Lung Transplant Outcome From Selected Older Donors (≥70 Years) Equals Younger Donors (<70 Years): A Propensity-matched Analysis.

OBJECTIVE: To describe our experience with lung transplantation (LTx) from donors ≥70 years and compare short and long-term outcomes to a propensity-matched cohort of donors <70 years. BACKGROUND: Although extended-criteria donors have been widely used to enlarge the donor pool, the experience with LTx from older donors (≥70 years) remains limited. METHODS: All single-center bilateral LTx between 2010 and 2020 were retrospectively analyzed. Matching (1:1) was performed for the donor (type, sex, smoking history, x-ray abnormalities, partial pressure of oxygen/fraction of inspired oxygen ratio, and time on ventilator) and recipient characteristics (age, sex, LTx indication, perioperative extracorporeal life support, and cytomegalovirus mismatch). Primary graft dysfunction grade-3, 5-year patient, and chronic lung allograft dysfunction-free survival were analyzed. RESULTS: Out of 647 bilateral LTx, 69 were performed from donors ≥70 years. The mean age in the older donor cohort was 74 years (range: 70-84 years) versus 49 years (range: 12-69 years) in the matched younger group. No significant differences were observed in the length of ventilatory support, intensive care unit, or hospital stay. Primary graft dysfunction-3 was 26% in the older group versus 29% in younger donor recipients ( P = 0.85). Reintervention rate was comparable (29% vs 16%; P = 0.10). Follow-up bronchoscopy revealed no difference in bronchial anastomotic complications ( P = 1.00). Five-year patient and chronic lung allograft dysfunction-free survivals were 73.6% versus 73.1% ( P = 0.72) and 51.5% versus 59.2% ( P = 0.41), respectively. CONCLUSIONS: LTx from selected donors ≥70 years is feasible and safe, yielding comparable short and long-term outcomes in a propensity-matched analysis with younger donors (<70 years).

ERS/ESTS/ESTRO/ESR/ESTI/EFOMP statement on management of incidental findings from low dose CT screening for lung cancer.

BACKGROUND: Screening for lung cancer with low radiation dose computed tomography has a strong evidence base, is being introduced in several European countries and is recommended as a new targeted cancer screening programme. The imperative now is to ensure that implementation follows an evidence-based process that will ensure clinical and cost effectiveness. This European Respiratory Society (ERS) task force was formed to provide an expert consensus for the management of incidental findings which can be adapted and followed during implementation. METHODS: A multi-European society collaborative group was convened. 23 topics were identified, primarily from an ERS statement on lung cancer screening, and a systematic review of the literature was conducted according to ERS standards. Initial review of abstracts was completed and full text was provided to members of the group for each topic. Sections were edited and the final document approved by all members and the ERS Science Council. RESULTS: Nine topics considered most important and frequent were reviewed as standalone topics (interstitial lung abnormalities, emphysema, bronchiectasis, consolidation, coronary calcification, aortic valve disease, mediastinal mass, mediastinal lymph nodes and thyroid abnormalities). Other topics considered of lower importance or infrequent were grouped into generic categories, suitable for general statements. CONCLUSIONS: This European collaborative group has produced an incidental findings statement that can be followed during lung cancer screening. It will ensure that an evidence-based approach is used for reporting and managing incidental findings, which will mean that harms are minimised and any programme is as cost-effective as possible.

Online Survey Evaluation of Three Years of European Society of Thoracic Surgeons Educational Webinars as Part of The E-learning Platform.

BACKGROUND: E-learning has become an important tool in surgical education in the last decade. The European Society of Thoracic Surgeons launched its e-learning platform in 2013 and started its educational webinars series in 2018. The aim of this paper is to discuss the introduction, evolution and impact of the educational webinars within this e-learning platform. METHODS: Twenty-four English spoken webinars discussing different subdomains in general thoracic surgery (21 expert talks, 2 pro-con debates and 1 multidisciplinary case discussion) were analyzed. An online questionnaire on timing, quality and technical aspects of the webinars was sent to 3012 registrants. RESULTS: The webinars reached 3128 unique registrants from 76 countries worldwide. The mean number of registrants was 355 with 171 live attendees (48%) and 155 replay watchers (36%). Hundred and twenty-six attendees (13.1% of people who registered for at least 4 webinars) completed the questionnaire. Timing and duration of the webinars were rated "very good" to "excellent" in 78%, and the quality of the webinar content and the expertise of the webinar presenters were rated "very good" to "excellent" in 88% and 90%, respectively. The impact on knowledge and clinical practice was scored with a weighted average of 7.27 out of 10 and 6.79 out of 10, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: The ESTS educational webinars were effective in delivering up-to-date knowledge to almost half of the countries around the globe. The impact of these events on knowledge and clinical practice were rated high. New e-learning tools should be added to the surgical educational curriculum.

Impact of anastomosis time during lung transplantation on primary graft dysfunction.

Primary graft dysfunction (PGD) is a major obstacle after lung transplantation (LTx), associated with increased early morbidity and mortality. Studies in liver and kidney transplantation revealed prolonged anastomosis time (AT) as an independent risk factor for impaired short- and long-term outcomes. We investigated if AT during LTx is a risk factor for PGD. In this retrospective single-center cohort study, we included all first double lung transplantations between 2008 and 2016. The association of AT with any PGD grade 3 (PGD3) within the first 72 h post-transplant was analyzed by univariable and multivariable logistic regression analysis. Data on AT and PGD was available for 427 patients of which 130 (30.2%) developed PGD3. AT was independently associated with the development of any PGD3 ≤72 h in uni- (odds ratio [OR] per 10 min 1.293, 95% confidence interval [CI 1.136-1.471], p < .0001) and multivariable (OR 1.205, 95% CI [1.022-1.421], p = .03) logistic regression analysis. There was no evidence that the relation between AT and PGD3 differed between lung recipients from donation after brain death versus donation after circulatory death donors. This study identified AT as an independent risk factor for the development of PGD3 post-LTx. We suggest that the implantation time should be kept short and the lung cooled to decrease PGD-related morbidity and mortality post-LTx.

Preserving the eponym: Klinkenbergh technique for bronchial stump suturing.

The technique for bronchial stump suturing following lung resection which is currently applied in the Department of Thoracic Surgery at the University Hospitals Leuven, Belgium owes its name to the Dutch surgeon Dr. Klinkenbergh (1891-1985). A true pioneer of cardiothoracic surgery in Europe, Dr. Klinkenbergh dedicated himself to the surgical treatment of pulmonary tuberculosis. His work was praised by his peers for his precision and the reasoning behind every gesture. The Klinkenbergh technique consists in performing two running sutures which cross each other 'in the same manner as the laces of a shoe' to close the bronchus, limiting the occurrence of broncho-pleural fistulas. In our experience with more than 100 patients in the last 5 years (2016-2020) who underwent open pneumonectomy for benign or malignant disease, less than 2% developed post-operative broncho-pleural fistulas.

Double-lung versus heart-lung transplantation for precapillary pulmonary arterial hypertension: a 24-year single-center retrospective study.

Transplant type for end-stage pulmonary vascular disease remains debatable. We compared recipient outcome after heart-lung (HLT) versus double-lung (DLT) transplantation. Single-center analysis (38 HLT-30 DLT; 1991-2014) for different causes of precapillary pulmonary hypertension (PH): idiopathic (22); heritable (two); drug-induced (nine); hepato-portal (one); connective tissue disease (four); congenital heart disease (CHD) (24); chronic thromboembolic PH (six). HLT decreased from 91.7% [1991-1995] to 21.4% [2010-2014]. Re-intervention for bleeding was higher after HLT; (P = 0.06) while primary graft dysfunction grades 2 and 3 occurred more after DLT; (P < 0.0001). Graft survival at 90 days, 1, 5, 10, and 15 years was 93%, 83%, 70%, 47%, and 35% for DLT vs. 82%, 74%, 61%, 48%, and 30% for HLT, respectively (log-rank P = 0.89). Graft survival improved over time: 100%, 93%, 87%, 72%, and 72% in [2010-2014] vs. 75%, 58%, 42%, 33%, and 33% in [1991-1995], respectively; P = 0.03. No difference in chronic lung allograft dysfunction (CLAD)-free survival was observed: 80% & 28% for DLT vs. 75% & 28% for HLT after 5 and 10 years, respectively; P = 0.49. Primary graft dysfunction in PH patients was lower after HLT compared to DLT. Nonetheless, overall graft and CLAD-free survival were comparable and improved over time with growing experience. DLT remains our preferred procedure for all forms of precapillary PH, except in patients with complex CHD.

Characterization of Esophageal Motility in Infants With Congenital Diaphragmatic Hernia Using High-resolution Manometry.

OBJECTIVES: The aim of the study was to characterize esophageal motility and esophagogastric junction (EGJ) function in infants who underwent repair of an isolated congenital diaphragmatic hernia (iCDH). METHODS: High-resolution manometry with impedance was used to investigate esophageal motility and EGJ function after diaphragmatic repair in 12 infants with iCDH (11 left-sided; 9 patch repair). They had esophageal motility studies during neonatal admission (n = 12), at 6 months (n = 10) and at 12 months of life (n = 7). Swallows were analyzed using conventional esophageal pressure topography and pressure flow analysis and were compared with 11 healthy preterm born infants at near-term age. RESULTS: Esophageal peristaltic motor patterns in patients with iCDH were comparable to controls. EGJ end-expiratory pressure was higher in patients with patch repair compared with controls (P = 0.050) and those without patch (P = 0.009). The difference between inspiratory and expiratory pressures at the EGJ was lower in patients with iCDH with patch (P = 0.045) compared to patients without. Patients with iCDH with patch showed increased Pressure Flow Index, resistance of bolus flow at the EGJ, compared with controls (P = 0.043). CONCLUSIONS: Normal esophageal wave patterns are present in the investigated patients with iCDH. EGJ end-expiratory pressure seems lower in patients with iCDH without patch suggesting a decreased EGJ barrier function hence increased vulnerability to gastroesophageal reflux. Patch repair appears to increase end-expiratory pressure at the EGJ above that of controls suggesting that patch surgery tightens the EGJ, thereby increasing flow resistance. This is in line with the increased Pressure Flow Index. In infants with a patch, the inspiration-expiration pressure difference is lower, reflecting diminished activity of the crural diaphragm.

Mediastinal staging by videomediastinoscopy in clinical N1 non-small cell lung cancer: a prospective multicentre study.

A quarter of patients with clinical N1 (cN1) non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) based on positron emission tomography-computed tomography (PET-CT) imaging have occult mediastinal nodal involvement (N2 disease). In a prospective study, endosonography alone had an unsatisfactory sensitivity (38%) in detecting N2 disease. The current prospective multicentre trial investigated the sensitivity of preoperative mediastinal staging by video-assisted mediastinoscopy (VAM) or VAM-lymphadenectomy (VAMLA).Consecutive patients with operable and resectable (suspected) NSCLC and cN1 after PET-CT imaging underwent VAM(LA). The primary study outcome was sensitivity to detect N2 disease. Secondary endpoints were the prevalence of N2 disease, negative predictive value (NPV) and accuracy of VAM(LA).Out of 105 patients with cN1 on imaging, 26% eventually developed N2 disease. Invasive mediastinal staging with VAM(LA) had a sensitivity of 73% to detect N2 disease. The NPV was 92% and accuracy 93%. Median number of assessed lymph node stations during VAM(LA) was 4 (IQR 3-5), and in 96%, at least three stations were assessed.VAM(LA) has a satisfactory sensitivity of 73% to detect mediastinal nodal disease in cN1 lung cancer, and could be the technique of choice for pre-resection mediastinal lymph node assessment in this patient group with a one in four chance of occult-positive mediastinal nodes after negative PET-CT.

Feasibility of diaphragm pacing in patients after bilateral lung transplantation.

Recent animal studies and intraoperative studies in humans suggested that phrenic nerve stimulation could attenuate ventilator-induced diaphragm dysfunction. The purpose of the present study is to examine the safety and feasibility of diaphragm pacing during the weaning process after bilateral lung transplantation. Four patients, suffering from chronic pulmonary disease, were included, and diaphragm pacing was evaluated after lung transplantation. Implantation of electrodes at the end of the lung transplant procedure was possible in three of the four patients. In all implanted patients, stimulation of the diaphragm could trigger the ventilator. Implanted electrodes were completely removed by percutaneous retraction after up to 7 days of pacing. Adverse events related to pacing included occurrence of pain. Diaphragm pacing with temporary electrodes, inserted during surgery, is feasible and is able to trigger the ventilator in patients after bilateral lung transplantation. The use of intradiaphragmatic electrodes creates the additional opportunity to monitor the evolution of diaphragm electromyography during the postoperative weaning process.

Spontaneous Hemothorax, A Rare Face of Vertebral Osteochondroma.

BACKGROUND: Osteochondroma is the most common benign tumor of the bone. It is usually asymptomatic, but complications may result from mechanical injury to adjacent anatomic structures, such as the diaphragm and lung, when located intrathoracically. CASE REPORT: We report the unusual occurrence of a large hemothorax and lacerated right diaphragm in a 41-year-old woman caused by vertebral osteochondroma affecting the eleventh thoracic vertebra. Thoracoscopic exploration with resection of the osteochondroma and repair of the diaphragm was performed. WHY SHOULD AN EMERGENCY PHYSICIAN BE AWARE OF THIS?: Spontaneous hemothorax is a potential life-threatening condition when the initial diagnosis is postponed and hemodynamic instability and hypovolemic shock occurs. Osteochondroma as a cause of spontaneous hemothorax is uncommon but may require urgent surgical intervention with video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery of thoracotomy to control the hemorrhage and prevent recurrence.

A case of parenchymal-sparing right mainstem bronchial sleeve resection for carcinoid tumor.

Introduction Neuroendocrine tumors are rare bronchial carcinomata often presenting in a central airway. Resection usually includes a sleeve of the bronchus with the underlying lobe. Case report We present a 19-year old male with retro-obstructive pneumonia from a tumor in the right mainstem bronchus. Bronchoscopy showed an obstructive mass confirmed as being a typical carcinoid on biopsy. Sleeve resection of the mainstem bronchus only was successfully performed sparing the entire right lung. Discussion and conclusion This type of limited tumoral resection should be reserved for carefully selected patients with a low-grade neoplasm without extrabronchial extension and with both tumor-negative lymph nodes and bronchial margins on frozen section.

Esophageal wall rupture after EUS-FNA for mediastinal staging: report of two cases.

Esophageal wall rupture after EUS-FNA for mediastinal staging is a severe complication. Here we describe the management of two patients with esophageal wall rupture and the presence of empyema. Management was in both cases surgical and consisted of a decortication via thoracotomy. Postoperative IV antibiotics and parenteral nutrition were continued until the first negative X-ray with gastrografin. Both patients recovered and left the hospital in good condition and with oral intake.

DNA methylation profiling of non-small cell lung cancer reveals a COPD-driven immune-related signature.

INTRODUCTION: Non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) is a heterogeneous disorder consisting of distinct molecular subtypes each characterised by specific genetic and epigenetic profiles. Here, we aimed to identify novel NSCLC subtypes based on genome-wide methylation data, assess their relationship with smoking behaviour, age, COPD, emphysema and tumour histopathology, and identify the molecular pathways underlying each subtype. METHODS: Methylation profiling was performed on 49 pairs of tumour and adjacent lung tissue using Illumina 450 K arrays. Transcriptome sequencing was performed using Illumina HiSeq2000 and validated using expression data from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA). Tumour immune cell infiltration was investigated by immunohistochemistry. RESULTS: Unsupervised hierarchical clustering of tumour methylation data revealed two subgroups characterised by a significant association between cluster membership and presence of COPD (p=0.024). Ontology analysis of genes containing differentially methylated CpGs (false discovery rate, FDR-adjusted p<0.05) revealed that immune genes were strongly enriched in COPD tumours, but not in non-COPD tumours. This COPD-specific immune signature was attributable to methylation changes in immune genes expressed either by tumour cells or tumour-infiltrating immune cells. No such differences were observed in adjacent tissue. Transcriptome profiling similarly revealed that genes involved in the immune response were differentially expressed in COPD tumours (FDR-adjusted p<0.05), an observation that was independently replicated using TCGA data. Immunohistochemistry validated these findings, revealing fewer CD4-positive T lymphocytes in tumours derived from patients with COPD. CONCLUSIONS: Lung tumours of patients with COPD differ from those of patients without COPD, with differentially methylated and expressed genes being mainly involved in the immune response.

A decade of extended-criteria lung donors in a single center: was it justified?

Despite a worldwide need to expand the lung donor pool, approximately 75% of lung offers are not accepted for transplantation. We investigated the impact of liberalizing lung donor acceptance criteria during the last decade on the number of effective transplants and early and late outcomes in our center. All 514 consecutive lung transplants (LTx) performed between Jan 2000 and Oct 2011 were included. Donors were classified as matching standard criteria (SCD; n = 159) or extended criteria (ECD; n = 272) in case they fulfilled at least one of the following criteria: age >55 years, PaO2 /FiO2 at PEEP 5 cmH2 O < 300 mmHg at time of offer, presence of abnormalities on chest X-ray, smoking history, presence of aspiration, presence of chest trauma, or donation after circulatory death. Outcome parameters were primary graft dysfunction (PGD) grade at 0, 12, 24, and 48 h after LTx, time to extubation, stay in intensive care unit (ICU), early and late infection, acute rejection and bronchiolitis obliterans syndrome (BOS), and survival. Two hundred and seventy-two recipients (63.1%) received ECD lungs. PGD grade at T0 was similar between groups, while at T12 (<0.01), T24 (<0.01), and T48 (<0.05), PGD3 was observed more often in ECDs. ICU stay (P < 0.05) was longer in ECDs compared with SCDs. Time to extubation, respiratory infections, acute rejection, lymphocytic bronchiolitis, BOS, and survival were not different between groups. Accepting ECDs contributed in increasing the number of lung transplants performed in our center. Although this lung donor strategy has an impact on early postoperative outcome, liberalizing criteria did not influence long-term outcome after LTx.

Bronchial valve treatment for pulmonary air leak after anatomical lung resection for cancer.

A persistent post-operative pulmonary expiratory air leak after an anatomical pulmonary resection is usually managed conservatively, but can be associated with significant morbidity and increased costs. The use of bronchial valves is a minimally invasive method that may be an effective and safe treatment in this setting. In a prospective study, the clinical efficacy of intrabronchial valve treatment in patients with a prolonged persistent pulmonary air leak after anatomical surgical resection for cancer was investigated. 10 out of 277 patients with anatomical pulmonary resection for cancer were included, and 90% were scheduled for valve treatment. We demonstrated an air leak cessation at a median of 2 days after valve placement, which resulted in chest tube removal at a median of 4 days after valve placement. Elective removal of the intrabronchial valves could be safely planned 3 weeks after valve implantation. Lung function alteration associated with airway occlusion by valves was limited. Intrabronchial valve treatment with the aid of a digital thoracic drainage system is an effective and safe therapy for patients with a prolonged pulmonary air leak after anatomical lung resection for cancer.

Characterisation of solitary pulmonary lesions combining visual perfusion and quantitative diffusion MR imaging.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the diagnostic accuracy of dynamic contrast-enhanced (DCE) magnetic resonance (MR) and diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI) sequences for defining benignity or malignancy of solitary pulmonary lesions (SPL). METHODS: First, 54 consecutive patients with SPL, clinically staged (CT and PET or integrated PET-CT) as N0M0, were included in this prospective study. An additional 3-Tesla MR examination including DCE and DWI was performed 1 day before the surgical procedure. Histopathology of the surgical specimen served as the standard of reference. Subsequently, this functional method of SPL characterisation was validated with a second cohort of 54 patients. RESULTS: In the feasibility group, 11 benign and 43 malignant SPL were included. Using the combination of conventional MR sequences with visual interpretation of DCE-MR curves resulted in a sensitivity, specificity and accuracy of 100%, 55% and 91%, respectively. These results can be improved by DWI (with a cut-off value of 1.52 × 10(-3) mm(2)/s for ADChigh) leading to a sensitivity, specificity and accuracy of 98%, 82% and 94%, respectively. In the validation group these results were confirmed. CONCLUSION: Visual DCE-MR-based curve interpretation can be used for initial differentiation of benign from malignant SPL, while additional quantitative DWI-based interpretation can further improve the specificity. KEY POINTS: • Magnetic resonance imaging is increasingly being used to help differentiate lung lesions. • Solitary pulmonary lesions (SPL) are accurately characterised by combining DCE-MRI and DWI. • Visual DCE-MRI assessment facilitates the diagnostic throughput in patients with SPL. • DWI provides additional information in inconclusive DCE-MRI (type B pattern).

Complex situations in lung cancer: multifocal disease, oligoprogression and oligorecurrence.

With the emergence of lung cancer screening programmes and newly detected localised and multifocal disease, novel treatment compounds and multimodal treatment approaches, the treatment landscape of non-small cell lung cancer is becoming increasingly complex. In parallel, in-depth molecular analyses and clonality studies are revealing more information about tumorigenesis, potential therapeutical targets and the origin of lesions. All can play an important role in cases with multifocal disease, oligoprogression and oligorecurrence. In multifocal disease, it is essential to understand the relatedness of separate lesions for treatment decisions, because this information distinguishes separate early-stage tumours from locally advanced or metastatic cancer. Clonality studies suggest that a majority of same-histology lesions represent multiple primary tumours. With the current standard of systemic treatment, oligoprogression after an initial treatment response is a common scenario. In this state of induced oligoprogressive disease, local ablative therapy by either surgery or radiotherapy is becoming increasingly important. Another scenario involves the emergence of a limited number of metastases after radical treatment of the primary tumour, referred to as oligorecurrence, for which the use of local ablative therapy holds promise in improving survival. Our review addresses these complex situations in lung cancer by discussing current evidence, knowledge gaps and treatment recommendations.

Results of an exploratory survey within ESTS membership in 2022 on current trend of robotic-assisted thoracic surgery and its training perspectives.

OBJECTIVES: Robotic-assisted thoracic surgery (RATS) is increasingly used in our specialty. We surveyed European Society of Thoracic Surgeons membership with the objective to determine current status of robotic thoracic surgery practice including training perspectives. METHODS: A survey of 17 questions was rolled out with 1 surgeon per unit responses considered as acceptable. RESULTS: A total of 174 responses were obtained; 56% (97) were board-certified thoracic surgeons; 28% (49) were unit heads. Most responses came from Italy (20); 22% (38) had no robot in their institutions, 31% (54) had limited access and only 17% (30) had full access including proctoring. Da Vinci Xi was the commonest system in 56% (96) centres, 25% (41) of them had dual console in all systems, whereas RATS simulator was available only in half (51.18% or 87). Video-assisted thoracic surgery (VATS) was the most commonly adopted surgical approach in 81% of centres (139), followed by thoracotomy in 67% (115) and RATS in 36% (62); 39% spent their training time on robotic simulator for training, 51% on robotic wet/dry lab, which being no significantly different to 46-59% who had training on VATS platform. There was indeed huge overlap between simulator models or varieties usage; 52% (90) reported of robotic surgery not a part of training curriculum with no plans to introduce it in future. Overall, 51.5% (89) responded of VATS experience being helpful in robotic training in view of familiarity with minimally invasive surgery anatomical views and dissection; 71% (124) reported that future thoracic surgeons should be proficient in both VATS and RATS. Half of the respondents found no difference in earlier chest drain removal with either approach (90), 35% (60) reported no difference in postoperative pain and 49% (84) found no difference in hospital stay; 52% (90) observed better lymph node harvest by RATS. CONCLUSIONS: Survey concluded on a positive response with at least 71% (123) surgeons recommending to adopt robotics in future.

Diagnosis and Management of Esophageal Fistulas After Lung Transplantation: A Case Series.

Background: Lung transplantations are highly complex procedures, often conducted in frail patients. Through the addition of immunosuppressants, healing can be compromised, primarily leading to the development of bronchopleural fistulas. Although esophageal fistulas (EFs) after lung transplantation remain rare, they are associated with significant morbidity. We aimed to investigate the clinical presentation, diagnostic approaches, and treatment strategies of EF after lung transplantation. Methods: All patients who developed EF after lung transplantation at the University Hospitals Leuven between January 2019 and March 2022 were retrospectively reviewed and the clinical presentations, diagnostic approaches, and treatment strategies were summarized. Results: Among 212 lung transplantation patients, 5 patients (2.4%) developed EF. Three patients were male and median age was 39 y (range, 34-63). Intraoperative circulatory support was required in 3 patients, with 2 needing continued support postoperatively. Bipolar energy devices were consistently used for mediastinal hemostasis. All EFs were right-sided. Median time to diagnosis was 28 d (range, 12-48) and 80% of EFs presented as recurrent respiratory infections or empyema. Diagnosis was made through computed tomography (n = 3) or esophagogastroscopy (n = 2). Surgical repair with muscle flap covering achieved an 80% success rate. All patients achieved complete resolution, with only 1 patient experiencing a fatal outcome during a complicated EF-related recovery. Conclusion: Although EF after lung transplantation remains rare, vigilance is crucial, particularly in cases of right-sided intrathoracic infection. Moreover, caution must be exercised when applying thermal energy in the mediastinal area to prevent EF development and mitigate the risk of major morbidity. Timely diagnosis and surgical intervention can yield favorable outcomes.

Implementation of an enhanced recovery protocol for lung volume reduction surgery: an observational cohort study.

OBJECTIVES: Lung volume reduction surgery (LVRS) is an established therapeutic option for advanced emphysema. To improve patients' safety and reduce complications, an enhanced recovery protocol (ERP) was implemented. This study aims to describe and evaluate the short-term outcome of this ERP. METHODS: This retrospective single-centre study included all consecutive LVRS patients (1 January 2017 until 15 September 2020). An ERP for LVRS was implemented and stepwise optimised from 1 August 2019, it consisted of changes in pre-, peri- and postoperative care pathways. Patients were compared before and after implementation of ERP. Primary outcome was incidence of postoperative complications (Clavien-Dindo), and secondary outcomes included chest tube duration, incidence of prolonged air leak (PAL), length of stay (LOS) and 90-day mortality. Lung function and exercise capacity were evaluated at 3 and 6 months post-LVRS. RESULTS: Seventy-six LVRS patients were included (pre-ERP: n=41, ERP: n=35). The ERP cohort presented with lower incidence of postoperative complications (42% vs 83%, P=0.0002), shorter chest tube duration (4 vs 12 days, P<0.0001) with a lower incidence of PAL (21% vs 61%, P=0.0005) and shorter LOS (6 vs 14 days, P<0.0001). No in-hospital mortality occurred in the ERP cohort versus 4 pre-ERP. Postoperative forced expiratory volume in 1 s was higher in the ERP cohort compared to pre-ERP at 3 months (1.35 vs 1.02 l) and at 6 months (1.31 vs 1.01 l). CONCLUSIONS: Implementation of ERP as part of a comprehensive reconceptualisation towards LVRS, demonstrated fewer postoperative complications, including PAL, resulting in reduced LOS. Improved short-term functional outcomes were observed at 3 and 6 months.