotomy. The mean tumor size was 0.8 cm (IQR, 0.5-1.70 cm), with an average margin length of 0.3 cm (IQR, 0.1-0.7 cm). Among all nodules, 299 (43.4%) had an MTR >0.5. Systemic therapy was received by 94 patients (66.2%) preoperatively and by 100 patients (70.4%) postoperatively. Importantly, the study found that an MTR >0.5 conferred a protective effect against disease recurrence (hazard ratio, 0.67; 95% CI, 0.52-0.87; P = .003). CONCLUSIONS: In resected pulmonary metastatic osteosarcoma, a margin length greater than one-half the size of the pulmonary nodule is associated with a lower incidence of local disease recurrence. This finding has implications for the subsequent need for additional therapy and disease-free status, thus meriting attentive intraoperative consideration.

Wellness Strategies Among Bad Outcomes and Complications.

Surgery of the chest is high stakes, and adverse events are common. Given the frequency and severity of such complications, cardiothoracic surgeons are at particularly high risk of becoming second victims. Even though our primary commitment as doctors is to take care of our patients, surgeons may fall into the emotional and intellectual trap of taking on the whole responsibility of a patient's poor outcome. This viewpoint may lead the physician to develop a heightened self-doubt, greater insecurity, and imposter syndrome, further affecting their ability to prevent complications and tackle difficult cases in the future.

The evolution of lung adenocarcinoma precursors is associated with chromosomal instability and transition from innate to adaptive immune response/evasion.

Studying lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD) early carcinogenesis is challenging, primarily due to the lack of LUAD precursors specimens. We amassed multi-omics data from 213 LUAD and LUAD precursors to identify molecular features underlying LUAD precancer evolution. We observed progressively increasing mutations, chromosomal aberrations, whole genome doubling and genomic instability from precancer to invasive LUAD, indicating aggravating chromosomal instability (CIN). Telomere shortening, a crucial genomic alteration linked to CIN, emerged at precancer stage. Moreover, later-stage lesions demonstrated increasing cancer stemness and decreasing alveolar identity, suggesting epithelial de-differentiation during early LUAD carcinogenesis. The innate immune cells progressively diminished from precancer to invasive LUAD, concomitant with a gradual recruitment of adaptive immune cells (except CD8+ and gamma-delta T cells that decreased in later stages) and upregulation of numerous immune checkpoints, suggesting LUAD precancer evolution is associated with a shift from innate to adaptive immune response and immune evasion mediated by various mechanisms.