The Society of Thoracic Surgeons Expert Consensus Document on the Management of Pleural Drains After Pulmonary Lobectomy: Expert Consensus Document.

The Society of Thoracic Surgeons Workforce on Evidence-Based Surgery provides this document on management of pleural drains after pulmonary lobectomy. The goal of this consensus document is to provide guidance regarding pleural drains in 5 specific areas: (1) choice of drain, including size, type, and number; (2) management, including use of suction vs water seal and criteria for removal; (3) imaging recommendations, including the use of daily and postpull chest roentgenograms; (4) use of digital drainage systems; and (5) management of prolonged air leak. To formulate the consensus statements, a task force of 15 general thoracic surgeons was invited to review the existing literature on this topic. Consensus was obtained using a modified Delphi method consisting of 2 rounds of voting until 75% agreement on the statements was reached. A total of 13 consensus statements are provided to encourage standardization and stimulate additional research in this important area.

The Society of Thoracic Surgeons/American Society for Radiation Oncology Updated Clinical Practice Guidelines on Multimodality Therapy for Locally Advanced Cancer of the Esophagus or Gastroesophageal Junction.

Outcomes for patients with esophageal cancer have improved over the last decade with the implementation of multimodality therapy. There are currently no comprehensive guidelines addressing multidisciplinary management of esophageal cancer that have incorporated the input of surgeons, radiation oncologists, and medical oncologists. To address the need for multidisciplinary input in the management of esophageal cancer and to meet current best practices for clinical practice guidelines, the current guidelines were created as a collaboration between The Society of Thoracic Surgeons (STS), American Society for Radiation Oncology (ASTRO), and the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO). Physician representatives chose 8 key clinical questions pertinent to the care of patients with locally advanced, resectable thoracic esophageal cancer (excluding cervical location). A comprehensive literature review was performed identifying 227 articles that met the inclusion criteria covering the use of induction chemotherapy, chemotherapy vs chemoradiotherapy before surgery, optimal radiation dose, the value of esophagectomy, timing of esophagectomy, the approach and extent of lymphadenectomy, the use of minimally invasive esophagectomy, and the value of adjuvant therapy after resection. The relevant data were reviewed and voted on by the panel with 80% of the authors, with 75% agreement on class and level of evidence. These data were then complied into the guidelines document.

The Society of Thoracic Surgeons/American Society for Radiation Oncology Updated Clinical Practice Guidelines on Multimodality Therapy for Locally Advanced Cancer of the Esophagus or Gastroesophageal Junction.

Outcomes for patients with esophageal cancer have improved over the last decade with the implementation of multimodality therapy. There are currently no comprehensive guidelines addressing multidisciplinary management of esophageal cancer that have incorporated the input of surgeons, radiation oncologists, and medical oncologists. To address the need for multidisciplinary input in the management of esophageal cancer and to meet current best practices for clinical practice guidelines, the current guidelines were created as a collaboration between The Society of Thoracic Surgeons (STS), American Society for Radiation Oncology (ASTRO), and the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO). Physician representatives chose 8 key clinical questions pertinent to the care of patients with locally advanced, resectable thoracic esophageal cancer (excluding cervical location). A comprehensive literature review was performed identifying 227 articles that met the inclusion criteria covering the use of induction chemotherapy, chemotherapy vs chemoradiotherapy before surgery, optimal radiation dose, the value of esophagectomy, timing of esophagectomy, the approach and extent of lymphadenectomy, the use of minimally invasive esophagectomy, and the value of adjuvant therapy after resection. The relevant data were reviewed and voted on by the panel with 80% of the authors, with 75% agreement on class and level of evidence. These data were then complied into the guidelines document.

Bronchoscopic Valve Treatment of End-Stage Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease.

Endobronchial valve therapy has evolved over the past decade, with demonstration of significant improvements in pulmonary function, 6-minute walk distance, and quality of life in patients with end-stage chronic obstructive lung disease. Appropriate patient selection is crucial, with identification of the most diseased lobe and of a target lobe with minimal to no collateral ventilation. Endobronchial valve therapy typically is utilized in patients with heterogeneous disease but may be indicated in select patients with homogeneous disease. Morbidity and mortality have been lower than historically reported with lung volume reduction surgery, but complications related to pneumothoraces remain a challenge.

The Society of Thoracic Surgeons General Thoracic Surgery Database: 2019 Update on Research.

The Society of Thoracic Surgeons (STS) Workforce on Research Development and the STS Research Center currently offer 3 outcomes research platforms using the STS General Thoracic Surgery Database: (1) the traditional Access and Publications Program supports STS-sponsored projects with data analysis conducted at an STS-approved data analytic center, (2) the STS Task Force for Funded Research supports STS investigators pursuing extramural research funding for projects incorporating STS National Database data linked to other data sets such as Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, and (3) the Participant User File (PUF) program that provides deidentified patient-level data files from the STS General Thoracic Surgery Database to investigators with approved projects to be analyzed at their institution. This report includes an updated review of each program in addition to an outline of 2019-based articles published or accepted.

ACR Appropriateness Criteria® Lung Cancer Screening.

Lung cancer remains the leading cause of cancer death in both men and women. Smoking is the single greatest risk factor for the development of lung cancer. For patients between the age of 55 and 80 with 30 or more pack years smoking history who currently smoke or who have quit within the last 15 years should undergo lung cancer screening with low-dose CT. In patients who do not meet these criteria but who have additional risk factors for lung cancer, lung cancer screening with low-dose CT is controversial but may be appropriate. Imaging is not recommended for lung cancer screening of patient younger than 50 years of age or patients older than 80 years of age or patients of any age with less than 20 packs per year history of smoking and no additional risk factor (ie, radon exposure, occupational exposure, cancer history, family history of lung cancer, history of COPD, or history of pulmonary fibrosis). The American College of Radiology Appropriateness Criteria are evidence-based guidelines for specific clinical conditions that are reviewed annually by a multidisciplinary expert panel. The guideline development and revision include an extensive analysis of current medical literature from peer reviewed journals and the application of well-established methodologies (RAND/UCLA Appropriateness Method and Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development, and Evaluation or GRADE) to rate the appropriateness of imaging and treatment procedures for specific clinical scenarios. In those instances where evidence is lacking or equivocal, expert opinion may supplement the available evidence to recommend imaging or treatment.

Office-Based Spirometry: A New Model of Care in Preoperative Assessment for Low-Risk Lung Resections.

BACKGROUND: Formal pulmonary function testing with laboratory spirometry (LS) is the standard of care for risk stratification before lung resection. LS and handheld office spirometry (OS) are clinically comparable for forced expiratory volume in 1 second and forced vital capacity. We investigated the safety of preoperative risk stratification based solely on OS. METHODS: Patients at low-risk for cardiopulmonary complications were enrolled in a single-center prospective study and underwent preoperative OS. Formal LS was not performed when forced expiratory volume in 1 second was more than 60% by OS. Propensity score matching was used to compare patients in the OS group to low-risk institutional database patients (2008 to 2015) who underwent LS and lung resection. Standardized mean differences determined model covariate balance. The McNemar test and log-rank test were performed, respectively, for categorical and continuous paired outcome data. RESULTS: There were 66 prospectively enrolled patients who received OS and underwent pulmonary resection, and 1,290 patients received preoperative LS, resulting in 52 propensity score-matched pairs (83%). There were no deaths and two 30-day readmissions per group. The major morbidity risk was similar in each group (7.7%). All analyses of discordant pair morbidity had p exceeding 0.56. There was no association between length of stay and exposure to OS vs LS (p = 0.31). The estimated annual institutional cost savings from performing OS only and avoiding LS was $38,000. CONCLUSIONS: Low-risk patients undergoing lung resection can be adequately and safely assessed using OS without formal LS, with significant cost savings. With upcoming bundled care reimbursement paradigms, such safe and effective strategies are likely to be more widely used.

Adjuvant Chemotherapy Is Associated With Improved Survival in Locally Invasive Node Negative Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer.

BACKGROUND: The objectives of this study are to explore factors that are associated with use of adjuvant chemotherapy and to evaluate its impact on overall survival in node-negative patients who undergo lung and chest wall resection for non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). METHODS: Patients who underwent concomitant lung and chest wall resection for NSCLC were abstracted from the National Cancer Database. Clinical, pathologic, treatment, and follow-up data were obtained. Patients with pathologic nodal metastases or patients who received any radiation treatment were excluded, and the cohort was dichotomized based on administration of adjuvant postoperative chemotherapy. RESULTS: Between 1998 and 2010, 824 patients met the inclusion criteria. This cohort exclusively consisted of pT3 N0 patients who did not receive any induction treatment or adjuvant radiation treatment. Adjuvant chemotherapy was administered to 255 patients (31%). Patients in the chemotherapy group were younger and had shorter inpatient length of stay. Both groups had similar comorbidities, tumor size, unplanned readmission rate, and incomplete resection rate. In multivariable analysis, younger age and shorter length of stay were associated with a greater likelihood of receiving adjuvant chemotherapy. Adjuvant chemotherapy was associated with improved survival (hazard ratio 0.74, 95% CI: 0.6 to 0.9), whereas increasing age, white race, length of inpatient stay, tumor size, and residual tumor were independently associated with greater risk of death. CONCLUSIONS: Patients who undergo lobectomy with chest wall resection for locally advanced NSCLC should be strongly considered for postoperative adjuvant chemotherapy even in the absence of nodal disease. Actual selection of patients for adjuvant chemotherapy is affected by perioperative factors.

Defining the Ideal Time Interval Between Planned Induction Therapy and Surgery for Stage IIIA Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer.

BACKGROUND: Induction therapy leads to significant improvement in survival for selected patients with stage IIIA non-small cell lung cancer. The ideal time interval between induction therapy and surgery remains unknown. METHODS: Clinical stage IIIA non-small cell lung cancer patients receiving induction therapy and surgery were identified in the National Cancer Database. Delayed surgery was defined as greater than or equal to 3 months after starting induction therapy. A logistic regression model identified variables associated with delayed surgery. Cox proportional hazards modeling and Kaplan-Meier analysis were performed to evaluate variables independently associated with overall survival. RESULTS: From 2006 to 2010, 1,529 of 2,380 (64.2%) received delayed surgery. Delayed surgery patients were older (61.2 ± 10.0 years versus 60.3 ± 9.2; p = 0.03), more likely to be non-white (12.4% versus 9.7%; p = 0.046), and less likely to have private insurance (50% versus 58.2%; p = 0.002). Delayed surgery patients were also more likely to have a sublobar resection (6.3% versus 2.9%). On multivariate analysis, age greater than 68 years (odds ratio [OR], 1.37; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.1 to 1.7) was associated with delayed surgery, whereas white race (OR, 0.75; 95% CI, 0.57 to 0.99) and private insurance status (OR, 0.82; 95% CI, 0.68 to 0.99) were associated with early surgery. Delayed surgery was associated with higher risk of long-term mortality (hazard ratio, 1.25; 95% CI, 1.07 to 1.47). CONCLUSIONS: Delayed surgery after induction therapy for stage IIIA lung cancer is associated with shorter survival, and is influenced by both social and physiologic factors. Prospective work is needed to further characterize the relationship between patient comorbidities and functional status with receipt of timely surgery.

Patterns of care in hilar node-positive (N1) non-small cell lung cancer: A missed treatment opportunity?

BACKGROUND: For patients with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) metastatic to hilar lymph nodes (N1), guidelines recommend surgery and adjuvant chemotherapy in operable patients and chemoradiation (CRT) for those deemed inoperable. It is unclear how these recommendations are applied nationally, however. METHODS: The National Cancer Database was queried to identify patients with a tumor <7 cm (T1/T2) with clinically positive N1 nodes. Patients undergoing CRT (comprising chemotherapy and radiation >45 Gy) or surgical resection were considered adequately treated. Remaining patients were classified as receiving inadequate or no treatment. RESULTS: Of the 20,366 patients who met the study criteria, 63% underwent adequate treatment (48% surgical resection, 15% CRT). The remainder received inadequate treatment (23%) or no treatment (14%). In univariate analysis, the patients receiving inadequate or no treatment were older, tended to be non-Caucasian, had a lower income, and had a higher comorbidity score. Patients undergoing adequate treatment had improved overall survival (OS) compared with those receiving inadequate or no treatment (median OS, 34.0 months vs 11.7 months; P < .001). Of those receiving adequate treatment, logistic regression identified several variables associated with surgical resection, including treatment at an academic facility, Caucasian race, and annual income >$35,000. Increasing age and T2 stage were associated with nonoperative management. Following propensity score matching of 2308 patient pairs undergoing surgery or CRT, resection was associated with longer median OS (34.1 months vs 22.0 months; P < .001). CONCLUSIONS: Despite the established guidelines, many patients with T1-2N1 NSCLC do not receive adequate treatment. Surgery is associated with prolonged survival in selected patients. Surgical input in the multidisciplinary evaluation of these patients should be mandatory.

Adjuvant Therapy for Positive Nodes After Induction Therapy and Resection of Esophageal Cancer.

BACKGROUND: The value of adjuvant chemotherapy for patients with positive lymph nodes (+LNs) after induction therapy and resection of esophageal cancer is controversial. This study assesses survival benefit of adjuvant chemotherapy in this cohort. METHODS: We analyzed our single-institution database for patients with +LNs after induction therapy and resection of primary esophageal cancer between 2000 and 2013. Factors associated with survival were analyzed using a Cox proportional hazards model. RESULTS: A total of 101 of 764 esophagectomy patients received induction and had +LNs on final pathologic examination. Forty-five also received adjuvant therapy: 37 of 45 (82%) received chemotherapy alone, 1 of 45 (2%) received radiation alone, and 7 of 45 (16%) received both. Pathologic stage was IIB in 21 (47%), IIIA in 19 (42%), and IIIB in 5 (11%). In 56 node-positive patients with induction but not adjuvant therapy, pathologic stage was IIB in 28 (50%), IIIA in 18 (32%), IIIB in 7 (13%), and IIIC in 3 (5%). Neither age nor comorbidity score differed between cohorts. Adjuvant patients experienced a shorter hospital length of stay (mean, 10 days [range, 6 to 33 days] versus 11 days [range, 7 to 67 days]; p = 0.03]. Median survival favored the adjuvant group: 24.0 months (95% confidence interval, 16.6 to 32.2 months) versus 18.0 months (95% confidence interval, 11.1 to 25.0 months); p = 0.033). Multivariate Cox regression identified adjuvant therapy, length of stay, and number of +LNs as influential for survival. CONCLUSIONS: Optimal management of node-positive patients after induction therapy and esophagectomy remains unclear, but in this series, adjuvant therapy, length of stay, and number of +LNs impacted survival. A prospective trial may reduce potential bias and guide the evaluation of adjuvant therapy in this patient population.

Pneumonectomy for Clinical Stage IIIA Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer: The Effect of Neoadjuvant Therapy.

BACKGROUND: The role of pneumonectomy after neoadjuvant therapy for stage IIIA non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) remains uncertain. METHODS: Patients who underwent pneumonectomy for clinical stage IIIA NSCLC were abstracted from the National Cancer Database. Individuals treated with neoadjuvant therapy, followed by resection, were compared with those who underwent resection, followed by adjuvant therapy. Logistic regression was performed to identify factors associated with 30-day mortality. A Cox proportional hazards model was fitted to identify factors associated with survival. RESULTS: Pneumonectomy for stage IIIA NSCLC with R0 resection was performed in 1,033 patients; of these, 739 (71%) received neoadjuvant therapy, and 294 (29%) underwent resection, followed by adjuvant therapy. The two groups were well matched for age, gender, race, income, Charlson comorbidity score, and tumor size. The 30-day mortality rate in the neoadjuvant group was 7.8% (57 of 739). Median survival was similar between the two groups: 25.9 months neoadjuvant vs 31.3 months adjuvant (p = 0.74). A multivariable logistic regression model for 30-day mortality demonstrated that increasing age, annual income of less than $35,000, nonacademic facility, and right-sided resection were associated with an elevated risk of 30-day mortality. A multivariable Cox model for survival demonstrated that increasing age was predictive of shorter survival and that administration of neoadjuvant therapy did not confer a survival advantage over adjuvant therapy (p = 0.59). CONCLUSIONS: Most patients who require pneumonectomy for clinical stage IIIA NSCLC receive neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy, without an improvement in survival. In these patients, primary resection, followed by adjuvant chemoradiotherapy, may provide equivalent long-term outcomes.

Unexpected readmission after lung cancer surgery: A benign event?

OBJECTIVE: The study objective was to study the incidence, predictors, and implications of unanticipated early postoperative readmission after lung resection for non-small cell lung cancer. METHODS: Patients undergoing surgery for clinical stage I to III non-small cell lung cancer were abstracted from the National Cancer Database. Regression models were fitted to identify predictors of 30-day readmission and to study the association of unplanned readmission with 30-day and long-term survival. RESULTS: Between 1998 and 2010, 129,893 patients underwent resection for stage I to III non-small cell lung cancer. Of these, 5624 (4.3%) were unexpectedly readmitted within 30 days. In a multivariate regression model, increasing age, male gender, preoperative radiation, and pneumonectomy (odds ratio, 1.77; 95% confidence interval, 1.56-2.00) were associated with unexpected readmissions. Longer index hospitalization and higher Charlson comorbidity score were also predictive of readmission. The 30-day mortality for readmitted patients was higher (3.9% vs 2.8%), as was the 90-day mortality (7.0% vs 3.3%, both P < .001). In a multivariate Cox proportional hazards model of long-term survival, increasing age, higher Charlson comorbidity score, and higher pathologic stage (hazard ratio, for stage III 1.81; 95% confidence interval, 1.42-2.29) were associated with greater risk of mortality. Unplanned readmission was independently associated with a higher risk of long-term mortality (hazard ratio, 1.40; 95% confidence interval, 1.34-1.47). The median survival for readmitted patients was significantly shorter (38.7 vs 58.5 months, P < .001). CONCLUSIONS: Unplanned readmissions are not rare after resection for non-small cell lung cancer. Such events are associated with a greater risk of short- and long-term mortality. With the renewed national focus on readmissions and potential financial disincentives, greater resource allocation is needed to identify patients at risk and develop measures to avoid the associated adverse outcomes.

Treatment Outcomes in Stage I Lung Cancer: A Comparison of Surgery and Stereotactic Body Radiation Therapy.

INTRODUCTION: The relative roles of surgery and stereotactic body radiation therapy in stage I non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) are evolving particularly for marginally operable patients. Because there is limited prospective comparative data for these treatment modalities, we evaluated their relative use and outcomes at the population level using a national database. METHODS: Patient variables and treatment-related outcomes were abstracted for patients with clinical stage I NSCLC from the National Cancer Database. Patients receiving surgery were compared with those undergoing stereotactic body radiation therapy (SBRT) in exploratory unmatched and subsequent propensity matched analyses. RESULTS: Between 1998 and 2010, 117,618 patients underwent surgery or SBRT for clinical stage I NSCLC. Of these, 111,731 (95%) received surgery, whereas 5887 (5%) underwent SBRT. Patients in the surgery group were younger, more likely to be males, and had higher Charlson comorbidity scores. SBRT patients were more likely to have T1 (versus T2) tumors and receive treatment at academic centers. Thirty-day surgical mortality was 2596 of 109,485 (2.4%). Median overall survival favored the surgery group in both unmatched (68.4 versus 33.3 months, p < 0.001) and matched analysis based on patient characteristics (62.3 versus 33.1 months, p < 0.001). Disease-specific survival was unavailable from the data set. CONCLUSION: In a propensity matched comparison, patients selected for surgery have improved survival compared with SBRT. In the absence of information on cause of death and with limited variables to characterize comorbidity, it is not possible to assess the relative contribution of patient selection or better cancer control toward the improved survival. Rigorous prospective studies are needed to optimize patient selection for SBRT in the high-risk surgical population.

Pathologic Upstaging in Patients Undergoing Resection for Stage I Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer: Are There Modifiable Predictors?

BACKGROUND: A substantial proportion of patients with clinical stage I non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) have more advanced disease on final pathologic review. We studied potentially modifiable factors that may predict pathologic upstaging. METHODS: Data of patients with clinical stage I NSCLC undergoing resection were obtained from the National Cancer Database. Univariate and multivariate analyses were performed to identify variables that predict upstaging. RESULTS: From 1998 to 2010, 55,653 patients with clinical stage I NSCLC underwent resection; of these, 9,530 (17%) had more advanced disease on final pathologic review. Of the 9,530 upstaged patients, 27% had T3 or T4 tumors, 74% had positive lymph nodes (n > 0), and 4% were found to have metastatic disease (M1). Patients with larger tumors (38 mm vs 29 mm, p < 0.001) and a delay greater than 8 weeks from diagnosis to resection were more likely to be upstaged. Upstaged patients also had more lymph nodes examined (10.9 vs 8.2, p < 0.001) and were more likely to have positive resection margins (10% vs 2%, p < 0.001). Median survival was lower in upstaged patients (39 months vs 73 months). Predictors of upstaging in multivariate regression analysis included larger tumor size, delay in resection greater 8 weeks, positive resection margins, and number of lymph nodes examined. There was a linear relationship between the number of lymph nodes examined and the odds of upstaging (1 to 3 nodes, odds ratio [OR] 2.01; >18 nodes OR 6.14). CONCLUSIONS: Pathologic upstaging is a common finding with implications for treatment and outcomes in clinical stage I NSCLC. A thorough analysis of regional lymph nodes is critical to identify patients with more advanced disease.

The Role of Surgical Resection in Stage IIIA Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer: A Decision and Cost-Effectiveness Analysis.

BACKGROUND: This study evaluated the cost-effectiveness of combination chemotherapy, radiotherapy, and surgical intervention (CRS) vs definitive chemotherapy and radiotherapy (CR) in clinical stage IIIA non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients at academic and nonacademic centers. METHODS: Patients with clinical stage IIIA NSCLC receiving CR or CRS from 1998 to 2010 were identified in the National Cancer Data Base. Propensity score matching on patient, tumor, and treatment characteristics was performed. Medicare allowable charges were used for treatment costs. The incremental cost-effectiveness ratio (ICER) was based on probabilistic 5-year survival and calculated as cost per life-year gained. RESULTS: We identified 5,265 CR and CRS matched patient pairs. Surgical resection imparted an increased effectiveness of 0.83 life-years, with an ICER of $17,618. Among nonacademic centers, 1,634 matched CR and CRS patients demonstrated a benefit with surgical resection of 0.86 life-years gained, for an ICER of $17,124. At academic centers, 3,201 matched CR and CRS patients had increased survival of 0.81 life-years with surgical resection, for an ICER of $18,144. Finally, 3,713 CRS patients were matched between academic and nonacademic centers. Academic center surgical patients had an increased effectiveness of 1.5 months gained and dominated the model with lower surgical cost estimates associated with lower 30-day mortality rates. CONCLUSIONS: In stage IIIA NSCLC, the selective addition of surgical resection to CR is cost-effective compared with definitive chemoradiation therapy at nonacademic and academic centers. These conclusions are valid over a range of clinically meaningful variations in cost and treatment outcomes.