Lung cancer diagnosis by trained dogs.

OBJECTIVES: Early lung cancer (LC) diagnosis is key to improve prognosis. We explored here the diagnostic performance of a trained dog to discriminate exhaled gas samples obtained from patients with and patients without LC and healthy controls. METHODS: After appropriate training, we exposed the dog (a 3-year-old cross-breed between a Labrador Retriever and a Pitbull) to 390 samples of exhaled gas collected from 113 individuals (85 patients with LC and 28 controls, which included 11 patients without LC and 17 healthy individuals) for a total of 785 times. RESULTS: The trained dog recognized LC in exhaled gas with a sensitivity of 0.95, a specificity of 0.98, a positive predictive value of 0.95 and a negative predictive value of 0.98. The area under the curve of the receiver-operating characteristics curve was 0.971. CONCLUSIONS: This study shows that a well-trained dog can detect the presence of LC in exhaled gas samples with an extremely high accuracy.

Benchmarking en cirugía torácica. Tercera edición / Benchmarking in Thoracic Surgery. Third Edition

Introducción: Benchmarking hace referencia a la comparación continuada de la eficiencia y la calidad entre productos y actividades con el objetivo fundamental de alcanzar la excelencia. Objetivo: Analizar los resultados del benchmarking realizado en 2013 con la actividad asistencial de Cirugía Torácica en el año 2012 en 17 servicios de Cirugía Torácica españoles participantes. Métodos: La fuente de información para el estudio ha sido el conjunto mínimo básico de datos de hospitalización correspondiente al año 2012. Los datos han sido proporcionados por los centros participantes, a partir de los informes de alta hospitalaria, sin intervención de los responsables de los correspondientes servicios asistenciales. Los casos objeto del estudio han sido todas las altas de hospitalización registradas en los centros participantes. Los episodios incluidos han sido los de enfermedad quirúrgica respiratoria (CDM4-Q) y los del servicio de Cirugía Torácica. La identificación de estos casos se realizó usando los códigos de la novena edición de la Clasificación Internacional de Enfermedades, Modificación Clínica. Para valorar las diferencias en gravedad y complejidad de los casos se ha utilizado la clasificación de los grupos relacionados por el diagnóstico refinados. Resultados: Los diversos parámetros generales estudiados (casuística, estancia media, complicaciones, readmisiones, mortalidad y actividad) han tenido una gran variabilidad entre los participantes. El análisis concreto de intervenciones (lobectomía, neumonectomía, resecciones atípicas y neumotórax), también han oscilado considerablemente. Conclusiones: Se observa, al igual que en ediciones previas, una considerable variabilidad entre los grupos participantes. Existen áreas de mejora evidentes: estandarización de los procesos de admisión, evitando ingresos urgentes y mejorando la estancia preoperatoria; agilización de las altas hospitalarias y mejora de los informes de alta, reflejando toda la actividad y las complicaciones habidas. Algunas unidades de Cirugía Torácica deben hacer una revisión profunda de sus procesos porque pueden tener algunos parámetros con una desviación excesiva de la norma. También deben mejorarse los procesos de codificación de diagnósticos y comorbilidades

Introduction: Benchmarking entails continuous comparison of efficacy and quality among products and activities, with the primary objective of achieving excellence. Objective: To analyze the results of benchmarking performed in 2013 on clinical practices undertaken in 2012 in 17 Spanish thoracic surgery units. Methods: Study data were obtained from the basic minimum data set for hospitalization, registered in 2012. Data from hospital discharge reports were submitted by the participating groups, but staff from the corresponding departments did not intervene in data collection. Study cases all involved hospital discharges recorded in the participating sites. Episodes included were respiratory surgery (Major Diagnostic Category 04, Surgery), and those of the thoracic surgery unit. Cases were labelled using codes from the International Classification of Diseases, 9th revision, Clinical Modification. The refined diagnosis-related groups classification was used to evaluate differences in severity and complexity of cases. Results: General parameters (number of cases, mean stay, complications, readmissions, mortality, and activity) varied widely among the participating groups. Specific interventions (lobectomy, pneumonectomy, atypical resections, and treatment of pneumothorax) also varied widely. Conclusions: As in previous editions, practices among participating groups varied considerably. Some areas for improvement emerge: admission processes need to be standardized to avoid urgent admissions and to improve pre-operative care; hospital discharges should be streamlined and discharge reports improved by including all procedures and complications. Some units have parameters which deviate excessively from the norm, and these sites need to review their processes in depth. Coding of diagnoses and comorbidities is another area where improvement is needed

Benchmarking in Thoracic Surgery. Third Edition.

INTRODUCTION: Benchmarking entails continuous comparison of efficacy and quality among products and activities, with the primary objective of achieving excellence. OBJECTIVE: To analyze the results of benchmarking performed in 2013 on clinical practices undertaken in 2012 in 17 Spanish thoracic surgery units. METHODS: Study data were obtained from the basic minimum data set for hospitalization, registered in 2012. Data from hospital discharge reports were submitted by the participating groups, but staff from the corresponding departments did not intervene in data collection. Study cases all involved hospital discharges recorded in the participating sites. Episodes included were respiratory surgery (Major Diagnostic Category 04, Surgery), and those of the thoracic surgery unit. Cases were labelled using codes from the International Classification of Diseases, 9th revision, Clinical Modification. The refined diagnosis-related groups classification was used to evaluate differences in severity and complexity of cases. RESULTS: General parameters (number of cases, mean stay, complications, readmissions, mortality, and activity) varied widely among the participating groups. Specific interventions (lobectomy, pneumonectomy, atypical resections, and treatment of pneumothorax) also varied widely. CONCLUSIONS: As in previous editions, practices among participating groups varied considerably. Some areas for improvement emerge: admission processes need to be standardized to avoid urgent admissions and to improve pre-operative care; hospital discharges should be streamlined and discharge reports improved by including all procedures and complications. Some units have parameters which deviate excessively from the norm, and these sites need to review their processes in depth. Coding of diagnoses and comorbidities is another area where improvement is needed.

Malformación adenomatoidea quística pulmonar de afectación bilateral en el adulto / Cystic adenomatoid malformation of the lungs in adults

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[Impact of a rescue program on the operability of patients with bronchogenic carcinoma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease]. / Influencia de un programa de rescate en la decisión quirúrgica en pacientes con carcinoma broncogénico y EPOC.

OBJECTIVE: Bronchogenic carcinoma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) are strongly associated in our setting, occurring together in around 70% of cases. Approximately 60% of COPD patients who require resection for bronchogenic carcinoma are considered unfit for surgery because of seriously impaired lung function. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the extent to which a rescue program could improve lung function in COPD patients who had previously been considered unfit for surgery because of poor lung function. PATIENTS AND METHODS: The study enrolled COPD patients who had not been considered for surgical resection because they had a predicted postoperative forced expiratory volume in 1 second (FEV1) of less than 1 L. All of the patients participated in a 2-week rescue program that involved optimization of drug treatment (inhaled bronchodilators and/or corticosteroids) and intensive respiratory physiotherapy. Lung function was analyzed before and after the program. RESULTS: We evaluated 30 patients (26 men and 4 women) with a mean (SD) age of 66.7 (8.15) years and an initial FEV1 of 1.497 (0.27) mL (FEV1% of 55.7% [20.14%]). None of the patients had respiratory failure (PaO2 of 77.0 [9.4] mm Hg and PaCO2 of 41.6 [2.4] mm Hg). Twenty-four patients (80%) showed significant improvement in lung function (P< .001) after the program and were admitted for resection. Two wedge resections, 18 lobectomies, 2 pneumonectomies, and 2 exploratory thoracotomies were performed (based on oncologic indications). Nineteen of the 24 patients who underwent surgery had no complications. Two patients had prolonged air leaks, 1 empyema, and 1 hemothorax. One patient died from sepsis. CONCLUSIONS: A large number (80%) of COPD patients previously considered unfit for surgical resection because of seriously impaired lung function can be admitted for surgery following an intensive drug and respiratory physiotherapy rescue program.

Influencia de un programa de rescate en la decisión quirúrgica en pacientes con carcinoma broncogénico y EPOC / Impact of a rescue program on the operability of patients with bronchogenic carcinoma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease

Objetivo: La asociación entre carcinoma broncogénico y enfermedad pulmonar obstructiva crónica (EPOC) se sitúa en torno al 70% en nuestro medio. Aproximadamente un 60% de los pacientes con dichos diagnósticos son rechazados para cirugía de resección del carcinoma broncogénico debido a la intensa alteración de su función pulmonar. El objetivo del presente trabajo es evaluar el efecto de un programa de rescate en la mejoría de la función pulmonar de pacientes con EPOC y previamente descartados para cirugía por la alteración de su función pulmonar. Pacientes y métodos: Se incluyó en el estudio a pacientes con EPOC descartados inicialmente porque se había calculado que su volumen espiratorio forzado en el primer segundo (FEV1) tras la intervención quirúrgica sería menor de 1 l. Todos ellos participaron en un programa de rescate de 2 semanas de duración que incluía: optimización del tratamiento farmacológico (broncodilatadores inhalados y/o corticoides) y fisioterapia respiratoria intensiva. Se analizó la función pulmonar antes y después del programa. Resultados: Se evaluó a 30 pacientes (26 varones y 4 mujeres) con una edad media ± desviación estándar de 66,7 ± 8,15 años y FEV1 inicial de 1,497 ± 0,27 ml (FEV1%: 55,7 ± 20,14 l), que no presentaban insuficiencia respiratoria (presión arterial de oxígeno: 77,0 ± 9,4 mmHg; presión arterial de anhídrido carbónico: 41,6 ± 2,4 mmHg). Tras el programa 24 pacientes (80%) pudieron ser aceptados para la resección propuesta al objetivarse una mejoría significativa en la función pulmonar (p < 0,001). Se realizaron 2 resecciones en cuña, 18 lobectomías, 2 neumonectomías y 2 toracotomías exploradoras (por criterios oncológicos). De los 24 pacientes a los que se intervino, en 19 no hubo complicaciones, 2 presentaron fugas aéreas mantenidas, hubo un caso de empiema pleural y otro de hemotórax. Un paciente falleció por sepsis. Conclusiones: El diseño de un programa intensivo farmacológico y de fisioterapia respiratoria permite rescatar para cirugía a un número alto (80%) de los pacientes con EPOC a los que inicialmente se descarta por una alteración importante de la función pulmonar

Objective: Bronchogenic carcinoma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) are strongly associated in our setting, occurring together in around 70% of cases. Approximately 60% of COPD patients who require resection for bronchogenic carcinoma are considered unfit for surgery because of seriously impaired lung function. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the extent to which a rescue program could improve lung function in COPD patients who had previously been considered unfit for surgery because of poor lung function. Patients and methods: The study enrolled COPD patients who had not been considered for surgical resection because they had a predicted postoperative forced expiratory volume in 1 second (FEV1) of less than 1 L. All of the patients participated in a 2-week rescue program that involved optimization of drug treatment (inhaled bronchodilators and/or corticosteroids) and intensive respiratory physiotherapy. Lung function was analyzed before and after the program. Results: We evaluated 30 patients (26 men and 4 women) with a mean (SD) age of 66.7 (8.15) years and an initial FEV1 of 1.497 (0.27) mL (FEV1% of 55.7% [20.14%]). None of the patients had respiratory failure (PaO2 of 77.0 [9.4] mm Hg and PaCO2 of 41.6 [2.4] mm Hg). Twenty-four patients (80%) showed significant improvement in lung function (P<.001) after the program and were admitted for resection. Two wedge resections, 18 lobectomies, 2 pneumonectomies, and 2 exploratory thoracotomies were performed (based on oncologic indications). Nineteen of the 24 patients who underwent surgery had no complications. Two patients had prolonged air leaks, 1 empyema, and 1 hemothorax. One patient died from sepsis. Conclusions: A large number (80%) of COPD patients previously considered unfit for surgical resection because of seriously impaired lung function can be admitted for surgery following an intensive drug and respiratory physiotherapy rescue program