Streamlining lung cancer management in Nova Scotia amid COVID-19: pooled triaging for expedited curative-intent oncologic surgery.

BACKGROUND: The effect of the COVID-19 pandemic on the diagnosis and management of lung cancer in Canada is not fully understood. We sought to quantify the provincial volume of diagnostic imaging, thoracic surgeon referrals, time to surgery after referral, and pathologic staging for curative surgery in the context of the pandemic, as well as explore the effect of a pooled patient model, which was implemented to prioritize surgeries for lung cancer and mitigate the effects of the pandemic. METHODS: We conducted a retrospective cohort study of patients who underwent diagnostic imaging in Nova Scotia and were subsequently referred to a thoracic surgeon at the province's only tertiary care centre for surgical management of their primary lung cancer before (Mar. 1, 2019, to Feb. 29, 2020) and during (Mar. 1, 2020, to Feb. 28, 2021) the COVID-19 pandemic. We conducted a survey to capture the patient and surgeon experience with a pooled patient model of managing surgical oncology cases. RESULTS: Compared with the pre-COVID-19 period, the overall volume of chest radiography and chest computed tomography decreased by 30.9% (p < 0.001) and 18.7% (p = 0.002), respectively, in the COVID-19 period. Thoracic surgeon referrals, operative approach, extent of resection, length of hospital stay, and pathologic staging did not significantly differ. Time from referral to surgery was significantly shorter during the COVID-19 period (mean 196.8 d v. 157.9 d, p = 0.04). A pooled patient approach contributed to positive patient satisfaction. CONCLUSION: The COVID-19 pandemic was associated with reductions in rates of diagnostic imaging and referrals to thoracic surgeons for management of pulmonary cancer. A pooled patient model was used to mitigate the effects of the pandemic on lung cancer management and was positively received by patients. An extended study period is needed to determine the full effect of this redistribution of resources.

Congenital adult tracheoesophageal fistula repair with transthoracic ventilation: a case report.

PURPOSE: To describe our experience using transthoracic ventilation to facilitate oral endotracheal tube (ETT) exchange after accidental ETT cuff rupture during a case of congenital tracheoesophageal fistula (TEF) repair. CLINICAL FEATURES: A 53-yr-old male underwent a congenital H-type TEF repair via right-sided thoracotomy with a single-lumen ETT and a bronchial blocker. A large air leak developed after ETT cuff rupture during fistula closure. Transthoracic intubation via tracheotomy was performed to continue ventilation during an oral ETT exchange in the lateral position. No hypoxia or hemodynamic compromise occurred. CONCLUSIONS: Airway device choice for TEF repair must be carefully considered in conjunction with the surgical team. In the present case of accidental ETT cuff rupture, rescue transthoracic ventilation safely facilitated oral ETT exchange.

RéSUMé: OBJECTIF: Décrire notre expérience avec la ventilation transthoracique pour faciliter l'échange de sonde endotrachéale (SET) orale après la rupture accidentelle du ballonnet de la SET lors d'un cas de réparation d'une fistule trachéo-oesophagienne (FTO) congénitale. CARACTéRISTIQUES CLINIQUES: Un homme de 53 ans a bénéficié d'une réparation de FTO congénitale de type H via une thoracotomie du côté droit avec une SET à simple lumière et un bloqueur bronchique. Une importante fuite d'air est apparue après la rupture du ballonnet de la SET lors de la fermeture de la fistule. Une intubation transthoracique par trachéotomie a été réalisée pour poursuivre la ventilation pendant un échange de SET orale en position latérale. Aucune hypoxie ou trouble hémodynamique ne s'est produit. CONCLUSION: Le choix du dispositif pour voies aériennes pour une réparation de FTO doit être soigneusement examiné en collaboration avec l'équipe chirurgicale. Dans le cas présent d'une rupture accidentelle du ballonnet de la SET, la ventilation transthoracique de secours a facilité un échange de SET orale en toute sécurité.

Cross sectional analysis of student-led surgical societies in fostering medical student interest in Canada.

BACKGROUND: The objective of this study was to examine how surgery interest groups (SIGs) across Canada function and influence medical students' interest in surgical careers. METHODS: Two unique surveys were distributed using a cross sectional design. The first was sent to SIG executives and the second to SIG members enrolled at a Canadian medical school in the 2016/17 academic year. The prior focused on the types of events hosted, SIG structure/ supports, and barriers/ plans for improvement. The second questionnaire focused on student experience, involvement, and suggestions for improvement. RESULTS: SIG executives became involved in SIG through classmates and colleagues (8/17, 47%). Their roles focused on organizing events (17/17, 100%), facilitating student contact with resident/surgeons (17/17, 100%), and organizing funding (13/17, 76%). Surgical skills events were among the most successful and well received by students (15/17, 88%). Major barriers faced by SIG executives during their tenure included time conflicts with other interest groups (13/17, 76%), lack of funding (8/17, 47%), and difficulty booking spaces for events (8,17, 47%). SIGs were found to facilitate improvement in basic surgical skills (µ = 3.89/5 ± 0.70) in a comfortable environment (µ = 4.02/5, ±0.6), but were not helpful with final block examinations (µ = 2.98/5, ±0.80). Members indicated that more skills sessions, panel discussion and shadowing opportunities would be beneficial additions. Overall, members felt that SIGs increased their interest in surgical careers (µ = 3.50/5, ±0.79). CONCLUSION: Canadian SIGs not only play a critical role in early exposure, but may provide a foundation to contribute to student success in surgery.

RBC transfusion is associated with increased risk of respiratory failure after pneumonectomy.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Pneumonectomy is associated with high risk of respiratory complications. Our objective was to determine if transfusions are associated with increased rate of ARDS and respiratory failure in adults undergoing elective pneumonectomy. METHODS: Retrospective cohort study of consecutive pneumonectomies undertaken at a tertiary hospital (2003-2013). Multivariable logistic regression was performed to adjust for confounding factors. RESULTS: ARDS and respiratory failure occurred in 12.4% (n = 20) and 19.2% (n = 31) of 161 pneumonectomy patients, respectively, and were more likely to occur in transfused patients (P = 0.03, P < 0.001). pRBCs, FFP and platelets were transfused in 27% (n = 43), 6% (n = 9), and 2% (n = 3), respectively. On multivariable analyses utilizing blood products as continuous and binary variables, pRBC use was the only independent predictor of ARDS with odds ratio (OR) = 1.23 (95%CI:1.08-1.39, P = 0.002) and OR = 2.45 (95%CI:1.10-5.49, P = 0.03), respectively. On multivariable analyses utilizing blood products as continuous and binary variables, pRBCs were the only independent predictor of respiratory failure with OR = 1.37 (95%CI:1.16-1.60, P < 0.001) and OR = 3.17 (95%CI:1.25-8.02, P = 0.02), respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Peri-operative pRBC use appears to be an independent risk factor for ARDS and respiratory failure after pneumonectomy. There is a significant dose-response relationship. Platelets and FFP did not appear to increase ARDS risk but this may be due to low utilization.

The effect of loss to follow-up on treatment of blunt traumatic thoracic aortic injury.

OBJECTIVE: Loss to follow-up (LTFU) can be a major difficulty for any clinical research study. The objective of this systematic review was to assess the extent of LTFU and its potential effect in studies of adult trauma patients with blunt thoracic aortic injuries (BTAIs). METHODS: Studies comparing management of BTAIs were systematically reviewed. Duplicate independent review was used for study selection, data abstraction, and critical appraisals. RESULTS: Thirty-six studies were included for synthesis, of which 94.1% applied a retrospective cohort design to prospective institutional databases. The mean LTFU at 1 year was 26.5% ± 31.6% for endovascular repair and 20.6% ± 34.2% for open repair groups. Not having a surgical/interventional specialist as a first or senior author was associated with a 39.7% higher LTFU at 1 year (P = .002). Studies with a higher risk of bias, later publication year, or North American origin were associated with a significantly higher risk for LTFU at 1 year (P ≤ .001). Nearly half of included studies assessed in-hospital outcomes exclusively. Only 38.2% explicitly reported LTFU data. Eight studies explicitly described the method of dealing with LTFU: eight used survival analysis and one used a national Social Security Death Index. Sensitivity analyses using plausible worst-case LTFU scenarios resulted in 14% to 17% of studies changing direction of effect. CONCLUSIONS: There is significant LTFU in trauma studies comparing operative methods for BTAIs. LTFU is generally handled and reported suboptimally, and sensitivity analyses suggest that study results are sensitive to differential LTFU. This has implications for the evidence-based choice of the operative method. Some protective factors that may aid in reducing LTFU were identified, one of which was involvement of a surgical or interventional specialist as a key author.

Is it safe to wait? The effect of surgical wait time on survival in patients with non-small cell lung cancer.

BACKGROUND: The effect of surgical wait times on survival in patients with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) remains largely unknown. Our objective was to determine the effect of surgical wait time on survival and incidence of upstaging in patients with stage I and II NSCLC. METHODS: All patients with clinical stage I and II NSCLC who underwent surgical resection in a single centre between January 2010 and December 2011 were reviewed. Analysis was stratified based on preoperative clinical stage. We assessed the effect of wait time on survival using a Cox proportional hazard model with wait time in months as a categorical variable. Incidence of upstaging at least 1 stage was assessed using logistic regression. RESULTS: We identified 222 patients: 180 were stage I and 42 were stage II. For stage I, wait times up to 4 months had no significant effect on survival or incidence of upstaging. For stage II, patients waiting between 2 and 3 months had significantly decreased survival (hazard ratio 3.6, p = 0.036) and increased incidence of upstaging (odds ratio 2.0, p = 0.020) than those waiting 0 to 1 month. For those waiting between 1 and 2 months, there was no significant difference in survival or upstaging. CONCLUSION: We did not identify an effect of wait time up to 4 months on survival or upstaging for patients with stage I NSCLC. For patients with stage II disease, wait times greater than 2 months adversely affected survival and upstaging.

CONTEXTE: En chirurgie, l'effet des temps d'attente sur la survie des patients atteints d'un cancer du poumon non à petites cellules (CPNPC) demeure pour une bonne part inconnu. Notre objectif était de déterminer l'effet des temps d'attente sur la survie et sur l'incidence de la restadification à un niveau plus élevé chez les patients atteints d'un CPNPC de stade I et II. MÉTHODES: Tous les patients présentant un CPNPC clinique de stade I et II ayant subi une résection chirurgicale dans un seul centre entre janvier 2010 et décembre 2011 ont été passés en revue. L'analyse a été stratifiée selon le stade clinique préopératoire. Nous avons évalué l'effet des temps d'attente sur la survie à l'aide d'un modèle de risques proportionnels de Cox, les temps d'attente en mois ayant servi de variable catégorielle. L'incidence de la restadification à la hausse d'au moins un stade a été évaluée par régression logistique. RÉSULTATS: Nous avons recensé 222 patients : 180 de stade I et 42 de stade II. Pour le stade I, les temps d'attente allant jusqu'à 4 mois n'ont eu aucun effet significatif sur la survie ou sur l'incidence de la restadification. Pour les stades II, les patients ayant attendu de 2 à trois 3 mois ont présenté une réduction significative de la survie (risque relatif 3,6, p = 0,036) et une incidence accrue de restadification (rapport des cotes 2,0, p = 0,02) comparativement à ceux qui avaient attendu 1 mois et moins. Chez les patients ayant attendu 1 ou 2 mois, on n'a noté aucune différence significative sur la survie ou la restadification. CONCLUSION: Nous n'avons observé aucun effet d'une attente allant jusqu'à 4 mois sur la survie ou la restadification chez les patients atteints d'un CPNPC de stade I. Pour les patients atteints d'une maladie de stade II, les temps d'attente de plus de 2 mois ont eu un impact négatif sur la survie et la restadification.

Primary esophageal melanoma: a case report.

Primary esophageal melanoma remains a rare entity with less than 350 case reports noted in the current literature. This diagnosis is associated with a poor prognosis and early detection and management remains fundamental. In this report, we examine the case of an 80-year-old female who presented with a 1-year course of progressive dysphagia and weight loss. Investigations revealed a primary esophageal melanoma with no evidence of metastases. Pathology did not identify any targetable markers for systematic therapy and thus the patient successfully underwent a minimally invasive esophagectomy. Her postoperative course involved endoscopic esophageal dilatations due to an anastomotic stricture, as well as primary lung adenocarcinoma treated with radiotherapy but has otherwise remained without evidence of melanoma recurrence after 25 months from her surgery.

Diversity in National Society Leadership and Podium Speakers in Cardiothoracic Surgery.

BACKGROUND: Women and people of color are often underrepresented in medicine. This study examined the inclusivity and diversity of the recent history of the Canadian Association of Thoracic Surgeons (CATS) in both its executive committees and invited participation at its annual meeting. METHODS: CATS internal records and previous programs of CATS annual meetings were reviewed from 1997 to 2020. Leadership positions, invited speakers, and award recipients were categorized by sex and race. RESULTS: Of 199 CATS members in 2020, 93 (47%) were White men, 64 (32%) were men of color, 24 (12%) were White women, and 18 (9%) were women of color. The majority of CATS presidents (86%), committee chairs (57%), named lecturers (88%), other invited speakers (67%), and major award winners (90%) were White men. Women and people of color were underrepresented. The Resident Research Award was the most diverse: of 23 awards, 10 (44%) have been to men of color, 6 (26%) to White men, 4 (15%) to women of color, and 2 (8%) to White women. CONCLUSIONS: There is a need for more representation and inclusion of both women and people of color at multiple levels in CATS. This includes opportunities for improvement in the make-up of its executive committees, the speakers at its annual conference, and the recipients of its awards. CATS has established an Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Task Force to address this critical issue.

Profiling non-small cell lung cancer reveals that PD-L1 is associated with wild type EGFR and vascular invasion, and immunohistochemistry quantification of PD-L1 correlates weakly with RT-qPCR.

Most lung cancer patients are diagnosed at an advanced stage, limiting their treatment options with very low response rate. Lung cancer is the most common cause of cancer death worldwide. Therapies that target driver gene mutations (e.g. EGFR, ALK, ROS1) and checkpoint inhibitors such anti-PD-1 and PD-L1 immunotherapies are being used to treat lung cancer patients. Identification of correlations between driver mutations and PD-L1 expression will allow for the best management of patient treatment. 851 cases of non-small cell lung cancer cases were profiled for the presence of biomarkers EGFR, KRAS, BRAF, and PIK3CA mutations by SNaPshot/sizing genotyping. Immunohistochemistry was used to identify the protein expression of ALK and PD-L1. Total PD-L1 mRNA expression (from unsorted tumor samples) was quantified by RT-qPCR in a sub-group of the cohort to assess its correlation with PD-L1 protein level in tumor cells. Statistical analysis revealed correlations between the presence of the mutations, PD-L1 expression, and the pathological data. Specifically, increased PD-L1 expression was associated with wildtype EGFR and vascular invasion, and total PD-L1 mRNA levels correlated weakly with protein expression on tumor cells. These data provide insights into driver gene mutations and immune checkpoint status in relation to lung cancer subtypes and suggest that RT-qPCR is useful for assessing PD-L1 levels.

Adjuvant melatonin for the prevention of recurrence and mortality following lung cancer resection (AMPLCaRe): A randomized placebo controlled clinical trial.

BACKGROUND: Despite curative intent resection in patients with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), recurrence leading to mortality remains too common. Melatonin has shown promise for the treatment of patients with lung cancer; however, its effect following cancer resection has not been studied. We evaluated if melatonin taken after complete resection reduces lung cancer recurrence and mortality, or impacts quality of life (QOL), symptomatology or immune function. METHODS: Participants received melatonin (20 mg) or placebo nightly for one year following surgical resection of primary NSCLC. The primary outcome was two-year disease-free survival (DFS). Secondary outcomes included five-year DFS, adverse events, QOL, fatigue, sleep, depression, anxiety, pain, and biomarkers assessing for immune function/inflammation. This study is registered at https://clinicaltrials.gov NCT00668707. FINDINGS: 709 patients across eight centres were randomized to melatonin (n = 356) versus placebo (n = 353). At two years, melatonin showed a relative risk of 1·01 (95% CI 0·83-1·22), p = 0·94 for DFS. At five years, melatonin showed a hazard ratio of 0·97 (95% CI 0·86-1·09), p = 0·84 for DFS. When stratified by cancer stage (I/II and III/IV), a hazard reduction of 25% (HR 0·75, 95% CI 0·61-0·92, p = 0·005) in five-year DFS was seen for participants in the treatment arm with advanced cancer (stage III/IV). No meaningful differences were seen in any other outcomes. INTERPRETATION: Adjuvant melatonin following resection of NSCLC does not affect DFS for patients with resected early stage NSCLC, yet may increase DFS in patients with late stage disease. Further study is needed to confirm this positive result. No beneficial effects were seen in QOL, symptoms, or immune function. FUNDING: This study was funded by the Lotte and John Hecht Memorial Foundation and the Gateway for Cancer Research Foundation.

Molecular profiling of non-small cell lung cancer.

Lung cancer is generally treated with conventional therapies, including chemotherapy and radiation. These methods, however, are not specific to cancer cells and instead attack every cell present, including normal cells. Personalized therapies provide more efficient treatment options as they target the individual's genetic makeup. The goal of this study was to identify the frequency of causal genetic mutations across a variety of lung cancer subtypes in the earlier stages. 833 samples of non-small cell lung cancer from 799 patients who received resection of their lung cancer, were selected for molecular analysis of six known mutations, including EGFR, KRAS, BRAF, PIK3CA, HER2 and ALK. A SNaPshot assay was used for point mutations and fragment analysis searched for insertions and deletions. ALK was evaluated by IHC +/- FISH. Statistical analysis was performed to determine correlations between molecular and clinical/pathological patient data. None of the tested variants were identified in most (66.15%) of cases. The observed frequencies among the total samples vs. only the adenocarcinoma cases were notable different, with the highest frequency being the KRAS mutation (24.49% vs. 35.55%), followed by EGFR (6.96% vs. 10.23%), PIK3CA (1.20% vs. 0.9%), BRAF (1.08% vs. 1.62%), ALK (0.12% vs. 0.18%), while the lowest was the HER2 mutation (0% for both). The statistical analysis yielded correlations between presence of a mutation with gender, cancer type, vascular invasion and smoking history. The outcome of this study will provide data that helps stratify patient prognosis and supports development of more precise treatments, resulting in improved outcomes for future lung cancer patients.

Treatment outcomes and incidence of brain metastases in pulmonary large cell neuroendocrine carcinoma.

INTRODUCTION: Large cell neuroendocrine carcinoma (LCNEC) is a rare type of high-grade pulmonary neuroendocrine tumor. The study objective is to investigate its survival outcomes, incidence of brain metastases, and patterns of recurrence. METHODS: This is a single center study of patients with pathologic diagnosis of pulmonary LCNEC. Patient data were collected retrospectively and analyzed, including survival, incidence of brain metastases, and patterns of recurrence. RESULTS: Of 87 patients (stages I: 24, II: 14, III: 23, IV: 26), 52 were managed curatively and 35 palliatively. The median follow-up time was 17.3 months (range 0.6-89.5) for those treated with curative intent and 7.0 months (range 0.1-28.6) for those treated palliatively. The 2- and 5-year overall survival (OS) rates are 48.4% and 25.5% for the curative group, with a median OS of 13.5 months. In the palliative group, the OS are 30.8% at 1 year and 6.8% at 2 years, with a median OS of 7.0 months. Thirty-eight of 52 (73%) patients treated with curative intent had disease relapse, with the common sites being regional lymph nodes (20), brain (18), bones (11), and liver (9). The incidence of brain recurrence among those managed curatively are 21.4% and 41.3%, respectively at 1 and 2 years. Of 18 patients experiencing brain metastases, 14 developed them as part of a first relapse. CONCLUSIONS: LCNEC's survival outcomes are poor. The incidence of brain metastases is higher than what is observed for other types of nonsmall cell lung cancers. Prophylactic cranial irradiation should be investigated as a means of improving outcomes.

Optimal management of postoperative parenchymal air leaks.

Air leaks are the most common complication after pulmonary resection. Enhanced recovery after surgery (ERAS) programs must be designed to manage parenchymal air leaks. ERAS programs should consider two components when creating protocols for air leaks: assessment and management. Accurate assessment of air leaks using traditional analogues devices, newer digital drainage systems, portable devices and chest X-rays (CXR) are reviewed. Published data suggests that digital drainage systems result in a more confident assessment of air leaks. The literature regarding the management of postoperative air leaks, including the number of chest tubes, the role of applied external suction, invasive maneuvers and discharge with a portable device is reviewed. The key findings are that a single chest drain is adequate in the majority of cases to manage an air leak, the use of applied external suction is unlikely to prevent or prolong an air leak, autologous blood patch pleurodesis may potentially shorten postoperative air leaks and there is sufficient data to support that patients can safely be discharged with a portable drainage system. There is also literature to support the design of protocols for management of postoperative air leaks. Standardization of postoperative care through ERAS programs will allow for the design of larger RCTs to better understand some of the controversies around the management of postoperative air leaks.

Digital Air Leak Monitoring for Lung Resection Patients: A Randomized Controlled Clinical Trial.

BACKGROUND: Digital chest drainage devices objectively measure airflow to guide chest tube management. There are contradictory results regarding their utility in reducing length of stay and chest tube duration. The objective of this study was to compare digital and analog devices in patients undergoing anatomic lung resection. METHODS: A single-institution randomized trial was conducted. Patients undergoing anatomic lung resection between November 2013 and July 2016 were randomized to digital or analog devices. Chest tubes were managed using a standardized protocol. Hospital length of stay and chest tube duration were primary outcomes. Chest tube clamping, number of chest roentgenograms, and chest tube reinsertion were secondary outcomes. RESULTS: The study randomized 215 patients, with 107 in the digital group and 108 in the analog group. There was no significant difference in outcomes for length of stay (p = 1), chest tube duration (p = 0.71), number of chest roentgenograms performed (p = 0.78) or need for chest tube reinsertion (p = 0.21). The only significant finding was a higher number of patients who had their chest tubes clamped before removal, with 47% in the analog group and 19% in the digital group (p < 0.0001). CONCLUSIONS: Digital devices did not result in reduced chest tube duration or hospital length of stay. Approximately one half of the patients in the analog group had their chest tubes clamped before removal because of uncertainty in air leak assessment. Digital devices provided objective quantification of air leaks that decreased chest tube clamping.

Design of a consensus-derived synoptic operative report for lung cancer surgery.

BACKGROUND: For lung cancer surgery, a narrative operative report is the standard reporting procedure, whereas a synoptic-style report is increasingly utilized by healthcare professionals in various specialties with great success. A synoptic operative report more succinctly and accurately captures vital information and is rapidly generated with good intraobserver reliability. The objective of this study was to systematically develop a synoptic operative report for lung cancer surgery following a modified Delphi consensus model with the support of the Canadian thoracic surgery community. METHODS: Using online survey software, thoracic surgeons and related physicians were asked to suggest and rate data elements for a synoptic report following the modified Delphi consensus model. The consensus exercise-derived template was forwarded to a small working group, who further refined the definition and priority designation of elements until the working group had reached a satisfactory consensus. RESULTS: In all, 139 physicians were invited to participate in the consensus exercise, with 36.7%, 44.6%, and 19.5% response rates, respectively, in the three rounds. Eighty-nine elements were agreed upon at the conclusion of the exercise, but 141 elements were forwarded to the working group. The working group agreed upon a final data set of 180 independently defined data elements, with 72 mandatory and 108 optional elements for implementation in the final report. CONCLUSIONS: This study demonstrates the process involved in developing a multidisciplinary, consensus-based synoptic lung cancer operative report. This novel report style is a quality improvement initiative to improve the capture, dissemination, readability, and potential utility of critical surgical information.