Predictors for 30-day readmission after pulmonary resection for lung cancer.

BACKGROUND: The purpose of this study was to assess the rate, cause, and factors associated with readmissions following pulmonary resection for lung cancer and their relationship with 90-day mortality. METHODS: A prospective cohort study was conducted of 379 patients who underwent surgery for lung cancer at the university hospitals Granada, Spain between 2012 and 2016. RESULTS: The rate of readmissions within 30 postoperative days was 6.2%. The most common reason for readmission was subcutaneous emphysema (21.7%), pneumonia (13%), and pleural empyema (8.5%). A higher probability of requiring urgent readmission was associated with a higher Charlson index (OR 2.0,95% confidence interval 1.50-2.67, P = 0.001); peripheral arterial vasculopathy (OR 4.8, 95%CI 1.27-18.85, P = 0.021); a history of stroke (OR 8.2, 95%CI 1.08-62.37, P = 0.04); postoperative atelectasis (OR 4.7, 95%CI 1.21-18.64, P = 0.026); and air leaks (OR 12.6, 95%CI 4.10-38.91, P = 0.001).The prediction multivariable model for readmission represents an area under the curve (ROC) of 0.90. Mortality at 90 postoperative days in the group of readmitted patients was 13% versus 1.5 for the group of patients who did not require readmission (P < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: The factors predictive for readmission can help design individualized outpatient follow-up plans and programs for the reduction of readmissions.

Half the deaths after surgery for lung cancer occur after discharge.

INTRODUCTION: Mortality following surgery for lung cancer increases at 90 days. The objective of this study was to determine the rate, factors, time to death, hospital stay until discharge, time to death after discharge and causes of mortality at 90 days following surgery for lung cancer. METHODS: A prospective follow-up study was performed in a cohort of 378 patients who underwent surgery for lung cancer between January 2012 and December 2016. Data on preoperative status, postoperative complications, and mortality were collected. RESULTS: Rates of mortality were 1.6% vs. 3.2% at 30 and 90 days, respectively. Half of deaths occurred between 31 and 90 postoperative days following discharge. The variables found to be related to mortality at 90 days were a Charlson Index >3 (p < 0.001), a history of stroke (p = 0.036), postoperative pneumonia (p = 0.001), postoperative pulmonary or lobar collapse (p = 0.001), reintubation (p < 0.001) and postoperative arrhythmia (p = 0.0029). The risk of mortality was also observed to be associated with the type of surgical technique -being higher for thoracotomy as compared to video-assisted thoracoscopy (VATS) (p = 0.011) -, and hospital readmission after discharge (p < 0.001). Adjusted odds ratios (OR) and 95% confidence intervals (95% CI) were calculated. Multivariate analysis revealed that a Charlson Index >3 (p = 0.001) OR 2.0 (1.55,2.78), a history of stroke (p = 0.018) OR 5.1 (1.81, 32.96) and postoperative pulmonary or lobar collapse (p = 0.001) OR 8.5 (2.41,30.22) were independent prognostic factors of mortality. The most common causes of death were related to respiratory (58.3%) and cardiovascular (33.2%) complications. CONCLUSIONS: Mortality at 90 days following surgery for lung cancer doubles 30-day mortality, which is a relevant finding of which both, patients and healthcare should be aware. Half the deaths within 90 days after surgery for lung cancer occur after discharge. Specific outpatient follow-up programs should be designed for patients at a higher risk of 90-day mortality.

Initial single-port thoracoscopy to reduce surgical trauma during open en bloc chest wall and pulmonary resection for locally invasive cancer.

OBJECTIVES: En bloc pulmonary and chest wall resection is the preferred method of treatment for locally invasive lung carcinoma. However, it carries major trauma to the chest wall, especially in cases with chest wall involvement distant to the potential location of 'traditional' thoracotomies. We describe an alternative method of estimating the boundaries of chest wall resection employing video assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS) and hypodermic needles. METHODS: VATS delineation of boundaries of chest wall involvement by lung cancer has been performed in six patients who gave written consent. In one case the single-port thoracoscopic examination revealed unexpected distant pleural metastases thus preventing from resection. The other 5 patients, three males and two females [median age of 60.5 (range 39 to 75) years] underwent en bloc anatomical lung resection in addition to chest wall excision and reconstruction for T3N0 lung cancer. RESULTS: In these five cases the chest wall opening was restricted to the extent of the rib excision, and the pulmonary resection was performed via the existing chest wall opening without requiring extension of the thoracotomy or any rib spreading. DISCUSSION: Minimally invasive techniques aid to delineate the boundaries of chest wall involvement of lung cancer and intraoperative staging. This helped tailoring the surgical approach and location of the thoracotomy, and prevented rib-spreading or additional thoracotomies in our cases.