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.

Predictive factors of pathological complete response after induction (ypT0N0M0) in non-small cell lung cancer and short-term outcomes: Results of the Spanish Group of Video-assisted Thoracic Surgery (GE-VATS).

INTRODUCTION: To analyze the predictors of pCR in NSCLC patients who underwent anatomical lung resection after induction therapy and to evaluate the postoperative results of these patients. METHODS: All patients prospectively registered in the database of the GE-VATS working group undergone anatomic lung resection by NSCLC after induction treatment and recruited between 12/20/2016 and 3/20/2018 were included in the study. The population was divided into two groups: patients who obtained a complete pathological response after induction (pCR) and patients who did not obtain a complete pathological response after induction (non-pCR). A multivariate analysis was performed using a binary logistic regression to determine the predictors of pCR and the postoperative results of patients were analyzed. RESULTS: Of the 241 patients analyzed, 36 patients (14.9%) achieved pCR. Predictive factors for pCR are male sex (OR: 2.814, 95% CI: 1.015-7.806), histology of squamous carcinoma (OR: 3.065, 95% CI: 1.233-7.619) or other than adenocarcinoma (OR: 5.788, 95% CI: 1.878-17.733) and induction therapy that includes radiation therapy (OR: 4.096, 95% CI: 1.785-9.401) and targeted therapies (OR: 7.625, 95% CI: 2.147-27.077). Prevalence of postoperative pulmonary complications was higher in patients treated with neoadjuvant chemo-radiotherapy (p = 0.032). CONCLUSIONS: Male sex, histology of squamous carcinoma or other than ADC, and induction therapy that includes radiotherapy or targeted therapy are positive predictors for obtaining pCR. Induction chemo-radiotherapy is associated with a higher risk of postoperative pulmonary complications.

Predictive factors of pathological complete response after induction (ypT0N0M0) in non-small cell lung cancer and short-term outcomes: results of the Spanish Group of Video-assisted Thoracic Surgery (GE-VATS). / Factores predictores de respuesta completa patológica tras inducción (ypT0N0M0) en cáncer de pulmón no microcítico y resultados a corto plazo: resultados del Grupo Español de Cirugía Torácica Videoasistida (GE-VATS).

INTRODUCTION: To analyze the predictors of pathological complete response (pCR) in not small cells lung carcinoma (NSCLC) patients who underwent anatomical lung resection after induction therapy and to evaluate the postoperative results of these patients. METHODS: All patients prospectively registered in the database of the GE-VATS working group undergone anatomic lung resection by NSCLC after induction treatment and recruited between December 20th 2016, and March 20th 2018, were included in the study. The population was divided into two groups: patients who obtained a complete pathological response after induction (pCR) and patients who did not obtain a complete pathological response after induction (non-pCR). A multivariate analysis was performed using a binary logistic regression to determine the predictors of pCR and the postoperative results of patients were analyzed. RESULTS: Of the 241 patients analyzed, 36 patients (14.9%) achieved pCR. Predictive factors for pCR are male sex (OR 2.814, 95% CI 1.015-7.806), histology of squamous carcinoma (OR 3.065, 95% CI 1.233-7.619) or other than adenocarcinoma (ADC) (OR 5.788, 95% CI 1.878-17.733) and induction therapy that includes radiation therapy (OR 4.096, 95% CI 1.785-9.401) and targeted therapies (OR 7.625, 95% CI 2.147-27.077). Prevalence of postoperative pulmonary complications was higher in patients treated with neoadjuvant chemo-radiotherapy (p = 0.032). CONCLUSIONS: Male sex, histology of squamous carcinoma or other than ADC, and induction therapy that includes radiotherapy or targeted therapy are positive predictors for obtaining pCR. Induction chemo-radiotherapy is associated with a higher risk of postoperative pulmonary complications.

¿Cómo implementar un programa de lobectomía VATS en España? El laboratorio experimental (Wet Lab) es una herramienta necesaria / Implementing a VATS lobectomy program in Spain. The Wet Lab, a necessary tool

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Un método alternativo para la predicción del riesgo de complicaciones postoperatorias en la resección pulmonar / An Alternative Method for Predicting the Risk of Postoperative Complications in Lung Resection

Objetivos: Los objetivos de este trabajo son rediseñar un modelo de regresión lineal para estimar el valor de VO2max (VO2 estimado) ya publicado y comparar la capacidad predictiva de los valores VO2 medido y VO2 estimado en la aparición de complicaciones cardiorrespiratorias en una serie de pacientes sometidos a resección pulmonar por cáncer de pulmón. Método: Estudio prospectivo y observacional en 83 pacientes. Variables analizadas: demográficas, comorbilidad, IMC, FEV1%, FVC%, DLCO%, distancia recorrida media diaria (km), VO2max medido en el test de ejercicio cardiopulmonar (CPET) y complicación postoperatoria. Estadística descriptiva y comparativa de variables usando Mann-Whitney test para categóricas y t de Student para continuas normales. Se diseña un modelo de regresión lineal donde VO2max, la variable dependiente, se estima desde la distancia recorrida, DLCO% y edad del paciente y su resultado es la VO2 estimada. Se compara la capacidad predictiva de los VO2max medido y estimado mediante t de Student, agrupando por ocurrencia o no de complicaciones cardiorrespiratorias. Resultados: Los 2 grupos son homogéneos en edad, distribución de sexos, IMC, FEV1%, DLCO%, comorbilidad, cirugía realizada y distancia media recorrida/día. VO2 medida y VO2 estimada tienen distribución normal (K-Smirnov p > 0,32). En la predicción de complicaciones, las medias del VO2 estimado a partir del modelo son significativamente diferentes entre los pacientes con/sin complicación (t de Student p = 0,037); frente a los valores de VO2 medido que no distinguen grupos (t de Student p = 0,42). Conclusiones: El VO2max estimado por el modelo es más predictivo en esta serie de casos que el VO2max medido en una CPET

Objectives: The aims of this study were to design a best fit linear regression model to estimate VO2max (estimated VO2) and to compare the ability of VO2 values (measured and estimated) predicting cardiorespiratory complications in a series of patients undergoing lung resection for lung cancer. Method: This was a prospective, observational study performed in 83 patients. Variables analyzed were: demographic characteristics, comorbidity, body mass index (BMI), FEV1%, FVC%, diffusion capacity (DLCO%), mean daily distance walked in kilometers, VO2max measured by cardio-pulmonary exercise test(CPET) and postoperative complications. Descriptive and comparative statistical analysis of the variables was performed using the Mann-Whitney test for categorical variables and the Student’s t-test for continuous variables. A new linear regression model was designed, where the dependent variable (measured VO2max) was estimated by the distance, DLCO% and age, resulting in the estimated VO2. The predictive power of the measured and estimated consumption was analyzed using the Student’s t-test, grouping by the occurrence or absence of cardiorespiratory complications. Results: Both groups were homogeneous for age, sex, BMI, FEV1%, DLCO%, comorbidity, type of resection performed and mean distance walked per day. Estimated VO2 and measured VO2 were normally distributed (K-Smirnov test, P > 0.32). VO2 means estimated by the model (age, DLCO% and mean distance walked per day) were significantly different between patients with and without complications (Student’s t test, P = 0.037) compared with measured VO2 values, which did not differentiate groups (Student's t test , P = 0.42). Conclusion: The VO2max estimated by the model is more predictive in this case series than the VO2max measured during a standard exercise test

An alternative method for predicting the risk of postoperative complications in lung resection.

OBJECTIVES: The aims of this study were to design a best fit linear regression model to estimate VO2max (estimated VO2) and to compare the ability of VO2 values (measured and estimated) predicting cardiorespiratory complications in a series of patients undergoing lung resection for lung cancer. METHOD: This was a prospective, observational study performed in 83 patients. Variables analyzed were: demographic characteristics, comorbidity, body mass index (BMI), FEV1%, FVC%, diffusion capacity (DLCO%), mean daily distance walked in kilometers, VO2max measured by cardio-pulmonary exercise test (CPET) and postoperative complications. Descriptive and comparative statistical analysis of the variables was performed using the Mann-Whitney test for categorical variables and the Student's t-test for continuous variables. A new linear regression model was designed, where the dependent variable (measured VO2max) was estimated by the distance, DLCO% and age, resulting in the estimated VO2. The predictive power of the measured and estimated consumption was analyzed using the Student's t-test, grouping by the occurrence or absence of cardiorespiratory complications. RESULTS: Both groups were homogeneous for age, sex, BMI, FEV1%, DLCO%, comorbidity, type of resection performed and mean distance walked per day. Estimated VO2 and measured VO2 were normally distributed (K-Smirnov test, P>.32). VO2 means estimated by the model (age, DLCO% and mean distance walked per day) were significantly different between patients with and without complications (Student's t test, P=.037) compared with measured VO2 values, which did not differentiate groups (Student's t test, P=.42). CONCLUSION: The VO2max estimated by the model is more predictive in this case series than the VO2max measured during a standard exercise test.