Robotic navigational bronchoscopy in a thoracic surgery practice: Leveraging technology in the management of pulmonary nodules.

Objectives: Robotic navigational bronchoscopy is increasingly used to improve diagnostic yield for pulmonary nodules compared with the 50% to 60% obtained by standard bronchoscopy; however, safety and efficacy data are limited to small series. The aim of this study was to evaluate diagnostic yield and clinical outcomes in a large multisurgeon single-center cohort. Methods: All patients who underwent robotic navigational bronchoscopy and biopsy from September 2020 to October 2022 were identified from a prospective institutional registry. The primary outcome was diagnostic yield. The secondary outcome was diagnostic yield for molecular testing. Results: A total of 503 nodules were biopsied during the study period. Median nodule size was 2.1 cm. Overall diagnostic yield was 87.9%. Factors associated with increased diagnostic yield were decreased time from date of planning computed tomography to procedure date (odds ratio, 0.98; 95% CI, 0.96-0.99; P = .04) and greater nodule size (odds ratio, 1.03; 95% CI, 1.01-1.07; P = .02) per 0.1-cm increment. Molecular analysis was sent in 101 patients and was sufficient in 90% of cases. Complications occurred in 22 (5%) patients, including 13 (3.1%) with pneumothoraxes (7 patients requiring a chest drain), and 5 (1.2%) patients had bleeding requiring intraprocedural bronchial intervention. A total of 41 patients were consented for biopsy and resection during a single anesthetic event. Four of these cases were stopped at robotic navigational bronchoscopy due to an alternative diagnosis. Mean length of stay was 3.4 ± 1.1 days. There were no major complications. Conclusions: This study suggests robotic navigational bronchoscopy has a high diagnostic yield and obtains adequate tissue for molecular analysis critical for selection of targeted therapies. With careful patient selection robotic navigational bronchoscopy can be combined with surgery to treat lung cancer as a single procedure with low complication rates.

The Thoracic Surgery Residents Association: Past contributions, current efforts, and future directions.

OBJECTIVE: The Thoracic Surgery Residents Association (TSRA) is a resident-led organization established in 1997 under the guidance of the Thoracic Surgery Directors Association to represent the interests and educational needs of cardiothoracic surgery residents. We aim to describe the past contributions, current efforts, and future directions of the TSRA within a conceptual framework of the TSRA mission. METHODS: Primary review of educational resources was performed to report goals and content of past contributions. TSRA Executive Committee input was used to describe current resources and activities, as well as the future goals of the TSRA. Podcast analytics were performed to report national and global usage. RESULTS: Since 2011, the TSRA has published 3 review textbooks, 5 reference guides, 3 test-preparation textbooks, 1 supplementary publication, and 1 multiple-choice question bank and mobile application, all written and developed by cardiothoracic surgery trainees. In total 108 podcasts have been recorded by mentored trainees, with more than 175,000 unique listens. Most recently, the TSRA has begun facilitating trainee submissions to Young Surgeon's Notes, fostered a trainee mentorship program, developed the monthly TSRA Newsletter, and established a wide-reaching presence on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram to help disseminate educational resources and opportunities for trainees. CONCLUSIONS: The TSRA continues to be the leading cardiothoracic surgery resident organization in North America, providing educational resources and networking opportunities for all trainees. Future directions include development of an integrated disease-based resource and continued collaboration within and beyond our specialty to enhance the educational opportunities and career development of cardiothoracic trainees.

Late Type A Dissection After Transfemoral Aortic Valve Replacement.

An 87-year-old woman had residual moderate to severe aortic insufficiency following transcatheter aortic valve replacement. A year later, she developed extensive Stanford type A aortic dissection originating at the supra-annular aortic edge of the transcatheter aortic valve replacement nitinol frame. Dissection repair, frozen elephant trunk with exclusion of prior insufficiency while preserving the transcatheter aortic valve replacement valve was performed. (Level of Difficulty: Beginner.).

The Respiratory Rate: A Neglected Triage Tool for Pre-hospital Identification of Trauma Patients.

BACKGROUND: Under-triaged trauma patients have worse clinical outcomes. We evaluated the capability of four pre-hospital variables to identify this population at the lowest level trauma activation (level 3). METHODS: A retrospective review of adult trauma activations from 2004 to 2014 was completed. Pre-hospital vital signs and Glasgow Coma Scale were converted to categorical variables. Patients were under-triaged based on meeting current level 1 or 2 criteria, or requiring a pre-defined critical intervention. Logistic regression was used to determine the association between the pre-hospital variables and under-triaged patients. Odds ratios and 95% confidence intervals were calculated for a comprehensive model, grouping all causes of under-triage as a single unit, and 16 individual models, one for each under-triage criterion. A new level 2 criterion was generated and internally validated. RESULTS: In total, 12,332 activations occurred during the study period. Four hundred and sixty-six (5.9%) patients were under-triaged. Compared to patients with a normal respiratory rate (RR), tachypneic patients were more likely to be under-triaged for any reason, OR 1.7 [1.3-2.1], p < 0.001. In the individual event analysis, tachypneic patients were more likely to have flail chest, OR 22 [2.9-168.3], p = 0.003; require a chest tube, OR 3 [1.8-4.9], p < 0.001; or require emergent intubation, OR 1.6 [1.1-2.8], p = 0.04, compared to patients with a normal RR. The data-driven triage modification was tachypnea with suspected thoracic injury which reduced the under-triage rate by 1.2%. CONCLUSION: Tachypnea with suspected thoracic injury is the strongest level 2 triage modification to reduce level 3 under-triage.

Assessment of three point-of-care platelet function assays in adult trauma patients.

BACKGROUND: Antiplatelet (AP) medication use is common among trauma patients and is associated with poor outcomes. Management options for platelet dysfunction in trauma patients are controversial, expensive, and potentially harmful. Although light transmission platelet aggregometry is considered the standard test to assess platelet function, it is cumbersome and not generally available. Currently, there are no widely accepted platelet function point-of-care tests for acute trauma. STUDY DESIGN: Prospective observational study from 2014 to 2015. Baseline Multiplate aggregometry aspirin area under the platelet aggregation curve (ASPI AUC), Thrombelastography Platelet Mapping percent inhibition of arachidonic acid (TEG-PM AA), and VerifyNow Aspirin Test (ARU) were compared for ability to detect any AP medication use (aspirin or clopidogrel), platelet dysfunction, and identify patients at risk for intracranial hemorrhage (ICH) progression by calculating the area under receiver operating characteristic curves (AUC), sensitivity, specificity, and positive and negative predictive values. Adenosine diphosphate assays were similarly evaluated. RESULTS: Sixty-four patients were enrolled, 25 were taking AP medications. AP patients were older (71.6 versus 35.0 y, P < 0.001) and received more platelet transfusions, but other baseline characteristics were similar. Median ASPI AUC (22.0 versus 53.5 P < 0.001) and VerifyNow ARU (503.5 versus 629.0, P < 0.001) were lower, whereas TEG-PM AA (51.8% versus 18.3%, P < 0.001) was higher in AP patients. Multiplate ASPI AUC, TEG-PM AA percent inhibition, and VerifyNow ARU could identify AP medication use (AUC: 0.90, 0.77, and 0.90, respectively). Adenosine diphosphate assays did not correlate with AP medication use in this population. TEG-PM AA percent inhibition and VerifyNow ARU correlated well with Multiplate ASPI AUC to identify platelet dysfunction (AUC: 0.78, 0.89, respectively). ICH occurred in 29 patients; 12 of which had progression of their injury. ASPI AUC (AUC: 0.50) and VerifyNow ARU (AUC: 0.59) did not correlate, and TEG-PM AA percent inhibition (AUC: 0.66) minimally correlated with progression. CONCLUSIONS: Multiplate, TEG-PM, and VerifyNow are useful point-of-care tests which identify AP medication use and platelet dysfunction in trauma patients. Initial TEG-PM AA percent inhibition may be associated with risk for ICH progression. However, additional large, prospective studies are needed.

Optimizing physician skill development for medical students: The four-part assessment.

BACKGROUND: Medical student performance has been poorly correlated with residency performance and warrants further investigation. We propose a novel surgical assessment tool to determine correlations with clinical aptitude. METHODS: Retrospective review of medical student assessments from 2013 to 2015. Faculty rating of student performance was evaluated by: 1) case presentation, 2) problem definition, 3) question response and 4) use of literature and correlated to final exam assessment. A Likert scale interrater reliability was evaluated. RESULTS: Sixty student presentations were scored (4.8 assessors/presentation). A student's case presentation, problem definition, and question response was correlated with performance (r = 0.49 to 0.61, p ≤ 0.003). Moderate correlations for either question response or use of literature was demonstrated (0.3 and 0.26, p < 0.05). CONCLUSION: Our four-part assessment tool identified correlations with course and examination grades for medical students. As surgical education evolves, validated performance and reliable testing measures are required.

Plasma Transfusion: History, Current Realities, and Novel Improvements.

Traumatic hemorrhage is the leading cause of preventable death after trauma. Early transfusion of plasma and balanced transfusion have been shown to optimize survival, mitigate the acute coagulopathy of trauma, and restore the endothelial glycocalyx. There are a myriad of plasma formulations available worldwide, including fresh frozen plasma, thawed plasma, liquid plasma, plasma frozen within 24 h, and lyophilized plasma (LP). Significant equipoise exists in the literature regarding the optimal plasma formulation. LP is a freeze-dried formulation that was originally developed in the 1930s and used by the American and British military in World War II. It was subsequently discontinued due to risk of disease transmission from pooled donors. Recently, there has been a significant amount of research focusing on optimizing reconstitution of LP. Findings show that sterile water buffered with ascorbic acid results in decreased blood loss with suppression of systemic inflammation. We are now beginning to realize the creation of a plasma-derived formulation that rapidly produces the associated benefits without logistical or safety constraints. This review will highlight the history of plasma, detail the various types of plasma formulations currently available, their pathophysiological effects, impacts of storage on coagulation factors in vitro and in vivo, novel concepts, and future directions.

A statewide teleradiology system reduces radiation exposure and charges in transferred trauma patients.

BACKGROUND: Trauma transfer patients routinely undergo repeat imaging because of inefficiencies within the radiology system. In 2009, the virtual private network (VPN) telemedicine system was adopted throughout Oregon allowing virtual image transfer between hospitals. The startup cost was a nominal $3,000 per hospital. METHODS: A retrospective review from 2007 to 2012 included 400 randomly selected adult trauma transfer patients based on a power analysis (200 pre/200 post). The primary outcome evaluated was reduction in repeat computed tomography (CT) scans. Secondary outcomes included cost savings, emergency department (ED) length of stay (LOS), and spared radiation. All data were analyzed using Mann-Whitney U and chi-square tests. P less than .05 indicated significance. Spared radiation was calculated as a weighted average per body region, and savings was calculated using charges obtained from Oregon Health and Science University radiology current procedural terminology codes. RESULTS: Four-hundred patients were included. Injury Severity Score, age, ED and overall LOS, mortality, trauma type, and gender were not statistically different between groups. The percentage of patients with repeat CT scans decreased after VPN implementation: CT abdomen (13.2% vs 2.8%, P < .01) and cervical spine (34.4% vs 18.2%, P < .01). Post-VPN, the total charges saved in 2012 for trauma transfer patients was $333,500, whereas the average radiation dose spared per person was 1.8 mSV. Length of stay in the ED for patients with Injury Severity Score less than 15 transferring to the ICU was decreased (P < .05). CONCLUSIONS: Implementation of a statewide teleradiology network resulted in fewer total repeat CT scans, significant savings, decrease in radiation exposure, and decreased LOS in the ED for patients with less complex injuries. The potential for health care savings by widespread adoption of a VPN is significant.