[Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on thoracic surgery training in Spain]. / Impacto de la pandemia por COVID-19 en la formación de los cirujanos torácicos en España.

In the more than 2 years since its emergence, the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic has prompted important changes in healthcare systems and their organization. The aim of this study is to determine the implications in specialized thoracic surgery training as well as the repercussions on thoracic surgery residents. With this objective, the Spanish Society of Thoracic Surgery has conducted a survey among all its trainees and those who had finished their residency during the last 3 years. It consisted of 24 multiple-answer closed questions about the impact of the pandemic on their services, their training, and their personal experience. The response rate was 42% (52 out of a target population of 120). The effect of the pandemic on thoracic surgery services was high or extreme according to 78.8% of the participants. Academic activities were completely cancelled in 42.3% of the cases, and 57.7% of the respondents were required to treat hospitalized COVID patients (25% part-time, and 32.7% full-time). More than 80% of the survey participants believed that changes during the pandemic negatively affected their training, and 36.5% would prefer to extend their training period. In sum, we observe how the pandemic has had deep negative effects on specialized training in thoracic surgery in Spain.

Impact of COVID-19 pandemic in thoracic surgery training in Spain.

In the more than 2 years since its emergence, the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic has prompted important changes in healthcare systems and their organization. The aim of this study is to determine the implications in specialized thoracic surgery training as well as the repercussions on thoracic surgery residents. With this objective, the Spanish Society of Thoracic Surgery has conducted a survey among all its trainees and those who had finished their residency during the last 3 years. It consisted of 24 multiple-answer closed questions about the impact of the pandemic on their services, their training, and their personal experience. The response rate was 42% (52 out of a target population of 120). The effect of the pandemic on thoracic surgery services was high or extreme according to 78.8% of the participants. Academic activities were completely cancelled in 42.3% of the cases, and 57.7% of the respondents were required to treat hospitalized COVID patients (25% part-time, and 32.7% full-time). More than 80% of the survey participants believed that changes during the pandemic negatively affected their training, and 36.5% would prefer to extend their training period. In sum, we observe how the pandemic has had deep negative effects on specialized training in thoracic surgery in Spain.

Lung retransplant. Experience of a referral centre. / Retrasplante pulmonar. Experiencia de un centro de referencia.

BACKGROUND: Lung retransplantation (LR) is a valid choice with a significant risk of perioperative morbidity and mortality in selected patients with graft dysfunction after lung transplantation. Our goal is to analyse our experience in LR in terms of survival and lung function. METHODS: Retrospective study of patients undergoing LR (1990-2019). VARIABLES: recipients and procedure, early mortality, survival and lung function in patients with CLAD. Quantitative variables (mean±SD); qualitative (%). Student's t test or χ2 was used. Survival was estimated using Kaplan-Meier, compared with Log Rank. A p < 0.05 was established as significant. RESULTS: Of 784 transplanted patients, 25 patients (mean age 38.41-16.3 years, 12 men and 13 women) were LR; (CLAD (n = 19), pulmonary infarction (n = 2), airway complications (n = 2), graft dysfunction (n = 1), hyperacute rejection (n = 1), mean time to retransplantation: 5.41 ± 3.87 years in CLAD and 21.2 ± 21.4 days in non-CLAD. The 90-day mortality was 52% and 36.8% in the second period (p = 0.007), being higher in patients who required preoperative ECMO (80 vs. 20%, p = 0.04). The 1- and 5-year survival was 53.9% and 37.7%, respectively (p = 0.016). Survival of the CLAD group was greater (p = 0.08). Pre LR ECMO decreased survival (p = 0.032). After LR, FEV1 improved an average of 0.98 ± 0.13L (25.6 ± 18.8%) (p = 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: LR is a high mortality procedure that requires careful selection of patients with better results in patients with CLAD. The lung function of patients with CLAD improved significantly.

Prognostic Factors in Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer Less Than 3 Centimeters: Actuarial Analysis, Accumulative Incidence and Risk Groups.

INTRODUCTION: In TNM classification, factors determining the tumor (T) component in non-small cell lung cancer have scarcely changed over time and are still based solely on anatomical features. Our objective was to study the influence of these and other morphopathological factors on survival. METHODS: A total of 263 patients undergoing lung resection due to stage I non-small cell lung cancer ≤3cm in diameter were studied. A survival analysis and competing-risk estimate study was made on the basis of clinical, surgical and pathological variables using actuarial analysis and accumulative incidence methods, respectively. A risk model was then generated from the results. RESULTS: Survival at 5 and 10 years was 79.8 and 74.3%, respectively. The best prognostic factors were presence of symptoms, smoking habit and FEV1>60%, number of resected nodes>7, squamous histology, absence of vascular invasion, absence of visceral pleural invasion and presence of invasion more proximal than the lobar bronchus. All these were statistically significant according to the actuarial method. The factor "age<50 years" was close to the margin of statistical significance. Pleural invasion and vascular invasion were entered in the multivariate analysis. The competing-risk analysis showed a probability of death due to cancer of 14.3 and 35.1% at 5 and 10 years, respectively. Significant variables in the univariate and multivariate analyses were similar, with the exception of FEV1>60%. CONCLUSIONS: Pleural invasion and vascular invasion determine survival or risk of death due to non-small cell lung cancer ≤3cm and can be used for generating a predictive risk model.

Impacto de la pandemia por COVID-19 en la formación de los cirujanos torácicos en España / Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on thoracic surgery training in Spain

Tras más de dos años desde su aparición, la pandemia por SARS-CoV-2 ha generado importantes cambios en la sanidad y su organización. El presente trabajo trata de dilucidar las implicaciones de estos en la formación especializada de la cirugía torácica y sus repercusiones en los profesionales. Para ello, desde la Sociedad Española de Cirugía Torácica (SECT) se distribuye una encuesta entre los residentes en activo y aquellos que han terminado su formación en los últimos tres años. Esta consta de 24 preguntas cerradas de respuesta múltiple sobre el impacto de la pandemia en sus servicios, su formación y su vivencia. La tasa de respuesta (TR) de la encuesta fue de 42% (52 de una población objetivo de 120). El efecto de la pandemia en el funcionamiento de los servicios de cirugía torácica fue considerado alto o extremo según 78,8% de los participantes. Las actividades académicas fueron completamente suspendidas en 42,3% de los casos, mientras que 57,7% de los participantes tuvieron que prestar atención asistencial a pacientes ingresados por COVID, de los cuales 25% fue a tiempo parcial y 32,7% a tiempo completo. De los encuestados, 80% consideró que los cambios sufridos durante la pandemia afectaron su formación como residente y 36,5% opinó que debería ofrecerse una prolongación del periodo de formación para quienes se hayan visto afectados. Así pues, observamos cómo la pandemia ha afectado profundamente de forma negativa la formación especializada en cirugía torácica en España. (AU)

In the more than 2 years since its emergence, the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic has prompted important changes in healthcare systems and their organization. The aim of this study is to determine the implications in specialized thoracic surgery training as well as the repercussions on thoracic surgery residents. With this objective, the Spanish Society of Thoracic Surgery has conducted a survey among all its trainees and those who had finished their residency during the last 3 years. It consisted of 24 multiple-answer closed questions about the impact of the pandemic on their services, their training, and their personal experience. The response rate was 42% (52 out of a target population of 120). The effect of the pandemic on thoracic surgery services was high or extreme according to 78.8% of the participants. Academic activities were completely cancelled in 42.3% of the cases, and 57.7% of the respondents were required to treat hospitalized COVID patients (25% part-time, and 32.7% full-time). More than 80% of the survey participants believed that changes during the pandemic negatively affected their training, and 36.5% would prefer to extend their training period. In sum, we observe how the pandemic has had deep negative effects on specialized training in thoracic surgery in Spain. (AU)

Retrasplante pulmonar. Experiencia de un centro de referencia / Lung retransplant. Experience of a referral centre

ANTECEDENTES Y OBJETIVOS: El retrasplante pulmonar (RTP) es un tratamiento válido en pacientes con disfunción pulmonar, pero con una elevada morbimortalidad. Nuestro objetivo es analizar nuestra experiencia en RTP en supervivencia y función pulmonar. PACIENTES Y MÉTODOS: Estudio retrospectivo de pacientes con RTP (1990-2019). VARIABLES: receptores y procedimiento, mortalidad precoz, supervivencia y función pulmonar en pacientes CLAD. Variables cuantitativas (media±DE); cualitativas (%). Se utilizó el test t de Student o χ2. La supervivencia se estimó mediante Kaplan-Meier, comparándose con Log Rank. Se estableció como significativa p < 0,05. RESULTADOS: De 784 pacientes trasplantados, 25 pacientes (edad media 38,41 ± 16,3 años, 12 hombres y 13 mujeres) fueron RTP; CLAD (n = 19), infarto pulmonar (n = 2), complicaciones de vía aérea (n = 2), disfunción del injerto (n = 1), rechazo hiperagudo (n = 1). Tiempo medio hasta el retrasplante: 5,41 ± 3,87 años en CLAD y 21,2 ± 21,4 días en no CLAD. La mortalidad a 90 días fue del 52% y 36,8% en el segundo periodo (p = 0,007), siendo mayor en pacientes que precisaron ECMO preoperatorio (80 vs. 20%, p = 0,04). La supervivencia a 1 y 5 años fue del 53,9% y 37,7%, respectivamente (p = 0,016). La supervivencia del grupo CLAD fue mayor (p = 0,08). El ECMO pre RTP disminuyó la supervivencia (p = 0,032). FEV1 mejoró una media de 0,98 ± 0,13L (25,6 ± 18,8%) (p = 0,001). CONCLUSIONES: El RTP es un procedimiento de elevada mortalidad que obliga a una cuidadosa selección de los pacientes, con mejores resultados en aquellos con CLAD. La función pulmonar de los pacientes con CLAD mejoró significativamente

BACKGROUND: Lung retransplantation (LR) is a valid choice with a significant risk of perioperative morbidity and mortality in selected patients with graft dysfunction after lung transplantation. Our goal is to analyse our experience in LR in terms of survival and lung function. METHODS: Retrospective study of patients undergoing LR (1990-2019). VARIABLES: recipients and procedure, early mortality, survival and lung function in patients with CLAD. Quantitative variables (mean±SD); qualitative (%). Student's t test or χ2 was used. Survival was estimated using Kaplan-Meier, compared with Log Rank. A p < 0.05 was established as significant. RESULTS: Of 784 transplanted patients, 25 patients (mean age 38.41-16.3 years, 12 men and 13 women) were LR; (CLAD (n = 19), pulmonary infarction (n = 2), airway complications (n = 2), graft dysfunction (n = 1), hyperacute rejection (n = 1), mean time to retransplantation: 5.41 ± 3.87 years in CLAD and 21.2 ± 21.4 days in non-CLAD. The 90-day mortality was 52% and 36.8% in the second period (p = 0.007), being higher in patients who required preoperative ECMO (80 vs. 20%, p = 0.04). The 1- and 5-year survival was 53.9% and 37.7%, respectively (p = 0.016). Survival of the CLAD group was greater (p = 0.08). Pre LR ECMO decreased survival (p = 0.032). After LR, FEV1 improved an average of 0.98 ± 0.13L (25.6 ± 18.8%) (p = 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: LR is a high mortality procedure that requires careful selection of patients with better results in patients with CLAD. The lung function of patients with CLAD improved significantly

Factores pronóstico en el carcinoma bronquial no microcítico menor de 3 centímetros (análisis actuarial, incidencia acumulativa y grupos de riesgo) / Prognostic factors in non-small cell lung cancer less than 3 centimeters: actuarial analysis, accumulative incidence and risk groups

Introducción: En la clasificación TNM, los factores determinantes del factor T en el carcinoma pulmonar no microcítico apenas han variado con el tiempo y todavía se basan únicamente en características anatómicas. Nuestro objetivo fue estudiar la influencia en la supervivencia de estos y otros factores de tipo morfopatológico. Métodos: Se incluyeron 263 pacientes sometidos a resección pulmonar por carcinoma pulmonar no microcítico en estadio I patológico y diámetro ≤ 3 cm. Se realizó un estudio de supervivencia y de estimación del riesgo competitivo observando variables clínicas, quirúrgicas y patológicas, siguiendo los métodos de análisis actuarial y de incidencia acumulativa, respectivamente. Posteriormente, se creó un modelo de riesgo de acuerdo con los resultados. Resultados: La supervivencia fue de 79,8 y 74,3% a los 5 y 10 años, respectivamente. Los factores con mejor pronóstico, estadísticamente significativo según el método actuarial fueron: presencia de síntomas, hábito tabáquico, FEV1 > 60%, número de ganglios resecados > 7, tipo histológico escamoso, ausencia de invasión vascular, ausencia de invasión pleural visceral y presencia de invasión bronquial lobar proximal. La edad < 50 años rozó la significación estadística. En el análisis multivariante entraron en regresión la invasión pleural visceral y la invasión vascular. El estudio de riesgo competitivo mostró una probabilidad de muerte por cáncer de 14,3 y 35,1% en 5 y 10 años, respectivamente. Las variables significativas en los análisis univariante y multivariante fueron similares excepto el FEV1 > 60%. Conclusiones: La presencia de invasión pleural visceral y la invasión vascular determina la supervivencia o el riesgo de muerte por carcinoma pulmonar no microcítico ≤ 3 cm y permiten elaborar un modelo predictivo de riesgo

Introduction: In TNM classification, factors determining the tumor (T) component in non-small cell lung cancer have scarcely changed over time and are still based solely on anatomical features. Our objective was to study the influence of these and other morphopathological factors on survival. Methods: A total of 263 patients undergoing lung resection due to stage I non-small cell lung cancer ≤ 3 cm in diameter were studied. A survival analysis and competing-risk estimate study was made on the basis of clinical, surgical and pathological variables using actuarial analysis and accumulative incidence methods, respectively. A risk model was then generated from the results Results: Survival at 5 and 10 years was 79.8 and 74.3%, respectively. The best prognostic factors were presence of symptoms, smoking habit and FEV1 > 60%, number of resected nodes > 7, squamous histology, absence of vascular invasion, absence of visceral pleural invasion and presence of invasion more proximal than the lobar bronchus. All these were statistically significant according to the actuarial method. The factor 'age < 50 years' was close to the margin of statistical significance. Pleural invasion and vascular invasion were entered in the multivariate analysis. The competing-risk analysis showed a probability of death due to cancer of 14.3 and 35.1% at 5 and 10 years, respectively. Significant variables in the univariate and multivariate analyses were similar, with the exception of FEV1 > 60%. Conclusions: Pleural invasion and vascular invasion determine survival or risk of death due to non-small cell lung cancer ≤ 3 cm and can be used for generating a predictive risk model