A Qualitative Study of Electronic Patient-Reported Outcome Symptom Monitoring After Thoracic Surgery.

INTRODUCTION: Thoracic surgery is a mainstay of therapy for lung cancer and other chronic pulmonary conditions, but recovery is often complicated. Digital health systems can facilitate remote postoperative symptom management yet obstacles persist in their routine clinical adoption. This study aimed to identify patient-perceived barriers and facilitators to using an electronic patient-reported outcome (ePRO) monitoring platform specially designed to detect complications from thoracic surgery postdischarge. METHODS: Patients (n = 16) who underwent thoracic surgery and participated in an ePRO parent study completed semistructured interviews, which were analyzed using thematic content analysis and iterative team-based coding. Themes were mapped onto the three domains of the Capability, Opportunity, and Motivation Model of behavior framework to inform ePRO design and implementation improvements. RESULTS: Analysis demonstrated seven dominant themes, including barriers (1. postoperative patient physical and mental health, 2. lack of access to email and poor internet connectivity, 3. lack of clarity on ePRO use in routine clinical care, and 4. symptom item redundancy) as well as facilitators (5. ease of the ePRO assessment completion, 6. engagement with the surgical care team on ePRO use, and 7. increased awareness of symptom experience through ePRO use). Suggested ePRO improvements included offering alternatives to web-based completion, tailoring symptom assessments to individual patients, and the need for patient education on ePROs for perioperative care. CONCLUSIONS: Addressable barriers and facilitators to implementation of ePRO symptom monitoring in the thoracic surgical patient population postdischarge have been identified. Future work will test the impact of design improvements on implementation outcomes of feasibility and acceptability.

Long term outcomes after lobar versus sublobar resection for patients with Non-Small cell lung Cancer: Systematic review and individual patient data Meta-Analysis.

OBJECTIVES: Surgical resection remains the primary treatment for early-stage non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), with lobectomy considered the standard approach. However, recent evidence suggests that sublobar resection may be an alternative option for select patients. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A systematic review and meta-analysis were conducted following PRISMA guidelines. Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) and propensity-score matched (PSM) cohort studies comparing lobectomy and sublobar resection in NSCLC patients were included. The primary outcome was overall survival (OS), and secondary outcomes included disease-free survival (DFS), 30-day mortality, and cancer recurrence rates. Individual patient data (IPD) were reconstructed from Kaplan-Meier curves, and one-stage and two-stage meta-analyses were performed. RESULTS: A total of 18 studies involving 6,075 NSCLC patients (3,119 undergoing lobectomy, 2,956 undergoing sublobar resection) were included. Lobectomy was associated with significantly better OS compared to sublobar resection (hazard ratio [HR]: 0.78, 95 % confidence interval [CI]: 0.68-0.89, p < 0.001). However, when sublobar resection was further divided into segmentectomy and wedge resection, no significant difference in OS was observed between lobectomy and segmentectomy (HR:0.92, 95 %CI: 0.75-1.14, p = 0.464) whereas lobar resection was associated with better OS compared to wedge resection (HR:0.52, 95 %CI: 0.41-0.67, p < 0.001). DFS outcomes were similar between lobectomy and sublobar resection (HR:0.98, 95 %CI: 0.84-1.14, p = 0.778). CONCLUSION: Lobectomy is associated with better overall survival compared to sublobar resection in NSCLC patients. However, when sublobar resection is subdivided, segmentectomy shows comparable outcomes to lobectomy, while wedge resection is inferior. These findings support the consideration of segmentectomy as the surgical option of choice for Stage IA NSCLC patients.

The Role of Immunotherapy in the Management of Esophageal Cancer in Patients Treated with Neoadjuvant Chemoradiation: An Analysis of the National Cancer Database.

BACKGROUND: The current National Comprehensive Cancer Network advises neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy followed by surgery for locally advanced cases of esophageal cancer. The role of immunotherapy in this context is under heavy investigation. METHODS: Patients with esophageal adenocarcinoma were identified in the National Cancer Database (NCDB) from 2004 to 2019. Three groups were generated as follows: (a) no immunotherapy, (b) neoadjuvant immunotherapy, and (c) adjuvant immunotherapy. Overall survival was evaluated using the Kaplan-Meier method and Cox proportional hazard analysis, adjusting for previously described risk factors for mortality. RESULTS: Of the total 14,244 patients diagnosed with esophageal adenocarcinoma who received neoadjuvant chemoradiation, 14,065 patients did not receive immunotherapy, 110 received neoadjuvant immunotherapy, and 69 received adjuvant immunotherapy. When adjusting for established risk factors, adjuvant immunotherapy was associated with significantly improved survival compared to no immunotherapy and neoadjuvant immunotherapy during a median follow-up period of 35.2 months. No difference was noted among patients who received no immunotherapy vs. neoadjuvant immunotherapy in the same model. CONCLUSIONS: In this retrospective analysis of the NCDB, receiving adjuvant immunotherapy offered a significant survival advantage compared to no immunotherapy and neoadjuvant immunotherapy in the treatment of esophageal adenocarcinoma. The addition of neoadjuvant immunotherapy to patients treated with neoadjuvant chemoradiation did not improve survival in this cohort. Further studies are warranted to investigate the long-term outcomes of immunotherapy in esophageal cancer.

Mechanical pump complication after HeartMate 3 implantation.

BACKGROUND: With the improvement in postoperative complications and long-term survival post LVAD, continuing to improve clinical outcomes will require efforts to decrease long-term complications. The purpose of this study is to describe the incidence of mechanical pump failure requiring surgery, which we define as pump failure secondary to either outflow graft compression, outflow graft obstruction, or pump thrombosis requiring surgical intervention. METHODS: 141 consecutive adult patients who underwent HeartMate3 Implantation using the "cut-then-sew" implantation technique between September 2015 and September 2021 were included in our study. The primary outcome measure was mechanical pump complication (outflow graft obstruction and or pump thrombosis) requiring surgical intervention. Secondary outcome measures included incidence of bleeding, stroke, renal failure, length of stay, and overall survival. Median follow up was 27.3 months. RESULTS: Eleven (7.8%) of patients developed mechanical pump complications. Six patients developed outflow graft obstruction. Five patients developed acute pump thrombosis. Median time to a mechanical complication was 828 days. Of the 11 patients who underwent surgery, 10 patients (90%) survived to discharge. Overall survival at 1, 3, and 5 years was 82.9%, 69.1% and 55.2% respectively for the entire cohort. CONCLUSION: The mechanical pump complication rate of 7.8% which is quite high may be related to duration of follow up, as the median time to mechanical complication was 828 days. This study highlights an important late complication that occurs post LVAD implantation.

Outcomes Following Lung Transplant for COVID-19-Related Complications in the US.

Importance: The COVID-19 pandemic led to the use of lung transplant as a lifesaving therapy for patients with irreversible lung injury. Limited information is currently available regarding the outcomes associated with this treatment modality. Objective: To describe the outcomes following lung transplant for COVID-19-related acute respiratory distress syndrome or pulmonary fibrosis. Design, Setting, and Participants: In this cohort study, lung transplant recipient and donor characteristics and outcomes following lung transplant for COVID-19-related acute respiratory distress syndrome or pulmonary fibrosis were extracted from the US United Network for Organ Sharing database from March 2020 to August 2022 with a median (IQR) follow-up period of 186 (64-359) days in the acute respiratory distress syndrome group and 181 (40-350) days in the pulmonary fibrosis group. Overall survival was calculated using the Kaplan-Meier method. Cox proportional regression models were used to examine the association of certain variables with overall survival. Exposures: Lung transplant following COVID-19-related acute respiratory distress syndrome or pulmonary fibrosis. Main Outcomes and Measures: Overall survival and graft failure rates. Results: Among 385 included patients undergoing lung transplant, 195 had COVID-19-related acute respiratory distress syndrome (142 male [72.8%]; median [IQR] age, 46 [38-54] years; median [IQR] allocation score, 88.3 [80.5-91.1]) and 190 had COVID-19-related pulmonary fibrosis (150 male [78.9%]; median [IQR] age, 54 [45-62]; median [IQR] allocation score, 78.5 [47.7-88.3]). There were 16 instances of acute rejection (8.7%) in the acute respiratory distress syndrome group and 15 (8.6%) in the pulmonary fibrosis group. The 1-, 6-, and 12- month overall survival rates were 0.99 (95% CI, 0.96-0.99), 0.95 (95% CI, 0.91-0.98), and 0.88 (95% CI, 0.80-0.94) for the acute respiratory distress syndrome cohort and 0.96 (95% CI, 0.92-0.98), 0.92 (95% CI, 0.86-0.96), and 0.84 (95% CI, 0.74-0.90) for the pulmonary fibrosis cohort. Freedom from graft failure rates were 0.98 (95% CI, 0.96-0.99), 0.95 (95% CI, 0.90-0.97), and 0.88 (95% CI, 0.79-0.93) in the 1-, 6-, and 12-month follow-up periods in the acute respiratory distress cohort and 0.96 (95% CI, 0.92-0.98), 0.93 (95% CI, 0.87-0.96), and 0.85 (95% CI, 0.74-0.91) in the pulmonary fibrosis cohort, respectively. Receiving a graft from a donor with a heavy and prolonged history of smoking was associated with worse overall survival in the acute respiratory distress syndrome cohort, whereas the characteristics associated with worse overall survival in the pulmonary fibrosis cohort included female recipient, male donor, and high recipient body mass index. Conclusions and Relevance: In this study, outcomes following lung transplant were similar in patients with irreversible respiratory failure due to COVID-19 and those with other pretransplant etiologies.

Transthoracic fundoplication using the Belsey Mark IV technique versus Nissen fundoplication: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND: Nissen fundoplication is considered the cornerstone surgical treatment for hiatal hernia repair. Belsey Mark IV (BMIV) transthoracic fundoplication is an alternative approach that is rarely utilized in today's minimally invasive era. This study aims to summarize the safety and efficacy of BMIV and to compare it with Nissen fundoplication. METHODS: We searched MEDLINE, Scopus, and Cochrane Library databases for single arm and comparative studies published by March 31st, 2022, according to PRISMA statement. Inverse-variance weights were used to estimate the proportion of patients experiencing the studied outcome and random-effects meta-analyses were performed. RESULTS: 17 studies were identified, incorporating 2136 and 638 patients that underwent Belsey Mark IV or Nissen fundoplication, respectively. A total of 13.8% (95% CI: 9.6-18.6) of the patients that underwent fundoplication with the BMIV technique had non-resolution of their symptoms and 3.5% (95% CI: 2.0-5.4) required a reoperation. Overall, 14.8% (95% CI: 9.5-20.1) of the BMIV arm patients experienced post-operative complications, 5.0% (95% CI: 2.0-9.0) experienced chronic postoperative pain and 6.9% (95% CI: 3.1-11.9) had a hernia recurrence. No statistically significant difference was observed between Belsey Mark IV and Nissen fundoplication in terms of post-interventional non-resolution of symptoms (odds ratio [OR]: 1.49 [95% Confidence Interval (95%CI):0.6-4.0]; p = 0.42), post-operative complications (OR:0.83, 95%CI: 0.5-1.5, p = 0.54) and in-hospital mortality (OR:0.69, 95%CI: 0.13-3.80, p = 0.67). Belsey Mark IV arm had significantly lower reoperation rates compared to Nissen arm (OR:0.28, 95%CI: 0.1-0.7, p = 0.01). CONCLUSIONS: BMIV fundoplication is a safe and effective but technically challenging. The BMIV technique may offer benefits to patients compared to the laparoscopic Nissen fundoplication. These benefits, however, are challenged by the increased morbidity of a thoracotomy.

Trends in the management and outcomes of esophageal perforations among racial-ethnic groups.

Background: Esophageal perforation (EP) is a life-threatening emergency requiring emergent surgical intervention. Little is known about potential racial-ethnic disparities among patients with EP. Methods: Hospitalizations of adult (≥18 years old) patients admitted with a diagnosis of EP were identified in the 2000-2017 National Inpatient Sample (NIS). Multivariable Cox proportional hazards regression was used to estimate the association between race-ethnicity and inpatient mortality. Inpatient complications were assessed using multivariable logistic regression. Results: There were an estimated 36,531 EP hospitalizations from 2000-2017. One quarter of hospitalizations were racial or ethnic minorities. Non-Hispanic (NH) White patients were, on average, older (median age 58 vs. 41 and 47 years, respectively, P<0.0001). The rate of EP admissions, per 1,000,000 the United States (US) adults, significantly increased among all groups over time. In-hospital mortality decreased for both NH White and NH Black patients (10.2% to 4.6% and 8.3% to 4.9%, respectively, P<0.0001) but increased for Hispanic patients and patients of other races (2.9% to 4.7% and 3.4% to 6.9%, P<0.0001). NH Black patients were more likely to have sepsis during their hospital course [odds ratio (OR) =1.34; 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.08 to 1.66], and patients of other races (OR =1.44; 95% CI: 1.01 to 2.07) were more likely to have pneumonia. Similar rates of surgical intervention were seen among all racial-ethic groups. After adjustment, inpatient mortality did not differ among racial-ethnic groups. Conclusions: Rates of EP admissions have increased for all racial-ethnic groups since 2000. Despite similar incidences of inpatient mortality across groups, NH Black and other race patients were more likely to experience postoperative complications, suggesting potential racial-ethnic disparities in quality or access to care.

Barriers and facilitators to early-stage lung cancer care in the USA: a qualitative study.

PURPOSE: Improved outcomes in lung cancer treatment are seen in high-volume academic centers, making it important to understand barriers to accessing care at such institutions. Few qualitative studies examine the barriers and facilitators to early-stage lung cancer care at US academic institutions. METHODS: Adult patients with suspected or diagnosed early-stage non-small cell lung cancer presenting to a multidisciplinary lung cancer clinic at a US academic institution over a 6-month period beginning in 2019 were purposively sampled for semi-structured interviews. Semi-structured interviews were conducted and a qualitative content analysis was performed using the framework method. Themes relating to barriers and facilitators to lung cancer care were identified through iterative team-based coding. RESULTS: The 26 participants had a mean age of 62 years (SD: 8.4 years) and were majority female (62%), white (77%), and urban (85%). We identified 6 major themes: trust with providers and health systems are valued by patients; financial toxicity negatively influenced the diagnostic and treatment experience; social constraints magnified other barriers; patient self-advocacy as a facilitator of care access; provider advocacy could overcome other barriers; care coordination and good communication were important to patients. CONCLUSIONS: We have identified several barriers and facilitators to lung cancer care at an academic center in the US. These factors need to be addressed to improve quality of care among lung cancer patients. Further work will examine our findings in a community setting to understand if our findings are generalizable to patients who do not access a tertiary cancer care center.

Electromagnetic Navigation Transthoracic Nodule Localization for Minimally Invasive Thoracic Surgery.

The increased use of chest computed tomography (CT) has led to an increased detection of pulmonary nodules requiring diagnostic evaluation and/or excision. Many of these nodules are identified and excised via minimally invasive thoracic surgery; however, subcentimeter and subsolid nodules are frequently difficult to identify intra-operatively. This can be mitigated by the use of electromagnetic transthoracic needle localization. This protocol delineates the step-by-step process of electromagnetic localization from the pre-operative period to the postoperative period and is an adaptation of the electromagnetically guided percutaneous biopsy previously described by Arias et al. Pre-operative steps include obtaining a same day CT followed by the generation of a three-dimensional virtual map of the lung. From this map, the target lesion(s) and an entry site are chosen. In the operating room, the virtual reconstruction of the lung is then calibrated with the patient and the electromagnetic navigation platform. The patient is then sedated, intubated, and placed in the lateral decubitus position. Using a sterile technique and visualization from multiple views, the needle is inserted into the chest wall at the prechosen skin entry site and driven down to the target lesion. Dye is then injected into the lesion and, then, continuously during needle withdrawal, creating a tract for visualization intra-operatively. This method has many potential benefits when compared to the CT-guided localization, including a decreased radiation exposure and decreased time between the dye injection and the surgery. Dye diffusion from the pathway occurs over time, thereby limiting intra-operative nodule identification. By decreasing the time to surgery, there is a decrease in wait time for the patient, and less time for dye diffusion to occur, resulting in an improvement in nodule localization. When compared to electromagnetic bronchoscopy, airway architecture is no longer a limitation as the target nodule is accessed via a transparenchymal approach. Details of this procedure are described in a step-by-step fashion.

Bilateral Thoracoscopic Sympathectomy After Sternotomy for Left Ventricular Assist Device Insertion.

Our case is a 73-year-old male patient with persistent ventricular tachycardia leading to recent syncopal episodes despite ventricular tachycardia ablation and multiple stellate ganglion blocks, frequent hospital admissions, and acute on chronic congestive heart failure requiring an intraaortic balloon pump. The decision was made to proceed with left ventricular assist device placement and bilateral sympathectomies simultaneously. After performing the sternotomy and widely opening bilateral pleural spaces, the lower third of the stellate ganglia to the level of T4 was removed using a combination of the thoracoscope with the sternotomy incision. The use of thoracoscopy greatly assisted with visualization during the sympathectomy.

The Prevalence of Benign Pathology Following Major Pulmonary Resection for Suspected Malignancy.

BACKGROUND: In the era of lung cancer screening with low-dose computed tomography, there is concern that high false-positive rates may lead to an increase in nontherapeutic lung resection. The aim of this study is to determine the current rate of major pulmonary resection for ultimately benign pathology. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A single-institution, retrospective analysis of all patients > 18 y who underwent major pulmonary resection between 2013 and 2018 for suspected malignancy and had benign final pathology was performed. RESULTS: Of 394 major pulmonary resections performed for known or presumed malignancy, 10 (2.5%) were benign. Of these 10, the mean age was 61.1 y (SD 14.6). Most were current or former smokers (60%). Ninety percent underwent a fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography scan. Median nodule size was 27 mm (IQR 21-35) and most were in the right middle lobe (50%). Preoperative biopsy was performed in four (40%) but were nondiagnostic. Video-assisted thoracoscopic lobectomy (70%) was the most common surgical approach. Final pathology revealed three (30%) infectious, three (30%) inflammatory, two (20%) fibrotic, and two (20%) benign neoplastic nodules. Two (20%) patients had perioperative complications, both of which were prolonged air leaks, one (10%) patient was readmitted within 30 d, and there was no mortality. CONCLUSIONS: A small percentage of patients (2.5% in our series) may undergo major pulmonary resection for unexpectedly benign pathology. Knowledge of this rate is useful to inform shared decision-making models between surgeons and patients and evaluation of thoracic surgery program performance.

Away Rotations at Integrated Thoracic Surgery Programs: Applicant and Program Director Perspectives.

OBJECTIVE: Integrated thoracic surgery residency program (IP) applicants often complete away rotations to stand out from the objective standard criteria. Little is known about the perceptions of these rotations. We aimed to examine the perceptions of value, cost, and expectations of away rotations among IP applicants and program directors. DESIGN: Between March and April 2020, anonymous electronic surveys were distributed through e-mails gathered from the Electronic Residency Application Service and the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education IP email list. A follow-up email was sent to all applicants and program directors 1 week after the initial request to improve response rate. Questions assessed the cost, frequency, goals, and objectives for away rotations, as well as the perceived value of these experiences. SETTING: United States PARTICIPANTS: All IP program directors and United States senior medical students who applied to our institution's IP during the 2019-2020 cycle. RESULTS: Seventy-eight US medical students participated in the 2020 IP Match with 65 applicants applying to our institution's IP. Thirty-three responses were obtained from applicants who applied to our program (51% response rate). Survey responses were obtained from 8 program directors (31% response rate). Ninety-four percent of applicant respondents completed an IP away rotation (n = 31). Fifty-seven percent of these applicants spent on average $5000 in total for away rotations (n = 19). Overall, applicants felt that away rotations helped refine their perception of program location, educational and operative experience, treatment of medical students, and collegiality. Applicants and program directors acknowledged that creating a good impression and finding a compatible program were central values for participating in away rotations. However, program directors viewed the overall strength of the applicant as the most important factor when evaluating applicants. Fifty-five percent of applicant respondents matched at an IP (n = 17) with 35% matching at an IP where they had completed an away rotation (n = 6). CONCLUSION: Extended interactions that can help create good impressions and establish compatibility are benefits to away rotations. However, given the current application conditions imposed by the pandemic, future studies should examine the impact of no away rotations on the IP Match process so that moving forward applicants and program directors can continue to weigh benefits to the costs and logistics of completing an away rotation.

The use of grape juice in the detection of esophageal leaks.

BACKGROUND: Esophagectomies and repair of esophageal perforations are operations used for a variety of clinical indications. Anastomotic leaks are a major post-operative complication after these procedures. At our institution, we routinely use grape juice to detect esophageal leaks in the post-operative setting in addition to other standard imaging modalities. We hypothesize that grape juice can provide similar diagnostic sensitivity and specificity to other modalities for leak detection. METHODS: A retrospective review of all patients who underwent an esophagectomy or repair of esophageal perforations from 2013-2019 by the thoracic surgery service at our institution was performed. All patients underwent a barium swallow study, CT imaging or upper endoscopy, as well as ingesting purple grape juice on post-operative day 5 or greater. Purple grape juice observed in the tube thoracostomy drainage system was identified as a positive esophageal leak. RESULTS: Sixty-four patients were included in the study period (25% female, 88% white, median age 62 years old). Sixty-three patients had both a barium swallow study and grape juice test, while one patient underwent CT imaging and grape juice study. Grape juice test sensitivity and specificity were found to be 80% and 98.3%, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: This pilot study demonstrates the effectiveness of using grape juice in detecting esophageal leaks after esophageal operations in patients with tube thoracostomies. Grape juice may be cheaper and potentially less morbid than other studies performed to detect esophageal leaks. Further research is needed to justify the increased use of grape juice in patients who undergo esophageal operations.

Donation after circulatory death donors in lung transplantation.

Transplantation of any organ into a recipient requires a donor. Lung transplant has a long history of an inadequate number of suitable donors to meet demand, leading to deaths on the waiting list annually since national data was collected, and strict listing criteria. Before the Uniform Determination of Death Act (UDDA), passed in 1980, legally defined brain death in the U.S., all donors for lung transplant came from sudden death victims [uncontrolled Donation after Circulatory Death donors (uDCDs)] in the recipient's hospital emergency department. After passage of the UDDA, uDCDs were abandoned to Donation after Brain Death donors (DBDs)-perhaps prematurely. Compared to livers and kidneys, many DBDs have lungs that are unsuitable for transplant, due to aspiration pneumonia, neurogenic pulmonary edema, trauma, and the effects of brain death on lung function. Another group of donors has become available-patients with a devastating irrecoverable brain injury that do not meet criteria for brain death. If a decision is made by next-of-kin (NOK) to withdraw life support and allow death to occur by asphyxiation, with NOK consent, these individuals can have organs recovered if death occurs relatively quickly after cessation of mechanical ventilation and maintenance of their airway. These are known as controlled Donation after Circulatory Death donors (cDCDs). For a variety of reasons, in the U.S., lungs are recovered from cDCDs at a much lower rate than kidneys and livers. Ex-vivo lung perfusion (EVLP) in the last decade has had a modest impact on increasing the number of lungs for transplant from DBDs, but may have had a larger impact on lungs from cDCDs, and may be indispensable for safe transplantation of lungs from uDCDs. In the next decade, DCDs may have a substantial impact on the number of lung transplants performed in the U.S. and around the world.

Trends and Outcomes in Minimally Invasive Surgery for Locally Advanced Non-Small-Cell Lung Cancer With N2 Disease.

Few studies examine outcomes by surgical approach in non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) with N2 disease. We examined time trends in surgical approach and outcomes among patients undergoing minimally invasive (MIS, robotic and video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery [VATS]) vs open lobectomy in this patient population. We performed a retrospective analysis of patients from the National Cancer Database diagnosed with clinical Stage IIIA-N2 NSCLC from 2010 to 2016. We examined the yearly proportion of MIS vs open resections. Multivariable regression was used to assess the association of surgical approach with length of stay, unplanned readmissions, 30-day and 90-day mortality. Multivariable Cox proportional hazards modeling was used to assess the association of surgical approach with 5-year overall mortality. We identified 5741 patients who underwent lobectomy for Stage IIIA-N2 NSCLC (459 robotic, 1403 VATS, 3879 open). From 2010 to 2016, the proportion of minimally invasive procedures increased from 20% to 45%. MIS patients, on average, stayed 1 day less in the hospital (95% confidence interval [CI] 0.7, 1.5) and had lower odds of 90-day (odds ratio [OR] 0.74; 95% CI 0.54, 0.99) and 5-year mortality (OR 0.82; 95% CI 0.75, 0.91), compared to open resections. There was no difference in odds of readmission by surgical approach (OR 0.97; 95% CI 0.71, 1.33). Among MIS procedures, robotic resections had lower odds of 90-day mortality (OR 0.42; 95% CI 0.18, 0.97) than VATS. Among patients undergoing lobectomy for locally advanced N2 NSCLC robotic and VATS techniques appear safe and effective compared to open surgery and may offer short- and long-term advantages.

Thoracic Enhanced Recovery After Surgery: Single Academic Center Observations After Implementation.

BACKGROUND: Enhanced recovery after surgery (ERAS) is an evidence-based, multidisciplinary perioperative care model shown to reduce complications and hospital length of stay (LOS). While some thoracic ERAS studies were inconclusive, others demonstrated that ERAS improves patient outcomes after lung resections and provides more cost-effective care. We aimed to investigate the effects of preliminary implementation of an ERAS protocol, in comparison with conventional care, on lung resection outcomes at a single academic institution. METHODS: In this observational study, adult patients undergoing lung resections during the pre-ERAS (April 2014 to September 2015) and post-ERAS (January 2016 to May 2017) periods were identified. Relevant demographic, preoperative, anesthesia, and surgical variables were collected. Pre-ERAS and post-ERAS cohorts were compared in terms of hospital LOS, postoperative complications, and 30-day outcomes. RESULTS: We identified 264 patients, half in each cohort. Pre-ERAS and post-ERAS groups were similar with respect to age, race, and comorbidities. There were no significant differences in LOS, complications, 30-day readmission and mortality rates, or patient-reported outcomes. Of the patients with prolonged LOS, 31% had pulmonary complications, almost half of which were prolonged air leaks. ERAS adherence rate was approximately 60%. CONCLUSIONS: In the first year of implementation, median LOS, complications, and 30-day outcomes did not differ significantly between the pre-ERAS and post-ERAS groups. Prolonged air leaks commonly led to prolonged LOS; therefore, thoracic ERAS protocols could include interventions to reduce air leak and consideration for discharging patients with chest tubes placed to Heimlich valves. Buy-in and adherence to a new protocol are necessary for implementation to be effective.

Recent Trends in Cardiothoracic Surgery Training: Data from the National Resident Matching Program.

OBJECTIVE: In 2008, integrated thoracic residency programs (IP) for cardiothoracic (CT) training were created in response to a decline in CT trainees. However, few studies have reported on trends in the CT training pathway since the inception of IPs. This manuscript examines the current trends related to the overall number of surgical trainees entering CT surgery training following the introduction of IPs into the National Resident Match Program (NRMP). DESIGN: Main and specialty match data were gathered from NRMP annual reports between 2008 and 2018. Descriptive statistics were used to analyze program size, applications, and filled and unfilled positions for IPs and traditional CT residency programs. Pearson's correlation coefficient was used to determine associations between program variables. SETTING: NRMP main and specialty match in 2008 to 2018. PARTICIPANTS: Participants of the NRMP main and specialty match in 2008 to 2018. RESULTS: IPs increased from 2 programs offering 3 positions in 2008 to 28 programs offering 36 positions in 2018. However, during the same time period, the number of available traditional CT residency positions have decreased by 29% (130 to 92). As the number of IPs increased, there was a significant decrease in the number of traditional CT residency positions (ρ = -0.95, p < 0.001). Although, the overall number of CT residency programs (traditional and IP) remained largely unchanged, the proportion of filled CT residency positions increased from 67.7% in 2008 up to 97.7% in 2018. CONCLUSION: The IP training format has shown success in increasing the number of trainees entering into CT training programs. Consideration should be given to increasing the number of IP positions or increase interest in CT among general surgery residents to increase the number of CT surgery trainees with the goal of increasing the size of the future CT workforce.

Novel Modification of HeartMate 3 Implantation.

We have modified the HeartMate 3 (Abbott, Abbott Park, IL) implantation technique to better suit our patient population. This modification optimizes the placement of the HeartMate 3 sewing cuff and allows passage of the suture transmurally from endocardium to epicardium in a "cut then sew" technique. We believe this affords a superior seal and protection from tearing friable myocardium.

Does routine uniportal thoracoscopy during rib fixation identify more injuries and impact outcomes?

BACKGROUND: Flail chest and severely displaced rib fractures due to blunt trauma can be associated with intrathoracic injuries. At our institution, two thoracic surgeons perform all surgical stabilization of rib fractures (SSRF): one performs routine uniportal thoracoscopy (R-VATS) at the time of SSRF and the other for only select cases (S-VATS). In this pilot study, we hypothesized that R-VATS at the time of SSRF identifies and addresses intrathoracic injuries not seen on imaging and may impact patient outcomes. METHODS: A retrospective review of all patients who underwent SSRF from 2013-2019 at our institution was performed for severely displaced rib fractures or flail chest. Data collected included demographics, imaging results, treatment strategy, and operative findings. RESULTS: Ninety-nine patients underwent SSRF. Uniportal thoracoscopy was performed on 69% of these patients. When thoracoscopy was performed, 31 additional injuries were identified. R-VATS identified 23 additional intrathoracic findings at time of thoracoscopy not seen on CT scan compared to 8 findings in the S-VATS group (P=0.367). At 3 months follow-up, one empyema and one diaphragmatic hernia required reoperation-neither of which underwent thoracoscopy at time of SSRF. There were no differences in LOS, operative times, and overall mortality between the SSRF/thoracoscopy and SSRF only groups. CONCLUSIONS: R-VATS at the time of SSRF did not identify a statistically significant greater number of occult intrathoracic injuries compared to S-VATS. R-VATS was not associated with increased operative time, LOS, and mortality. Further study is needed to determine if there is benefit to R-VATS in patients meeting requirements for rib fracture repair.

Omental Flap Provides Definitive Management for Pediatric Patient With Multiple Tracheoesophageal Fistula Recurrences.

A term female infant with tracheoesophageal fistula (TEF) and esophageal atresia (EA) underwent primary operative repair that failed with 3 TEF recurrences, which all presented with feeding and respiratory issues. Recurrences were managed with reoperation and an interpositional flap of pleura and a flap of intercostal muscle on 2 separate occasions. The third recurrence was managed with complete dissection of the esophagus prior to the division of the fistula and the interposition of an omental flap between the esophageal and tracheal repair. We present the use of a viable omental flap and complete esophageal mobilization to prevent subsequent TEF recurrences and avoid the additional morbidity of reconstructive surgery.