Association Between Racial and Socioeconomic Disparities and Hospital Performance in Treatment and Outcomes for Patients with Colon Cancer.

BACKGROUND: Disparities in colon cancer care and outcomes by race/ethnicity, socioeconomic status (SES), and insurance are well recognized; however, the extent to which inequalities are driven by patient factors versus variation in hospital performance remains unclear. We sought to compare disparities in care delivery and outcomes at low- and high-performing hospitals. METHODS: We identified patients with stage I-III colon adenocarcinoma from the 2012-2017 National Cancer Database. Adequate lymphadenectomy and timely adjuvant chemotherapy administration defined hospital performance. Multilevel regression models evaluated disparities by race/ethnicity, SES, and insurance at the lowest- and highest-performance quartile hospitals. RESULTS: Of 92,573 patients from 704 hospitals, 45,982 (49.7%) were treated at 404 low-performing hospitals and 46,591 (50.3%) were treated at 300 high-performing hospitals. Low-performing hospitals treated more non-Hispanic (NH) Black, Hispanic, low SES, and Medicaid patients (all p < 0.01). Among low-performing hospitals, patients with low versus high SES (odds ratio [OR] 0.87, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.82-0.92), and Medicare (OR 0.90, 95% CI 0.85-0.96) and Medicaid (OR 0.88, 95% CI 0.80-0.96) versus private insurance, had decreased odds of receiving high-quality care. At high-performing hospitals, NH Black versus NH White patients (OR 0.83, 95% CI 0.72-0.95) had decreased odds of receiving high-quality care. Low SES, Medicare, Medicaid, and uninsured patients had worse overall survival at low- and high-performing hospitals (all p < 0.01). CONCLUSION: Disparities in receipt of high-quality colon cancer care occurred by SES and insurance at low-performing hospitals, and by race at high-performing hospitals. However, survival disparities by SES and insurance exist irrespective of hospital performance. Future steps include improving low-performing hospitals and identifying mechanisms affecting survival disparities.

Statewide Examination of Access to Cancer Surgery During the COVID-19 Pandemic.

INTRODUCTION: The COVID-19 pandemic caused interruptions in the delivery of medical care across a wide range of conditions including cancer. Trends in surgical treatment for cancer during the pandemic have not been well described. We sought to characterize associations between the pandemic and access to surgical treatment for breast, colorectal, and lung cancer in Illinois. METHODS: We performed a retrospective cohort study evaluating inpatient admissions at Illinois hospitals providing surgical care for lung cancer (n = 1913 cases, n = 64 hospitals), breast cancer (n = 910 cases, n = 108 hospitals), and colorectal cancer (n = 5339 cases, n = 144 hospitals). Using discharge data from the Illinois Health and Hospital Association's Comparative Health Care and Hospital Data Reporting Services database, average monthly surgical case volumes were compared from 2019 to 2020. We also compared rates of cancer surgery for each cancer type, by patient characteristics, and hospital type across the three time periods using Pearson chi-squared and ANOVA testing as appropriate. Three discrete time periods were considered: prepandemic (7-12/2019), primary pandemic (4-6/2020), and pandemic recovery (7-12/2020). Hospital characteristics evaluated included hospital type (academic, community, safety net), COVID-19 burden, and baseline cancer surgery volume. RESULTS: There were 2096 fewer operations performed for breast, colorectal, and lung cancer in 2020 than 2019 in Illinois, with the greatest reductions in cancer surgery volume occurring at the onset of the pandemic in April (colorectal, -48.3%; lung, -13.1%) and May (breast, -45.2%) of 2020. During the pandemic, breast (-14.6%) and colorectal (-13.8%) cancer surgery experienced reductions in volume whereas lung cancer operations were more common (+26.4%) compared to 2019. There were no significant differences noted in gender, race, ethnicity, or insurance status among patients receiving oncologic surgery during the primary pandemic or pandemic recovery periods. Academic hospitals, hospitals with larger numbers of COVID-19 admissions, and those with greater baseline cancer surgery volumes were associated with the greatest reduction in cancer surgery during the primary pandemic period (all cancer types, P < 0.01). During the recovery period, hospitals with greater baseline breast and lung cancer surgery volumes remained at reduced surgery volumes compared to their counterparts (P < 0.01). CONCLUSIONS: The COVID-19 pandemic was associated with significant reductions in breast and colorectal cancer operations in Illinois, while lung cancer operations remained relatively consistent. Overall, there was a net reduction in cancer surgery that was not made up during the recovery period. Academic hospitals, those caring for more COVID-19 patients, and those with greater baseline surgery volumes were most vulnerable to reduced surgery rates during peaks of the pandemic and to delays in addressing the backlog of cases.

Rural-Urban Disparities in Receipt of Surgery for Potentially Resectable Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer.

INTRODUCTION: Access to cancer care, especially surgery, is limited in rural areas. However, the specific reasons rural patient populations do not receive surgery for non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) is unknown. We investigated geographic disparities in reasons for failure to receive guideline-indicated surgical treatment for patients with potentially resectable NSCLC. METHODS: The National Cancer Database was used to identify patients with clinical stage I-IIIA (N0-N1) NSCLC between 2004 and 2018. Patients from rural areas were compared to urban areas, and the reason for nonreceipt of surgery was evaluated. Adjusted odds of (1) primary nonsurgical management, (2) surgery being deemed contraindicated due to risk, (3) surgery being recommended but not performed, and (4) overall failure to receive surgery were determined. RESULTS: The study included 324,785 patients with NSCLC with 42,361 (13.0%) from rural areas. Overall, 62.4% of patients from urban areas and 58.8% of patients from rural areas underwent surgery (P < 0.001). Patients from rural areas had increased odds of (1) being recommended primary nonsurgical management (adjusted odds ratio [aOR]: 1.14, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.05-1.23), (2) surgery being deemed contraindicated due to risk (aOR: 1.19, 95% CI: 1.07-1.33), (3) surgery being recommended but not performed (aOR: 1.13, 95% CI: 1.01-1.26), and (4) overall failure to receive surgery (aOR: 1.21, 95% CI: 1.13-1.29; all P < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: There are geographic disparities in the management of NSCLC. Rural patient populations are more likely to fail to undergo surgery for potentially resectable disease for every reason examined.

Evaluation of Nationwide Trends in Nodal Sampling Guideline Adherence for Gastric Cancer: 2005-2017.

INTRODUCTION: Surgical resection is the primary curative treatment for localized gastric cancer. A multitude of research supports surgical nodal sampling guidelines. Though there are known disparities in adherence to nodal sampling, it is unclear how hospital program-level disparities have changed over time. The purpose of this study is to evaluate trends in program-level disparities in adherence to gastric cancer nodal sampling guidelines. METHODS: Patients who underwent resection of gastric cancer from 2005 to 2017 were identified in the National Cancer Database. Patients treated at academic programs were compared to those treated at nonacademic programs, and rates and trends of adherence to nodal sampling guidelines (defined as ≥15 lymph nodes) were determined. Adjusted multivariable analysis was used to determine likelihood of nodal sampling adherence while controlling for sociodemographic, clinical, hospital, and travel distance characteristics. RESULTS: A total of 55,421 patients were included with 27,201 (49.1%) of patients meeting adherence criteria for lymph node sampling. Academic programs treated 44.4% of the total cohort. Overall, lymph node sampling criteria were met in 59.2% of patients treated at high-volume academic programs and 37.0% of patients treated at low-volume nonacademic programs (incidence rate ratios 0.67, 95% confidence interval 0.63-0.72 versus high-volume academic programs). Adherence rates improved from 2005 to 2017 for both low-volume nonacademic programs (27.8% in 2005 to 50.1% in 2017) and high-volume academic programs (46.0% in 2005 to 69.8% in 2017, P < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Though adherence rates have improved from 2005 to 2017, high-volume academic programs were more likely to adhere to lymph node sampling guidelines for gastric cancer.

Association between travel distance and overall survival among patients with adrenocortical carcinoma.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Regionalization of care is associated with improved perioperative outcomes after adrenalectomy. However, the relationship between travel distance and treatment of adrenocortical carcinoma (ACC) is unknown. We investigated the association between travel distance, treatment, and overall survival (OS) among patients with ACC. METHODS: Patients diagnosed with ACC between 2004 and 2017 were identified with the National Cancer Database. Long distance was defined as the highest quintile of travel (≥42.2 miles). The likelihood of surgical management and adjuvant chemotherapy (AC) were determined. The association between travel distance, treatment, and OS was evaluated. RESULTS: Of 3492 patients with ACC included, 2337 (66.9%) received surgery. Rural residents were more likely to travel long distances for surgery than metropolitan residents (65.8% vs. 15.5%, p < 0.001), and surgery was associated with improved OS (HR 0.43, 95% CI 0.34-0.54). Overall, 807 (23.1%) patients received AC with rates decreasing approximately 1% per 4-mile travel distance increase. Also, long distance travel was associated with worse OS among surgically treated patients (HR 1.21, 95% CI 1.05-1.40). CONCLUSIONS: Surgery was associated with improved overall survival for patients with ACC. However, increased travel distance was associated with lower likelihood to receive adjuvant chemotherapy and decreased overall survival.

Evaluation of emergency department treat-and-release encounters after major gastrointestinal surgery.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Emergency department (ED) utilization after gastrointestinal cancer operations is poorly characterized. Our study objectives were to determine the incidence of, reasons for, and predictors of ED treat-and-release encounters after gastrointestinal cancer operations. METHODS: Patients who underwent elective esophageal, hepatobiliary, gastric, pancreatic, small intestinal, or colorectal operations for cancer were identified in the 2015-2017 Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project State Inpatient and State Emergency Department Databases for New York, Maryland, and Florida. The primary outcomes were the incidence of ED treat-and-release encounters and readmissions within 30 days of discharge. RESULTS: Among 51 527 patients at 406 hospitals, 4047 (7.9%) had an ED treat-and-release encounter, and 5573 (10.8%) had an ED encounter with readmission. In total, 40.7% of ED encounters were treat-and-release encounters. ED treat-and-release encounters were most frequently for pain (12.0%), device/ostomy complaints (11.7%), or wound complaints (11.4%). ED treat-and-release encounters predictors included non-Hispanic Black race/ethnicity (odds ratio [OR] 1.24, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.12-1.37) and Medicare (OR 1.27, 95% CI 1.16-1.40) or Medicaid (OR 1.82, 95% CI 1.62-2.40) coverage. CONCLUSIONS: ED treat-and-release encounters are common after major gastrointestinal operations, making up nearly half of postdischarge ED encounters. The reasons for ED treat-and-release encounters differ from those for ED encounters with readmissions.

National Assessment of Early Discharge After Video-Assisted Thoracoscopic Surgery for Lung Resection.

INTRODUCTION: Video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS) techniques permit shorter postoperative length of stay (LOS). However, it remains unknown whether earlier discharge increases the risk of adverse postoperative events. We examined whether shorter LOS following elective VATS lung resection was associated with increased rates of readmission or postoperative complications. METHODS: Patients who underwent elective thoracoscopic segmentectomy, lobectomy, or bilobectomy for lung neoplasms from 2011 to 2018 were identified in the American College of Surgeons National Surgical Quality Improvement Program (ACS NSQIP) dataset. Postoperative LOS was treated as an ordinal variable. The examined outcomes were 30-d readmission and 30-d postdischarge death or serious morbidity (DSM). Multivariable logistic regression models evaluated the association of LOS with outcomes. The most common readmission diagnoses were identified for each operation. RESULTS: Among 14,418 patients, 12,410 (86.1%) underwent lobectomy, 1764 (12.2%) underwent segmentectomy, and 244 (1.7%) underwent bilobectomy. The median LOS was 3 d for patients undergoing lobectomy (IQR 2-5) and segmentectomy (IQR 2-4), and 4 d for bilobectomy (IQR 3-6). Readmission rates varied with admission time and ranged from 5.0% for patients with LOS ≤1 d to 8.5% for LOS ≥5 d. The most common readmission diagnoses were pneumothorax (19.0%) and wound complications (13.4%). Each one-day increase in LOS was associated with an increased risk of readmission (OR 1.10, 95% CI 1.04-1.17, P < 0.001). No association was seen between earlier discharge and DSM (OR 1.08, 95% CI 0.99-1.18, P = 0.070). CONCLUSIONS: Early discharge following VATS lung resection is not associated with increased rates of readmission or postoperative complications among patients undergoing surgery for cancer, and may safely be considered for selected patients with uncomplicated postoperative recovery.

Rural-urban survival disparities for patients with surgically treated lung cancer.

BACKGROUND: Nonsmall-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) is a common diagnosis among patients living in rural areas and small towns who face unique challenges accessing care. We examined differences in survival for surgically treated rural and small-town patients compared to those from urban and metropolitan areas. METHODS: The National Cancer Database was used to identify surgically treated NSCLC patients from 2004 to 2016. Patients from rural/small-town counties were compared to urban/metro counties. Differences in patient clinical, sociodemographic, hospital, and travel characteristics were described. Survival differences were examined with Kaplan-Meier curves and Cox proportional hazards models. RESULTS: The study included 366 373 surgically treated NSCLC patients with 12.4% (n = 45 304) categorized as rural/small-town. Rural/small-town patients traveled farther for treatment and were from areas characterized by lower income and education(all p < 0.001). Survival probabilities for rural/small-town patients were worse at 1 year (85% vs. 87%), 5 years (48% vs. 54%), and 10 years (26% vs. 31%) (p < 0.001). Travel distance >100 miles (hazard ratio [HR] = 1.11, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.07-1.16, vs. <25 miles) and living in a rural/small-town county (HR = 1.04, 95% CI: 1.01-1.07) were associated with increased risk for death. CONCLUSIONS: Rural and small-town patients with surgically treated NSCLC had worse survival outcomes compared to urban and metropolitan patients.

Outcomes after extracorporeal membrane oxygenation support in COVID-19 and non-COVID-19 patients.

BACKGROUND: Veno-venous extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (V-V ECMO) support is increasingly used in the management of COVID-19-related acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS). However, the clinical decision-making to initiate V-V ECMO for severe COVID-19 still remains unclear. In order to determine the optimal timing and patient selection, we investigated the outcomes of both COVID-19 and non-COVID-19 patients undergoing V-V ECMO support. METHODS: Overall, 138 patients were included in this study. Patients were stratified into two cohorts: those with COVID-19 and non-COVID-19 ARDS. RESULTS: The survival in patients with COVID-19 was statistically similar to non-COVID-19 patients (p = .16). However, the COVID-19 group demonstrated higher rates of bleeding (p = .03) and thrombotic complications (p < .001). The duration of V-V ECMO support was longer in COVID-19 patients compared to non-COVID-19 patients (29.0 ± 27.5 vs 15.9 ± 19.6 days, p < .01). Most notably, in contrast to the non-COVID-19 group, we found that COVID-19 patients who had been on a ventilator for longer than 7 days prior to ECMO had 100% mortality without a lung transplant. CONCLUSIONS: These findings suggest that COVID-19-associated ARDS was not associated with a higher post-ECMO mortality than non-COVID-19-associated ARDS patients, despite longer duration of extracorporeal support. Early initiation of V-V ECMO is important for improved ECMO outcomes in COVID-19 ARDS patients. Since late initiation of ECMO was associated with extremely high mortality related to lack of pulmonary recovery, it should be used judiciously or as a bridge to lung transplantation.

"Are We Gonna Talk About It or Not?" Thoracic Oncology Provider Perspectives on Smoking Cessation.

BACKGROUND: Tobacco use is the greatest preventable cause of death and disease in the United States. Despite recommendations from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, United States Preventive Task Force, and major professional societies that all health-care providers provide smoking-cessation counseling, smoking-cessation interventions are not consistently delivered in clinical practice. We sought to identify important barriers and facilitators to the utilization of smoking-cessation interventions in a thoracic oncology program. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We conducted 14 semistructured interviews with providers including thoracic surgeons (n = 3), interventional pulmonologists (n = 1), medical oncologists (n = 3), radiation oncologists (n = 2), and nurses (n = 5). Interviewees were asked about prior and current smoking-cessation efforts, their perspectives on barriers to successful smoking cessation, and opportunities for improvement. Responses were analyzed inductively to identify common themes. RESULTS: All interviewees report discussing smoking cessation with their patients and realize the importance of a smoking-cessation counseling; however, smoking-cessation interventions are inconsistent and often lacking. Providers emphasized five domains that impact their delivery of smoking-cessation interventions: patient willingness and motivation to quit, clinical engagement and follow-up, documentation of smoking history, provider education in smoking cessation, and the availability of additional smoking-cessation resources. CONCLUSIONS: Providers recognize the need for more efficient and consistent smoking-cessation interventions. Therefore, the development of interventions that address this need would not only be easily taught to providers and delivered to patients but also be welcomed into clinics.

Comparative Effectiveness of Surgical Approaches for Lung Cancer.

BACKGROUND: The magnitude of association and quality of evidence comparing surgical approaches for lung cancer resection has not been analyzed. This has resulted in conflicting information regarding the relative superiority of the different approaches and disparate opinions on the optimal surgical treatment. We reviewed and systematically analyzed all published data comparing near- (30-d) and long-term mortality for minimally invasive to open surgical approaches for lung cancer. METHODS: Comprehensive search of EMBASE, MEDLINE, and the Cochrane Library, from January 2009 to August 2019, was performed to identify the studies and those that passed bias assessment were included in the analysis utilizing propensity score matching techniques. Meta-analysis was performed using random-effects and fixed-effects models. Risk of bias was assessed via the Newcastle-Ottawa Scale and the ROBINS-I tool. The study was registered in PROSPERO (CRD42020150923) prior to analysis. RESULTS: Overall, 1382 publications were identified but 19 studies were included encompassing 47,054 patients after matching. Minimally invasive techniques were found to be superior with respect to near-term mortality in early and advanced-stage lung cancer (risk ratio 0.45, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.21-0.95, I2 = 0%) as well as for elderly patients (odds ratio 0.45, 95% CI 0.31-0.65, I2 = 30%), but did not demonstrate benefit for high-risk patients (odds ratio 0.74, 95% CI 0.06-8.73, I2 = 78%). However, no difference was found in long-term survival. CONCLUSIONS: We performed the first systematic review and meta-analysis to compare surgical approaches for lung cancer which indicated that minimally invasive techniques may be superior to thoracotomy in near-term mortality, but there is no difference in long-term outcomes.

Margin Positivity in Resectable Esophageal Cancer: Are there Modifiable Risk Factors?

BACKGROUND: Patients with esophageal cancer have poor overall survival, with positive resection margins worsening survival. Margin positivity rates are used as quality measures in other malignancies, but modifiable risk factors are necessary to develop actionable targets for improvement. Our objectives were to (1) evaluate trends in esophageal cancer margin positivity, and (2) identify modifiable patient/hospital factors associated with margin positivity. METHODS: Patients who underwent esophagectomy from 2004 to 2015 were identified from the National Cancer Database. Trends in margin positivity by time and hospital volume were evaluated using Cochrane-Armitage tests. Associations between patient/hospital factors and margin positivity were assessed by multivariable logistic regression. RESULTS: Among 29,706 patients who underwent esophagectomy for cancer, 9.37% had positive margins. Margin positivity rates decreased over time (10.62% in 2004 to 8.61% in 2015; p < 0.001). Older patients (≥ 75 years) were more likely to have positive margins [odds ratio (OR) 2.04, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.42-2.92], as were patients with a Charlson-Deyo Index ≥ 3 (OR 1.84, 95% CI 1.08-3.12). Patients who received neoadjuvant therapy were less likely to have positive margins (OR 0.37, 95% CI 0.29-0.47), while laparoscopic surgical approach was associated with increased margin positivity (OR 1.70, 95% CI 1.40-2.06). As the hospital annual esophagectomy volume increased, margin positivity rates decreased (7.76% in the fourth quartile vs. 11.39% in the first quartile; OR 0.70, 95% CI 0.49-0.99). CONCLUSIONS: Use of neoadjuvant therapy, surgical approach, and hospital volume are modifiable risk factors for margin positivity in esophageal cancer. These factors should be considered in treatment planning, and margin positivity rates could be considered as a quality measure in esophageal cancer.

Adequate Lymphadenectomy as a Quality Measure in Esophageal Cancer: Is there an Association with Treatment Approach?

BACKGROUND: The national comprehensive cancer network defines adequate lymphadenectomy as evaluation of ≥ 15 lymph nodes in esophageal cancer. However, varying thresholds have been suggested following neoadjuvant therapy. OBJECTIVES: Our objectives were to (1) explore trends in adequate lymphadenectomy rates over time; (2) evaluate unadjusted lymphadenectomy yield by treatment characteristics; and (3) identify independent factors associated with adequate lymphadenectomy. METHODS: The National Cancer Data Base was used to identify patients who underwent esophagectomy for cancer from 2004 to 2015. Adequate lymphadenectomy trends over time were evaluated using the Cochrane-Armitage test, and lymph node yield by treatment approach was compared using the Mann-Whitney U and Kruskal-Wallis tests. Associations with treatment factors were assessed by multivariable logistic regression. RESULTS: Among 24,413 patients, 9919 (40.6%) had adequate lymphadenectomy. Meeting the nodal threshold increased over time (52.6% in 2015 vs. 26.0% in 2004; p < 0.01). Lymph node yield did not differ based on neoadjuvant therapy (median 12 [interquartile range 7-19] with and without neoadjuvant therapy; p = 0.44). Adequate lymphadenectomy was not associated with neoadjuvant therapy (40.5% vs. 40.8%, odds ratio [OR] 0.94, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.82-1.07), but was associated with surgical approach (52.7% of laparoscopic cases, OR 1.28, 95% CI 1.06-1.56; 61.2% of robotic cases, OR 1.71, 95% CI 1.34-2.19, vs. 43.5% of open cases), and increasing annual esophagectomy volume (55.6% in the fourth quartile vs. 32.6% in the first quartile; OR 3.57, 95% CI 2.35-5.43). CONCLUSIONS: Despite increases over time, only 50% of patients undergo adequate lymphadenectomy during esophageal cancer resection. Adequate lymphadenectomy was not associated with neoadjuvant therapy. Focusing on surgical approach and esophagectomy volume may further improve adequate lymphadenectomy rates.

Post-operative complications and readmissions following outpatient elective Nissen fundoplication.

INTRODUCTION: Traditionally, laparoscopic Nissen fundoplication (LNF) has been considered an inpatient procedure. Advances in surgical and anesthetic techniques have led to a shift towards outpatient LNF procedures. However, differences in surgical outcomes between outpatient and inpatient LNF are poorly understood. The objectives of this study were (1) to describe the frequency of outpatient LNF in a national cohort and (2) to identify any differences in complications or readmission rates between outpatient and inpatient LNF. METHODS: The American College of Surgeons National Surgical Quality Improvement Program (ACS-NSQIP) database was used to identify elective LNF cases from 2012 to 2016. Patients discharged on the day of surgery were compared to those discharged 24-48 h post-operatively. Outcomes included 30-day readmission and death or serious morbidity (DSM). Bivariate analyses were completed with Chi squared testing for categorical variables and two sided t tests for continuous variables. Associations between outpatient surgery and outcomes were assessed using multivariable logistic regression. Differences in readmission were analyzed using Kaplan-Meier failure estimates and log-rank tests. RESULTS: Of 7734 patients who underwent elective LNF, 568 (7.3%) were discharged on the day of surgery. The overall 30-day readmission rate was 4.1% (n = 316) and the overall rate of DSM was 1.0% (n = 79). The most common 30-day readmission diagnoses overall were infectious complications (16.1%), dysphagia (12.9%), and abdominal pain (11.7%). On multivariable analysis, there was no association between outpatient surgery and 30-day readmission (3.9% vs. 4.1%; aOR 0.97, 95% CI 0.62-1.52, p = 0.908) or DSM (1.1% vs. 1.0%; aOR 0.91, 95%CI 0.36-2.29, p = 0.848). Kaplan-Meier analysis showed no difference in rates of hospital readmission between groups at 30-days from discharge (3.9% vs. 4.1%, p = 0.325). CONCLUSIONS: Among patients undergoing elective LNF, there were no significant differences in post-operative complications and 30-day readmission when compared to traditional inpatient postoperative care. Further consideration should be given to transitioning LNF to an outpatient procedure.

Pre-Intubation Veno-Venous Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation in Patients at Risk for Respiratory Decompensation.

Veno-venous extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (VV-ECMO) has emerged as a potential life-saving treatment for patients with acute respiratory failure. Given the accumulating literature supporting the use of VV-ECMO without therapeutic levels of anticoagulation, it might be feasible to use it for planned intubation before surgical procedures. Here, we report consecutive series of patients who underwent planned initiation of VV-ECMO, without anticoagulation, before induction of general anesthesia for anticipated difficult airways or respiratory decompensation. We describe the approach to safely initiate VV-ECMO in an awake patient. We retrospectively identified patients in a prospectively maintained database who underwent planned initiation of VV-ECMO before intubation. Standard statistical methods were used to determine post-procedure outcomes. Patients included were three men and one woman, with a mean age of 34.3 ± 10.4 years. Indications included mediastinal lymphoma, foreign body obstruction, hemoptysis, and tracheo-esophageal fistula. VV-ECMO was initiated electively for all patients, and no anticoagulation was used. The median duration of VV-ECMO support was 2.5 days (1-11 days), the median length of ventilator dependence and intensive care unit stay was 1 day (1-23 days) and 5 days (4-31 days), respectively. The median length of stay was 18.5 days (8-39 days). There were no thrombotic complications and no mortality at 30 days. Initiation of awake VV-ECMO is feasible and is safe before intubation and induction of anesthesia in patients at high risk for respiratory decompensation.

National Cluster-Randomized Trial of Duty-Hour Flexibility in Surgical Training.

BACKGROUND: Concerns persist regarding the effect of current surgical resident duty-hour policies on patient outcomes, resident education, and resident well-being. METHODS: We conducted a national, cluster-randomized, pragmatic, noninferiority trial involving 117 general surgery residency programs in the United States (2014-2015 academic year). Programs were randomly assigned to current Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME) duty-hour policies (standard-policy group) or more flexible policies that waived rules on maximum shift lengths and time off between shifts (flexible-policy group). Outcomes included the 30-day rate of postoperative death or serious complications (primary outcome), other postoperative complications, and resident perceptions and satisfaction regarding their well-being, education, and patient care. RESULTS: In an analysis of data from 138,691 patients, flexible, less-restrictive duty-hour policies were not associated with an increased rate of death or serious complications (9.1% in the flexible-policy group and 9.0% in the standard-policy group, P=0.92; unadjusted odds ratio for the flexible-policy group, 0.96; 92% confidence interval, 0.87 to 1.06; P=0.44; noninferiority criteria satisfied) or of any secondary postoperative outcomes studied. Among 4330 residents, those in programs assigned to flexible policies did not report significantly greater dissatisfaction with overall education quality (11.0% in the flexible-policy group and 10.7% in the standard-policy group, P=0.86) or well-being (14.9% and 12.0%, respectively; P=0.10). Residents under flexible policies were less likely than those under standard policies to perceive negative effects of duty-hour policies on multiple aspects of patient safety, continuity of care, professionalism, and resident education but were more likely to perceive negative effects on personal activities. There were no significant differences between study groups in resident-reported perception of the effect of fatigue on personal or patient safety. Residents in the flexible-policy group were less likely than those in the standard-policy group to report leaving during an operation (7.0% vs. 13.2%, P<0.001) or handing off active patient issues (32.0% vs. 46.3%, P<0.001). CONCLUSIONS: As compared with standard duty-hour policies, flexible, less-restrictive duty-hour policies for surgical residents were associated with noninferior patient outcomes and no significant difference in residents' satisfaction with overall well-being and education quality. (FIRST ClinicalTrials.gov number, NCT02050789.).

The Society of Thoracic Surgeons Looking to the Future Scholarship Program: A 15-Year Review.

BACKGROUND: It has been postulated that a possible barrier to pursuing cardiothoracic surgery is a lack of exposure and mentorship during training. In 2006, The Society of Thoracic Surgeons began the Looking to the Future Scholarship to expand interest in the field. Undecided trainees with limited exposure were prioritized in the selection process. This report summarizes the career outcomes of general surgery resident and medical student recipients. METHODS: Scholarship recipients and nonrecipients (control) were queried in a Google search. The percentage of those who were cardiothoracic surgeons or in cardiothoracic training (%CTS) was calculated, as well as the percentage of female surgeons in cardiothoracic surgery. RESULTS: From 2006 to 2021, there were 669 awardees. The %CTS was 63.7% for resident recipients and 31.4% for students, respectively. There was no significant difference in %CTS between resident and student recipients compared to nonrecipients. Notably, the percentage of female cardiothoracic surgeons was significantly greater for both resident and student recipients. CONCLUSIONS: The majority of resident recipients are now in cardiothoracic surgery, comparable to nonrecipients. While there was no significant difference between the percentage of recipients and non-recipients in cardiothoracic surgery, these groups differed substantially as nonrecipients had greater exposure and commitment to the field at the time of application.

Rapid Discharge After Anatomic Lung Resection: Is Ambulatory Surgery for Early Lung Cancer Possible?

BACKGROUND: Given resource constraints during the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic, we explored whether minimally invasive anatomic lung resections for early-stage lung cancer could undergo rapid discharge. METHODS: All patients with clinical stage I-II non-small cell lung cancer from September 2019 to June 2022 who underwent minimally invasive anatomic lung resection at a single institution were included. Patients discharged without a chest tube <18 hours after operation, meeting preset criteria, were considered rapid discharge. Demographics, comorbidities, operative details, and 30-day outcomes were compared between rapid discharge patients and nonrapid discharge "control" patients. Multivariable logistic regression was performed for predictors of nonrapid discharge. RESULTS: Overall, 430 patients underwent resection (200 lobectomies and 230 segmentectomies); 162 patients (37%) underwent rapid discharge and 268 patients (63%) were controls. The rapid discharge group was younger (66.5 vs 70.0 years; P < .001), was assigned to lower American Society of Anesthesiologists class (P = .02), had more segmentectomies than lobectomies (P = .003), and had smaller tumors (P < .001). There were no differences between groups in distance from home to hospital (P = .335) or readmission rates (P = .39). Increasing age had higher odds for nonrapid discharge (odds ratio, 1.04; 95% CI, 1.02-1.07), whereas segmentectomy had decreased odds (odds ratio, 0.46; 95% CI, 0.28-0.75). CONCLUSIONS: Approximately 37% of the patients underwent rapid discharge after operation with similar readmission rate to controls. Increasing age had higher odds for nonrapid discharge; segmentectomy was likely to lead to rapid discharge. Consideration of rapid discharge minimally invasive lung resection for early-stage lung cancer can result in significant reduction in inpatient resources without adverse patient outcomes.

Association of pathologic factors with postoperative venous thromboembolism after gastrointestinal cancer surgery.

BACKGROUND: Venous thromboembolism (VTE) chemoprophylaxis is the standard of care after gastrointestinal (GI) cancer surgery; however, variation in risk based on pathologic factors (eg, stage and histology) is unclear. This study aimed to evaluate the association of pathologic factors with VTE after GI cancer surgery. METHODS: The American College of Surgeons National Surgical Quality Improvement Program procedure targeted datasets were queried for patients who underwent colorectal, pancreatic, primary hepatic, and esophageal cancer surgery between 2017 and 2020. Disease-specific and pathologic factors associated with postoperative VTE were evaluated using multivariable logistic regression. RESULTS: Among 70,934 patients who underwent GI cancer surgery, the incidence rates of 30-day postoperative VTE were 3.3% for pancreatic cancer, 3.2% for esophageal cancer, 2.7% for primary hepatic, and 1.3% for colorectal cancer. T stage was associated with VTE for colorectal cancer (T4 vs T1; odds ratio [OR], 1.79; 95% CI, 1.24-2.60), pancreatic cancer (all T stages vs T1; P < .05), and primary hepatic cancer (T4 vs T1; OR, 2.80; 95% CI, 1.55-5.08). N stage was associated with VTE for colorectal cancer (N2 vs N0; OR, 1.33; 95% CI, 1.04-1.68) and pancreatic cancer (N2 vs N0; OR, 1.36; 95% CI, 1.03-1.81). M stage was associated with VTE for colorectal cancer (OR, 1.47; 95% CI, 1.17-1.85) and esophageal cancer (OR, 2.54; 95% CI, 1.24-5.19). Histologic subtype was not associated with VTE, except for pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors vs adenocarcinoma (OR, 1.34; 95% CI, 1.03-1.74). CONCLUSION: Pathologic factors were associated with higher 30-day VTE risk after GI cancer surgery. Acknowledging the association of pathologic factors on VTE is an important first step to considering a more tailored approach to chemoprophylaxis.