Multicentre retrospective analysis on pulmonary metastasectomy: an European perspective.

OBJECTIVES: To assess the current practice of pulmonary metastasectomy at 15 European Centres. Short- and long-term outcomes were analysed. METHODS: Retrospective analysis on patients ≥18 years who underwent curative-intent pulmonary metastasectomy (January 2010 to December 2018). Data were collected on a purpose-built database (REDCap). Exclusion criteria were: previous lung/extrapulmonary metastasectomy, pneumonectomy, non-curative intent and evidence of extrapulmonary recurrence at the time of lung surgery. RESULTS: A total of 1647 patients [mean age 59.5 (standard deviation; SD = 13.1) years; 56.8% males] were included. The most common primary tumour was colorectal adenocarcinoma. The mean disease-free interval was 3.4 (SD = 3.9) years. Relevant comorbidities were observed in 53.8% patients, with a higher prevalence of metabolic disorders (32.3%). Video-assisted thoracic surgery was the chosen approach in 54.9% cases. Wedge resections were the most common operation (67.1%). Lymph node dissection was carried out in 41.4% cases. The median number of resected lesions was 1 (interquartile range 25-75% = 1-2), ranging from 1 to 57. The mean size of the metastases was 18.2 (SD = 14.1) mm, with a mean negative resection margin of 8.9 (SD = 9.4) mm. A R0 resection of all lung metastases was achieved in 95.7% cases. Thirty-day postoperative morbidity was 14.5%, with the most frequent complication being respiratory failure (5.6%). Thirty-day mortality was 0.4%. Five-year overall survival and recurrence-free survival were 62.0% and 29.6%, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Pulmonary metastasectomy is a low-risk procedure that provides satisfactory oncological outcomes and patient survival. Further research should aim at clarifying the many controversial aspects of its daily clinical practice.

Management of lung transplantation in the COVID-19 era-An international survey.

It is unknown if solid organ transplant recipients are at higher risk for severe COVID-19. The management of a lung transplantation (LTx) program and the therapeutic strategies to adapt the immunosuppressive regimen and antiviral measures is a major issue in the COVID-19 era, but little is known about worldwide practice. We sent out to 180 LTx centers worldwide in June 2020 a survey with 63 questions, both regarding the management of a LTx program in the COVID-19 era and the therapeutic strategies to treat COVID-19 LTx recipients. We received a total of 78 responses from 15 countries. Among participants, 81% declared a reduction of the activity and 47% restricted LTx for urgent cases only. Sixteen centers observed deaths on waiting listed patients and eight centers performed LTx for COVID-19 disease. In 62% of the centers, COVID-19 was diagnosed in LTx recipients, most of them not severe cases. The most common immunosuppressive management included a decreased dose or pausing of the cell cycle inhibitors. Remdesivir, hydroxychloroquine, and azithromycin were the most proposed antiviral strategies. Most of the centers have been affected by the COVID-19 pandemic and proposed an active therapeutic strategy to treat LTx recipients with COVID-19.

Impact of Extracapsular Lymph Node Involvement After Neoadjuvant Chemoradiation Therapy Followed by Surgery in Carcinoma of the Esophagus: A Multicenter Study.

OBJECTIVES: The current study aims to examine the impact of extracapsular lymph node involvement (EC-LNI) on survival for both esophageal adenocarcinoma (AC) and squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) treated with neoadjuvant chemoradiation therapy (nCRT) followed by surgery. BACKGROUND: Studies have demonstrated the negative prognostic value of EC-LNI in primary surgery, but its impact after nCRT remains unclear. METHODS: From the databases of 6 European high-volume centers 1505 patients with R0 resections were withheld. Oncologic variables, including ypT, ypN, number of positive lymph nodes, and lymph node capsular status: EC-LNI and intracapsular lymph node involvement (IC-LNI), were examined. Statistical analysis was performed by Cox proportional hazards modeling. RESULTS: In SCC 182 patients (31.6%) had positive lymph nodes, of whom 60 (33.0%) showed EC-LNI. In AC 391 patients (42.1%) had positive lymph nodes, of whom 147 (37.6%) showed EC-LNI. Overall 5-year survival (O5YS) in SCC was 42.0%. Presence of EC-LNI meant a significantly worse O5YS than IC-LNI or pN0 (10.6%, 39.5%, and 47.4%, respectively; P < 0.05). O5YS in AC was 41.2%. No significant difference was observed between EC-LNI and IC-LNI (P = 0.322). In the multivariate analysis, among the examined possible prognosticators, presence of EC-LNI showed the highest hazard ratio (2.29, confidence interval: 1.52-3.47) as an independent prognosticator for overall survival in SCC, but it was not in AC. CONCLUSIONS: Based on this international multicenter study, the presence of EC-LNI after nCRT is at least as important as N-stage for survival and EC-LNI is the strongest prognosticator for overall survival in SCC but not in AC.

Contraceptive Implant Embolism Into the Pulmonary Artery: Thoracoscopic Retrieval.

An 18-year old woman had migration of a subdermal contraceptive implant in a subsegmental branch of her left lower lobe pulmonary artery. She was managed successfully through a conservative surgical approach, as the implant was removed from the pulmonary artery thoracoscopically, thereby avoiding the need of thoracotomy or lung resection.

Airway stenting in the management of iatrogenic tracheal injuries: 10-Year experience.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: Iatrogenic tracheal injury (ITI) is a rare yet severe complication of endotracheal tube (ETT) placement or tracheostomy. ITI is suspected in patients with clinical and/or radiographic signs or inefficient mechanical ventilation (MV) following these procedures. Bronchoscopy is used to establish a definitive diagnosis. METHODS: We conducted a retrospective, single-centre chart review of 35 patients between 2004 and 2014. Depending on the nature and location of ITI and need for MV, patients were triaged to surgical repair, endoscopic management with airway stents or conservative treatment consisting of ETT or tracheotomy cannula (TC) placement distal to the wound and bronchoscopic surveillance. RESULTS: Three of the four patients (11.43%) presenting with tracheoesophageal fistula (TEF) underwent surgery. Seven patients (20%) who did not require MV underwent endoscopic surveillance. Of the 24 ventilated patients (68.57%), 7 with ITI in the lower trachea were treated with silicone Y-stent (ETT or TC was placed inside the stent) and 17 patients with ITI in the upper trachea were managed by placing ETT or TC cuff distal to the injury. Overall management success, defined as complete healing of the ITI, was seen in 88.57% of patients. Four patients (11.43%) died of non-ITI-related comorbidities. CONCLUSION: Conservative management should be considered in non-ventilated patients with ITI and when ITI is located in the upper trachea of ventilated patients where ETT or TC bypasses the injury. Airway stenting should be considered in ventilated patients with ITI located in the lower trachea. Surgery should be reserved for TEF and conservative and endoscopic management failure.

Bilobectomy for lung cancer: contemporary national early morbidity and mortality outcomes.

OBJECTIVES: To determine contemporary early outcomes associated with bilobectomy for lung cancer and to identify their predictors using a nationally representative general thoracic surgery database. METHODS: A total of 1831 patients, who underwent elective bilobectomy for primary lung cancer between 1 January 2004 and 31 December 2013, were selected. Logistic regression analysis was performed on variables for major adverse events. RESULTS: There were 670 upper and 1161 lower bilobectomies. Video-assisted thoracic surgery was seldom performed (2%). Induction therapy and extended resection were performed in 293 (16%) and 279 patients (15.2%), respectively. Operative mortality was 4.8% (upper: 4.5%/lower: 5%; P = 0.62), and significantly higher following extended procedures when compared with standard bilobectomy (4.3 vs 7.5%; P = 0.013). Pulmonary complication rate was 21.1%. Bronchial fistula occurred in 46 patients (2.5%) and pleural space complications in 296 (16.2%). Their respective incidence rates were significantly higher following lower than upper bilobectomy (3.5 vs 0.7%; P < 0.001 and 17.8 vs 13.3%; P = 0.007). At multivariate analysis, extended procedures [odds ratio (OR), 2.3; 95% confidence interval (CI), 1.03-5.31; P = 0.04], ASA scores of 3 or greater (OR, 2.02; 95% CI, 1.33-3.07; P < 0.001) and World Health Organization performance status 2 or greater (OR, 1.47; 95% CI, 1.01-2.13; P = 0.04) were risk predictors of mortality. Female gender (OR, 0.39; 95% CI, 0.19-0.80; P = 0.01), highest body mass index (BMI) values (OR, 0.91; 95% CI, 0.86-0.96; P = 0.001) and recent years of surgery (OR, 0.91; 95% CI, 0.84-0.99; P = 0.02) were protective. Predictors of bronchial fistula were male gender, lowest BMI values, lower bilobectomy and longest operative times. Male gender, lowest BMI values and longest operative times were also predictors of pulmonary complications, together with highest ASA scores and lowest forced expiratory volume in 1 s values. CONCLUSIONS: Risks related to lower bilobectomy lie halfway between those reported for lobectomy and pneumonectomy. Additional surgical measures to prevent pleural space complications and bronchial fistula should be encouraged with this operation. In contrast, upper bilobectomy shares more or less the same hazards as lobectomy.

International Multicenter Study on the Impact of Extracapsular Lymph Node Involvement in Primary Surgery Adenocarcinoma of the Esophagus on Overall Survival and Staging Systems.

OBJECTIVE: The current pathological lymph node (pN) staging is based on the number of positive lymph nodes but does not take into consideration characteristics of the involved lymph nodes itself. The current study aims to examine the prognostic value of extracapsular lymph node involvement (EC-LNI) and intracapsular lymph node involvement (IC-LNI) for esophageal adenocarcinoma treated by primary surgery. METHODS: From the databases of five European high volume centers, 1639 adenocarcinoma patients with primary R0-resection were withheld after excluding 90-day mortality. Oncologic variables, including number of resected lymph nodes, number of resected positive lymph nodes, and EC-LNI/IC-LNI were examined. The Union Internationale contre le Cancer (UICC) 7th edition prognostic staging was used as baseline staging system. Statistical analysis was performed by Cox proportional hazards modeling and verified using the Random Survival Forest technique. RESULTS: EC-LNI showed significantly worse overall 5-year survival compared with IC-LNI overall (13.4% vs 37.2%, P < 0.0001), including in each pN-category [16.4% vs 45.6% in pN1 (P < 0.0001), 16.1% vs 23.8% (P = 0.047) in pN2 (P = 0.065), and 8.7% vs 26.3% in pN3 categories, respectively]. pN1 IC-LNI patients show a 5-year overall survival comparable (P = 0.92) with stage IIB (ie, pT3N0). Reclassifying the UICC prognostic stages according to these findings into an adapted staging model showed a significant (P < 0.0001) increase in homogeneity, discriminatory ability, and monotonicity compared with the original UICC TNM 7th edition prognostic staging. CONCLUSIONS: These data suggest that lymph node capsular status is an important prognostic factor and should be considered for the future edition of the TNM staging system for esophageal cancer.

A randomized trial comparing adjuvant chemotherapy with gemcitabine plus cisplatin with docetaxel plus cisplatin in patients with completely resected non-small-cell lung cancer with quality of life as the primary objective.

OBJECTIVES: Adjuvant chemotherapy with vinorelbine plus cisplatin (VC) improves survival in resected non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC), but has negative impact on quality of life (QoL). In advanced NSCLC, gemcitabine plus cisplatin (GC) and docetaxel plus cisplatin (DC) exhibit comparable efficacy, with possibly superior QoL compared to VC. This trial investigated these regimens in the adjuvant setting. METHODS: Patients with Stage IB to III NSCLC were eligible following standardized surgery. Overall, 136 patients were included, with 67 and 69 assigned to the GC and DC arms, respectively. Cisplatin (75 mg/m(2), Day [D] 1) plus gemcitabine (1250 mg/m(2), D1 and D8) or docetaxel (75 mg/m(2) D1) were administered for three cycles. Primary end-point was QoL (EORTC QLQ-C30), with the study designed to detect a 10-point difference between arms. Overall survival, safety and cost were secondary end-points. RESULTS: No between-group imbalance was observed in terms of patient characteristics. At inclusion, global health status (GHS) scores (/100) were 63.5 and 62.7 in GC and DC, respectively (P = 0.8), improving to 64.5 and 65.4 after 3 months (P = 0.8). No significant difference in functional or symptoms scores was observed between the arms except for alopecia. Grade 3/4 haematological and non-haematological toxicities were found in 33.8 and 21.7% (P = 0.11), and 33.8 and 26.1% (P = 0.33) of patients, in GC and DC, respectively. At 2 years, 92.9 and 89.8% of patients remained alive in GC and DC, respectively (P = 0.88). CONCLUSIONS: DC and GC adjuvant chemotherapies for completely resected NSCLC were well tolerated and appear free of major QoL effects, and are therefore representing candidates for comparison with the standard VC regimen.

Pneumonectomy for lung cancer: contemporary national early morbidity and mortality outcomes.

OBJECTIVE: The study objective was to determine contemporary early outcomes associated with pneumonectomy for lung cancer and to identify their predictors using a nationally representative general thoracic surgery database (EPITHOR). METHODS: After discarding inconsistent files, a group of 4498 patients who underwent elective pneumonectomy for primary lung cancer between 2003 and 2013 was selected. Logistic regression analysis was performed on variables for mortality and major adverse events. Then, a propensity score analysis was adjusted for imbalances in baseline characteristics between patients with or without neoadjuvant treatment. RESULTS: Operative mortality was 7.8%. Surgical, cardiovascular, pulmonary, and infectious complications rates were 14.9%, 14.1%, 11.5%, and 2.7%, respectively. None of these complications were predicted by the performance of a neoadjuvant therapy. Operative mortality analysis, adjusted for the propensity scores, identified age greater than 65 years (odds ratio [OR], 2.1; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.5-2.9; P < .001), underweight body mass index category (OR, 2.2; 95% CI, 1.2-4.0; P = .009), American Society of Anesthesiologists score of 3 or greater (OR, 2.310; 95% CI, 1.615-3.304; P < .001), right laterality of the procedure (OR, 1.8; 95% CI, 1.1-2.4; P = .011), performance of an extended pneumonectomy (OR, 1.5; 95% CI, 1.1-2.1; P = .018), and absence of systematic lymphadenectomy (OR, 2.9; 95% CI, 1.1-7.8; P = .027) as risk predictors. Induction therapy (OR, 0.63; 95% CI, 0.5-0.9; P = .005) and overweight body mass index category (OR, 0.60; 95% CI, 0.4-0.9; P = .033) were protective factors. CONCLUSIONS: Several risk factors for major adverse early outcomes after pneumonectomy for cancer were identified. Overweight patients and those who received induction therapy had paradoxically lower adjusted risks of mortality.

Management of benign dynamic "A-shape" tracheal stenosis: a retrospective study of 60 patients.

BACKGROUND: Benign tracheal stenosis complicates tracheal intubation or tracheostomy in 0.6% to 65% of cases. Surgical resection is the standard treatment. Endoscopic management is used for inoperable patients with 17% to 69% success. Dynamic "A-shape" tracheal stenosis (DATS) results in a dynamic stenosis with anterior fracture of tracheal cartilage and frequently associated posterior malacia. We report the results of our multidisciplinary management. METHODS: Sixty patients with DATS were included. Management decision was made during initial bronchoscopy. When suitable, patients were referred to thoracic surgery for tracheal resection. Posterior localized tracheomalacia was treated with laser photocoagulation of the posterior tracheal wall. Tracheal stents were placed if the stenosis persisted after laser treatment. The choice of stent (straight silicone, hour-glass shaped silicone, T-tube, or fully-covered self-expandable metallic stent) was based on operator's judgment. After 12 to 18 months, stents were removed. If the stenosis persisted after stent removal, surgery was reconsidered. If surgery was not possible, a stent was replaced. In case of satisfactory result, a stent was replaced only after recurrence. Stable patients after treatment were considered as success, requirement of long-term tracheostomy or T tube as failure, and long-term stent as partial success. RESULTS: All patients developed DATS after tracheostomy. Thirty-three patients had posterior tracheomalacia. In 13 patients, mild stenosis required only endoscopic surveillance. Two patients were referred to thoracic surgery for tracheal resection surgery. Endoscopic management was the initial therapy in 45 patients (75%) and was considered successful in 23 patients (51%), partially successful in 10 (22%), and failed in 12 (27%). Five patients with successful outcomes required only laser therapy. Overall 70 stents were placed in 35 patients, with a migration rate of 31%. CONCLUSIONS: The DATS management was successful in 63%. Stent migration was frequent. Posterior tracheomalacia was successfully treated in selected cases, avoiding stent placement.

Bronchogenic cyst: best time for surgery?

BACKGROUND: Bronchogenic cyst (BC) is a benign congenital mediastinal tumor whose natural course remains unclear. In adults, most BCs are removed by thoracotomy after complications. Currently, prenatal diagnosis is generally feasible and allows an early thoracoscopic intervention. The purpose of this retrospective study was to ascertain the best time for the operation. METHODS: Reviewed were 36 patients (11 children, 25 adults) with a BC managed from 2000 to 2011. Clinical history, cyst size, duration of hospitalization, preoperative and postoperative complications, and detection of inflammatory elements were compared (Student t tests) between pediatric and adult patients. RESULTS: In the pediatric group, diagnosis was made prenatally in 7 patients, during the neonatal period in 2, and later in 2. Nine were asymptomatic. In the adult group, 20 patients were treated for complications. Thoracotomy was performed in 2 children and thoracoscopy in 9 (no conversion). A thoracoscopic operation was performed in 9 adults (2 conversions), and 17 adults required additional procedures (4 pericardial and 9 lung resections, 3 bronchial, and 1 esophageal sutures). The average length of hospitalization was 4.45 days for children (3.33 days in the thoracoscopic subgroup) and 8 days for adults. Mean maximal cyst diameter was 2.2 cm in children and 6.5 cm in adults (p < 0.10). Pathologic study revealed inflammatory reaction in 2 children (18%) vs 21 adults (84%; p < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Early surgical resection of BCs provides better conservation of pulmonary parenchyma, a lower incidence of inflammatory lesions, and a reduced rate of complications, and should be proposed after prenatal diagnosis, between the 6th and 12th month of life.

[Surgical results of type III and IV hiatal hernia with left thoracotomy]. / Resultados del tratamiento quirúrgico de las hernias hiatales tipo III y IV por vía transtorácica izquierda.

OBJECTIVE: The goal of the study is to report the short- and long-term outcome of a left approach in the management of type III and IV hiatal hernia. METHODS: We have retrospectively reviewed all the records of patients treated for type III and IV hiatal hernia with a left transthoracic approach. All the patients were evaluated before and after the surgery on clinical presentation, symptoms and functional assessment. We have specifically focused the evaluation on surgical results, mortality, morbidity and long term functional assessment. RESULTS: Sixty-five patients were included in this study. Type III hiatal hernia (86%) were majority compared to type IV(14%). Surgical techniques included Nissen fundoplication (37%), Collis Nissen elongation gastroplasty (20%) and Belsey-Mark IV (15%). Morbidity was low and there was no hospital mortality. Mean follow-up was 42 months. Long-term reassessment demonstrated a significant improvement of symptoms. Erosive esophagitis persisted in one patient (P < 0.001). Pressure at the level of lower esophageal sphincter was normal in all patients. 24-hours pH-metry was normal in 92% of patients. Anti-acid medication was reduced significantly (P < 0.001). CONCLUSION: Obesity, short esophagus, massive hiatal hernia, associated oesophageal diseases or previous failed surgery constituted the indications of choice for transthoracic approach. This procedure gives satisfactory functional and anatomical long term results with healing of mucosal damage.

Surgical management and outcomes of elderly patients with early stage non-small cell lung cancer: a nested case-control study.

BACKGROUND: The number of oncogeriatric patients with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) is expected to increase in the next decades. METHODS: We used the French Society of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery database Epithor that includes information on > 140,000 procedures from 98 institutions. We prospectively collected data from January 2004 to December 2008 on 1,969 patients aged ≥ 70 years with NSCLC stage I or II and matched them with 1,969 control subjects aged < 70 years for sex, American Society of Anesthesia score, performance status, and FEV(1). Surgical treatment and postoperative outcomes were compared between the two age groups. RESULTS: The absence of radical lymphadenectomy was more frequent in the older patients (14%, n = 269) than in the younger patients (9%, n = 170) (P < .0001). There was no significant difference in type of resection between older and younger patients, respectively (pneumonectomy, 8% [n = 164] vs 11% [n = 216]; lobectomy, 79% [n = 1,559] vs 77% [n = 1,521]; bilobectomy, 4% [n = 88] vs 5% [n = 97]; sublobar resection, 7% [n = 143] vs 6% [n = 118]; P = .08). Differences in number (P = .07) and severity (P = .69) of complications were not significant. Postoperative mortality was higher in elderly patients at every end point (30-day mortality, 3.6% [n = 70] vs 2.2% [n = 43] [P = .01]; 60-day mortality, 4.1% [n = 80] vs 2.4% [n = 47] [P = .003]; 90-day mortality, 4.7% [n = 93] vs 2.5% [n = 50] [P = .0002]). CONCLUSIONS: Elderly patients with NSCLC should not be denied pulmonary resection on the basis of chronologic age alone. Among patients aged ≥ 70 years, 90-day mortality compared acceptably with mortality among younger matched patients. Additionally, the data show that for older patients, a 90-day mortality better represents their real mortality risk than 30- or 60-day figures. Our contemporary, multiinstitutional data importantly reveal that elderly patients, compared with their younger counterparts, do not have increased morbidity, incidence, or severity after pulmonary resection.

The need for organization and collaboration: establishing a thymoma registry.

Thymic epithelial tumors (TETs) are rare thoracic malignancies, with an overall incidence of 1.5 per million people. The TET Registry Project aims at federating an international network to provide a resource to support studies on the epidemiology and clinical management and monitoring some standards of clinical care of these tumors. Recorded data span all the specifications of the management of TET: paraneoplastic syndromes, histologic subtypes, diagnostic and staging issues, multimodal treatment strategies, and exceptional surgeries and therapies. Data collection for the registry is done both prospectively and retrospectively through different paths to allow the involvement of as many centers as possible, including data-sharing arrangements with some already established databases. This ambitious project implies the early setting of strong quality assurance measures looking at completeness, consistency, and accuracy of the data. These measures require a significant and long-term financial support that will also be free of possible sources of conflicts of interests.

Prosthetic reconstruction of the chest wall.

Chest wall reconstructions can be complex and challenging procedures, especially when huge thoracic defects have been generated by radical excisions. Nonrigid reconstructions with meshes or patches have the goal of avoiding a lung hernia caused by the chest wall defect, or preventing the impaction of the scapula in case of posterior chest wall resections, especially when the resection is extended down to the 5th and 6th ribs. Large anterior and lateral resections result in thoracic instability and alteration of pulmonary physiology, and render intrathoracic structures vulnerable to external impact. They necessitate rigid reconstructions according to several techniques using alloplastic materials (eg, methyl methacrylate-based customized plates or neo-ribs, osteosynthesis systems, or dedicated prosthesis). Nowadays, the availability of these multiple, possibly combined, more adapted, and better tolerated materials have pushed past the limits of resection to those involving soft tissue coverage.