Clinical features and outcomes of thoracic surgery patients during the COVID-19 pandemic.

OBJECTIVES: The goal of this study was to describe the clinical features and outcomes of thoracic surgery patients during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. METHODS: Thirty-five patients were treated at the 12 de Octubre University Hospital in Madrid between 1 March 2020 and 24 April 2020 during the COVID-19 pandemic. Patient demographics, surgical procedures, complications, COVID-19 symptoms and outcomes were recorded. A protocol was introduced to reduce the risk of operating on patients with COVID-19, including symptom screening, a polymerase chain reaction test for severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 and computed tomography scans of the chest. Surgical activity changed significantly during this time, from an initial period of near-normal activity, through an emergency-only period and finally a recovery period when some oncological surgical cases were restarted. Selection criteria for surgical patients are also described. RESULTS: A total of 34 patients underwent surgery during the pandemic period. We performed 22 lung resections (11 lobectomies and 11 sublobar resections). No hospital deaths were recorded. An elective surgery patient and an emergency surgery patient were diagnosed with COVID-19 (5.88%). The former died within 30 days after surgery. CONCLUSIONS: Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 represents a tremendous limitation for thoracic surgical practice. Preoperative practices to exclude asymptomatic cases infected with the virus allowed us to perform thoracic surgical procedures.

Carcinomas sarcomatoides pulmonares primarios / Primary Pulmonary Sarcomatoid Carcinomas

Objetivo: Describir las características y el resultado del tratamiento quirúrgico de una serie de pacientes con carcinomas sarcomatoides pulmonares primarios (CSPP). Metodología: Estudio descriptivo de 11 pacientes con CSPP operados en el Servicio de Cirugía Torácica del Hospital Universitario 12 de Octubre de Madrid entre 2005 a 2009. Se analizó: edad, género, tipo histológico, estadio patológico, tipo de cirugía y supervivencia en meses. Resultados: Diez pacientes eran varones y 11 eran fumadores, con una edad media de 55 años. Los estadios patológicos fueron 4 estadios IIA, 3 estadios IIB, 2 estadios IB y 2 estadios IA. El tipo histológico más frecuente fue el carcinoma pleomórfico, con 5 casos. Se realizó resección completa en 10 casos, y 7 recibieron terapia adyuvante. Siete de ellos se encuentran libres de enfermedad en un periodo de seguimiento con una media de 49 meses. Conclusiones: La cirugía completa en estadios iniciales de los CSPP puede mejorar la supervivencia (AU)

Objective: To describe the characteristics and the result of surgical treatment in a series of patients with primary pulmonary sarcomatoid carcinoma (PSC). Methodology: A descriptive study of 11 patients with primary PSC who were treated by the Thoracic Surgery Department at the Hospital Universitario 12 de Octubre in Madrid (Spain) between 2005 and 2009. We analyzed age, gender, histologic type, pathological stage, type of surgery and survival (in months). Results: Ten patients were male and 11 were smokers; mean age of was 55. The pathologic stages were: 4 stage IIA, 3 stage IIB, 2 stage IB and 2 stage IA. The most frequent histologic type was pleomorphic carcinoma, which was found in 5 cases. Complete resection was performed in 10 cases, and 7 received adjuvant therapy. Seven are disease-free after a mean follow-up period of 49 months. Conclusions: Complete surgery in the initial stages of primary PSC can improve survival (AU)

Evolución y complicaciones del traumatismo torácico / Evolution and Complications of Chest Trauma

Objetivo: Describir las características clínicas y los factores de riesgo de los pacientes con traumatismo torácico, y evaluar su relación en el desarrollo de complicaciones. Metodología: Estudio de tipo descriptivo, prospectivo y analítico de una cohorte de pacientes con traumatismo torácico a los que se les hizo seguimiento durante un periodo de 30días. Se excluyeron pacientes con traumatismo craneoencefálico moderado a severo, fracturas de huesos largos, traumatismo abdominal, y pacientes que requirieron ventilación mecánica. Resultados: Un total 376 pacientes cumplieron criterios de inclusión, y de ellos 220 eran varones (58,5%). Las causas más frecuentes de traumatismo fueron las caídas (218 casos; 57,9%) y los accidentes de tráfico (57 casos; 15,1%). El tipo de traumatismo más frecuente fue la contusión costal (248 casos; 65,9%) y la fractura de un arco costal (61casos; 16,2%). Se observaron complicaciones en 43pacientes (11,4%), principalmente por hemotórax (13casos), neumotórax (9casos), neumonía (6casos) e insuficiencia renal aguda (4casos). De estos pacientes, 4fallecieron por neumonía y hemotórax. Treinta y tres pacientes (8,7%) fueron ingresados y 10 (2,6%) requirieron reingreso hospitalario. El riesgo de complicaciones aumenta significativamente en pacientes con más de 2 fracturas costales, en mayores de 85 años y en presencia de algunas comorbilidades como la EPOC y patologías que requieren anticoagulación. El riesgo de reingreso es mayor en pacientes con más de 60 años. Conclusiones: Los pacientes con traumatismo torácico que presentan algunas comorbilidades, son mayores de 85 años y tienen más de2 fracturas costales pueden presentar más complicaciones, y se deben considerar estos factores en su evaluación, manejo y seguimiento (AU)

Objective: To describe the clinical characteristics and risk factors of patients with chest trauma, and to evaluate their correlation with the development of complications. Methods: Descriptive, prospective and analytical study of a patient cohort with chest trauma who underwent follow-up for a period of 30days. Excluded from the study were those patients with moderate to severe traumatic brain injury, long-bone fractures, abdominal trauma and patients requiring mechanical ventilation. Results: A total of 376 patients met the inclusion criteria, 220 of whom were males (58.5%). The most frequent causes of trauma were falls (218 cases; 57.9%) and motor vehicle accidents (57 cases; 15.1%). The most frequent type of trauma was rib contusion (248 cases; 65.9%) and rib fractures (61 cases; 16.2%). Complications were observed in 43 patients (11.4%), mainly hemothorax (13 cases), pneumothorax (9 cases), pneumonia (6 cases) and acute renal failure (4 cases). Four patients died due to pneumonia and hemothorax. Thirty-three patients were hospitalized (8.7%) and 10 (2.6%) required later re-admittance. The risk for complications increased significantly in patients with more than 2 rib fractures, in those over the age of 85 and in the presence of certain comorbidities, such as COPD and pathologies requiring anticoagulation therapy. The risk for re-admittance is higher in patients over the age of 60. Conclusions: Patients with chest trauma who present certain comorbidities, are over the age of 85 and have more than 2 rib fractures may present more complications. These factors should be contemplated in the evaluation, management and follow-up of these subjects (AU)

Evolution and complications of chest trauma.

OBJECTIVE: To describe the clinical characteristics and risk factors of patients with chest trauma, and to evaluate their correlation with the development of complications. METHODS: Descriptive, prospective and analytical study of a patient cohort with chest trauma who underwent follow-up for a period of 30 days. Excluded from the study were those patients with moderate to severe traumatic brain injury, long-bone fractures, abdominal trauma and patients requiring mechanical ventilation. RESULTS: A total of 376 patients met the inclusion criteria, 220 of whom were males (58.5%). The most frequent causes of trauma were falls (218 cases; 57.9%) and motor vehicle accidents (57 cases; 15.1%). The most frequent type of trauma was rib contusion (248 cases; 65.9%) and rib fractures (61 cases; 16.2%). Complications were observed in 43 patients (11.4%), mainly hemothorax (13 cases), pneumothorax (9 cases), pneumonia (6 cases) and acute renal failure (4 cases). Four patients died due to pneumonia and hemothorax. Thirty-three patients were hospitalized (8.7%) and 10 (2.6%) required later re-admittance. The risk for complications increased significantly in patients with more than 2 rib fractures, in those over the age of 85 and in the presence of certain comorbidities, such as COPD and pathologies requiring anticoagulation therapy. The risk for re-admittance is higher in patients over the age of 60. CONCLUSIONS: Patients with chest trauma who present certain comorbidities, are over the age of 85 and have more than 2 rib fractures may present more complications. These factors should be contemplated in the evaluation, management and follow-up of these subjects.

Primary pulmonary sarcomatoid carcinomas.

OBJECTIVE: To describe the characteristics and the result of surgical treatment in a series of patients with primary pulmonary sarcomatoid carcinoma (PSC). METHODOLOGY: A descriptive study of 11 patients with primary PSC who were treated by the Thoracic Surgery Department at the Hospital Universitario 12 de Octubre in Madrid (Spain) between 2005 and 2009. We analyzed age, gender, histologic type, pathological stage, type of surgery and survival (in months). RESULTS: Ten patients were male and 11 were smokers; mean age of was 55. The pathologic stages were: 4 stage IIA, 3 stage IIB, 2 stage IB and 2 stage IA. The most frequent histologic type was pleomorphic carcinoma, which was found in 5 cases. Complete resection was performed in 10 cases, and 7 received adjuvant therapy. Seven are disease-free after a mean follow-up period of 49 months. CONCLUSIONS: Complete surgery in the initial stages of primary PSC can improve survival.