Lung transplantation for acute respiratory distress syndrome: a retrospective European cohort study.

BACKGROUND: The published experience of lung transplantation in acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) is limited. The aim of this study was to investigate the contemporary results of lung transplantation attempts in ARDS in major European centres. METHODS: We conducted a retrospective multicentre cohort study of all patients listed for lung transplantation between 2011 and 2019. We surveyed 68 centres in 22 European countries. All patients admitted to the waitlist for lung transplantation with a diagnosis of "ARDS/pneumonia" were included. Patients without extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) or mechanical ventilation were excluded. Patients were followed until 1 October 2020 or death. Multivariable analysis for 1-year survival after listing and lung transplantation was performed. RESULTS: 55 centres (81%) with a total transplant activity of 12 438 lung transplants during the 9-year period gave feedback. 40 patients with a median age of 35 years were identified. Patients were listed for lung transplantation in 18 different centres in 10 countries. 31 patients underwent lung transplantation (0.25% of all indications) and nine patients died on the waitlist. 90% of transplanted patients were on ECMO in combination with mechanical ventilation before lung transplantation. On multivariable analysis, transplantation during 2015-2019 was independently associated with better 1-year survival after lung transplantation (OR 10.493, 95% CI 1.977-55.705; p=0.006). 16 survivors out of 23 patients with known status (70%) returned to work after lung transplantation. CONCLUSIONS: Lung transplantation in highly selected ARDS patients is feasible and outcome has improved in the modern era. The selection process remains ethically and technically challenging.

Patterns of survival and surgical treatment in lung cancer patients in Estonia by histologic type and stage, 1996-2016.

Background: Lung cancer (LC) remains the most frequent cause of cancer death worldwide. We aimed to examine long-term trends in LC survival in Estonia by age, gender, histologic type and stage, with specific focus on surgical treatment.Material and methods: Data on all incident cases of LC diagnosed from 1996 to 2016 were obtained from the Estonian Cancer Registry. Logistic regression was used to examine receipt of surgical treatment in localized LC. Relative survival ratios (RSR) were calculated, and excess hazard ratios (EHR) of death were estimated by stage with gender, age, histology and period of diagnosis as independent variables.Results: Among the total of 16,423 cases, squamous cell carcinoma remained the most common histologic type. The odds of receiving surgical treatment in localized LC increased significantly over time and were associated with age, gender and histologic type. Overall, the age-standardized 5-year RSR improved significantly from 10% in 1996-2002 to 16% in 2010-2016 (from 8% to 15% in men and from 15% to 20% in women). Larger survival gain was seen in younger patients, for non-small cell LC subtypes, and for surgically treated patients. For localized disease, the 5-year RSR increased by more than 20 percentage units, reaching 50% in men and 69% in women. For all stages, the adjusted EHR of death was significantly associated with age, histologic type and period of diagnosis.Conclusions: We observed a substantial improvement of relative survival, with considerable variations across patient groups. After adjustment for age, gender and histology, a significant survival increase over time was seen for all stages. The considerable survival gain observed for localized LC can largely be attributed to rapidly growing proportion of surgically treated patients. Further investigation of LC management practices, particularly the use of non-surgical treatment options is warranted.

Achieving Thoracic Oncology data collection in Europe: a precursor study in 35 Countries.

BACKGROUND: A minority of European countries have participated in international comparisons with high level data on lung cancer. However, the nature and extent of data collection across the continent is simply unknown, and without accurate data collection it is not possible to compare practice and set benchmarks to which lung cancer services can aspire. METHODS: Using an established network of lung cancer specialists in 37 European countries, a survey was distributed in December 2014. The results relate to current practice in each country at the time, early 2015. The results were compiled and then verified with co-authors over the following months. RESULTS: Thirty-five completed surveys were received which describe a range of current practice for lung cancer data collection. Thirty countries have data collection at the national level, but this is not so in Albania, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Italy, Spain and Switzerland. Data collection varied from paper records with no survival analysis, to well-established electronic databases with links to census data and survival analyses. CONCLUSION: Using a network of committed clinicians, we have gathered validated comparative data reporting an observed difference in data collection mechanisms across Europe. We have identified the need to develop a well-designed dataset, whilst acknowledging what is feasible within each country, and aspiring to collect high quality data for clinical research.

CARE-radiology statement explanation and elaboration: reporting guideline for radiological case reports.

Despite the increasing number of radiological case reports, the majority lack a standardised methodology of writing and reporting. We therefore develop a reporting guideline for radiological case reports based on the CAse REport (CARE) statement. We established a multidisciplinary group of experts, comprising 40 radiologists, methodologists, journal editors and researchers, to develop a reporting guideline for radiological case reports according to the methodology recommended by the Enhancing the QUAlity and Transparency Of health Research network. The Delphi panel was requested to evaluate the significance of a list of elements for potential inclusion in a guideline for reporting mediation analyses. By reviewing the reporting guidelines and through discussion, we initially drafted 46 potential items. Following a Delphi survey and discussion, the final CARE-radiology checklist is comprised of 38 items in 16 domains. CARE-radiology is a comprehensive reporting guideline for radiological case reports developed using a rigorous methodology. We hope that compliance with CARE-radiology will help in the future to improve the completeness and quality of case reports in radiology.

National lung cancer screening program feasibility study in Estonia.

OBJECTIVES: The main aim of the lung cancer screening (LCS) feasibility study was to investigate the plausibility of and bottlenecks to systematic enrolment in family physician practices by evaluating all their patients. METHODS: In 3 family physician practices, for each individual born in 1947-1966 (target age group 55-74 years), information on ever smoking was gathered by a family physician/nurse. All current and ex-smokers were invited to an 'LCS visit'. In parallel, 2 inclusion criteria were used: (1) current smoker (≥20 pack-years) or ex-smoker (quit <15 years ago and smoking history ≥20 pack-years) and (2) PLCOm2012noRace risk score >1.5. All individuals with elevated lung cancer risk were assigned low-dose computed tomography. RESULTS: Among the total 7035 individuals in the 3 family physician practices, the LCS target age group comprised 1208 individuals, including 649 (46.3-57.1%) males and 559 (42.9-53.7%) females. Of the 1208 applicable age group individuals, 395 (all current or ex-smokers) were invited to the 'LCS visit'. According to either 1 or both the LCS inclusion criteria, 206 individuals were referred to low-dose computed tomography, and 201 (97.6% of those referred) ended up taking it. The estimated participation rate in LCS, based on data from our feasibility study, would have been 87.4%. CONCLUSIONS: In LCS, systematic enrolment of individuals by family physicians results in high uptake, and thus, effectiveness of the LCS in the setting of a well-functioning family physician system like in Estonia. Also, the feasibility study provided excellent input to the currently ongoing regional LCS pilot study in Estonia.

The SUPER reporting guideline suggested for reporting of surgical technique: explanation and elaboration.

Background: Surgical technique plays an essential role in achieving good health outcomes. However, the quality of surgical technique reporting remains heterogeneous. Reporting checklists could help authors to describe the surgical technique more transparently and effectively, as well as to assist reviewers and editors evaluate it more informatively, and promote readers to better understand the technique. We previously developed SUPER (surgical technique reporting checklist and standards) to assist authors in reporting their research that contains surgical technique more transparently. However, further explanation and elaboration of each item are needed for better understanding and reporting practice. Methods: We searched surgical literature in PubMed, Google Scholar and journal websites published up to January 2023 to find multidiscipline examples in various article types for each SUPER item. Results: We explain the 22 items of the SUPER and provide rationales item by item alongside. We provide 69 examples from 53 literature that present optimal reporting of the 22 items. Article types of examples include pure surgical technique, and case reports, observational studies and clinical trials that contain surgical technique. Examples are multidisciplinary, including general surgery, orthopaedical surgery, cardiac surgery, thoracic surgery, gastrointestinal surgery, neurological surgery, oncogenic surgery, and emergency surgery etc. Conclusions: Along with SUPER article, this explanation and elaboration file can promote deeper understanding on the SUPER items. We hope that the article could further guide surgeons and researchers in reporting, and assist editors and peer reviewers in reviewing manuscripts related to surgical technique.

The SUPER reporting guideline suggested for reporting of surgical technique.

Background: Existing reporting guidelines pay insufficient attention to the detail and comprehensiveness reporting of surgical technique. The Surgical techniqUe rePorting chEcklist and standaRds (SUPER) aims to address this gap by defining reporting standards for surgical technique. The SUPER guideline intends to apply to articles that encompass surgical technique in any study design, surgical discipline, and stage of surgical innovation. Methods: Following the EQUATOR (Enhancing the QUAlity and Transparency Of health Research) Network approach, 16 surgeons, journal editors, and methodologists reviewed existing reporting guidelines relating to surgical technique, reviewed papers from 15 top journals, and brainstormed to draft initial items for the SUPER. The initial items were revised through a three-round Delphi survey from 21 multidisciplinary Delphi panel experts from 13 countries and regions. The final SUPER items were formed after an online consensus meeting to resolve disagreements and a three-round wording refinement by all 16 SUPER working group members and five SUPER consultants. Results: The SUPER reporting guideline includes 22 items that are considered essential for good and informative surgical technique reporting. The items are divided into six sections: background, rationale, and objectives (items 1 to 5); preoperative preparations and requirements (items 6 to 9); surgical technique details (items 10 to 15); postoperative considerations and tasks (items 16 to 19); summary and prospect (items 20 and 21); and other information (item 22). Conclusions: The SUPER reporting guideline has the potential to guide detailed, comprehensive, and transparent surgical technique reporting for surgeons. It may also assist journal editors, peer reviewers, systematic reviewers, and guideline developers in the evaluation of surgical technique papers and help practitioners to better understand and reproduce surgical technique. Trial Registration: https://www.equator-network.org/library/reporting-guidelines-under-development/reporting-guidelines-under-development-for-other-study-designs/#SUPER.

Thoracic surgery in Estonia.

Estonia, a small Northern European country with the population of 1.3 million, has two centres of thoracic surgery, both established in 1960s. One is in the capital Tallinn, and another in the university town Tartu. Both departments cover the full spectrum of thoracic surgery, apart from oesophageal cancer surgery, yet including paediatric operations and chest trauma management. However, the focus is on lung cancer surgery. Currently, the proportion of lung cancer cases treated surgically is 20% in Estonia. Between 2000 and 2015 the proportion of lobectomies increased from 53% to 76%, while pneumonectomies decreased from 28% to 8%. Although the absolute number of lung cancer operations in Estonia is small, upon need complex and extended resections are performed. In the last decades a considerable survival gain of lung cancer patients has been observed. Minimally invasive surgery is widely used since its implementation in 1995, with the list of indications constantly evolving. In 2005, first video-assisted thoracoscopic (VATS) thymectomy and lobectomy were performed. VATS as surgical access in lung cancer operations exceeded thoracotomy in 2015 and is currently considered in all cases. In 2018, the first uniportal VATS sleeve-lobectomy was performed. The lung transplant program is functioning together with other solid organ transplant programs only at the Tartu University Hospital. Up to now, 33 lung transplantations have been performed, including lobar transplantations, a paediatric case, a few urgent cases for patients on extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO), and two re-transplantations. General thoracic surgery is a separate monospeciality in Estonia with an independent 5-year residency program, which is arranged by the Medical Faculty of University of Tartu. In last years, thoracic surgery related research in Estonia has mainly focused on lung cancer detection and management. Currently, a national lung cancer screening program feasibility study is being led by thoracic surgeons.

Prognostic Factors in Early-stage NSCLC: Analysis of the Placebo Group in the MAGRIT Study.

BACKGROUND/AIM: The analysis of prognostic factors is important to identify determinants of disease-free survival (DFS) and overall survival (OS) in resected non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC). PATIENTS AND METHODS: We examined baseline characteristics associated with DFS and OS among 757 patients with resected, histologically proven, MAGE-A3-positive Stage IB-IIIA NSCLC assigned to placebo in the MAGRIT study (NCT00480025). We explored characteristics of NSCLC that could predict DFS and OS using Cox regression models. RESULTS: The multivariate analysis showed that lower nodal stage, the presence of squamous cell carcinoma (SCC), a broader surgical resection in patients with SCC, and being female with non-SCC were significantly associated with longer DFS. Lower nodal stage and smaller tumor size were significantly associated with an improved OS. Compared to Other International, enrollment in East Asia was associated with an improved OS in patients with non-SCC. CONCLUSION: This is the first prognostic factor analysis in NSCLC performed on data from a large prospective study. These results confirm retrospective studies and add that histopathology subtype is a strong determinant of DFS in resected MAGE-A3-positive NSCLC.

Isolated Mediastinal Lymphadenopathy Caused by Rhodococcus equi Infection.

Mediastinal lymphadenopathy is common finding in thoracic surgery, and it often requires morphologic confirmation to establish the definitive diagnosis. The most frequent diagnoses are metastatic lung cancer, sarcoidosis, lymphoma, tuberculosis, and other causes of granulomatous infections. Rhodococcus equi is a rare pathogen in humans that mostly affects immunocompromised patients. This report presents a case with isolated mediastinal lymphadenopathy caused by Rhodococcus equi infection in a 71-year-old immunocompetent patient.

Surgically treated lung cancer patients: do they all smoke and would they all have been detected with lung cancer screening?

Since publication of the National Lung Cancer Screening Trial (NLST) results early lung cancer detection has been widely studied, targeting individuals based on smoking history and age. However, over recent decades several changes in lung cancer epidemiology, including risk factors, have taken place. The aim of the current study was to explore smoking prevalence among lung cancer patients who had been treated surgically or undergone a diagnostic operation and whether these patients would have met the NLST inclusion criteria. All patients operated on for lung cancer in a university hospital in Estonia between 2009 and 2015 were included. Data were collected from hospital records. 426 patients were operated on for lung cancer, with smoking history properly documented in 327 patients (87 females; median age 67 years). 170 (52%) patients were smokers, 97 (30%) patients were ex-smokers and 60 (18%) patients were nonsmokers. The proportion of females among smokers was 15%, among ex-smokers was 9% and among nonsmokers was 87%. 107 of our patients would not have met the NLST age criteria and 128 of our patients would not have met the NLST smoking criteria. In total, 183 patients (56% (79% of females and 48% of males)) would not have met the NLST inclusion criteria. Only half of surgically treated lung cancer patients were current smokers and more than half did not meet the NLST inclusion criteria.

Resection of unicentric interlobar Castleman disease with following adjuvant radiotherapy.

A 22-year-old female patient with rare interlobar unicentric Castleman disease is presented. The tumour was discovered incidentally and thoracoscopic biopsy was planned to rule out malignancy. Due to dense adhesions to the adjacent anatomical structures and diffuse bleeding when mobilizing the tumour, a thoracoscopic approach was converted to thoracotomy. The tumour was removed without lung resection. Adjuvant radiotherapy was used to avoid possible recurrence of the disease. During the follow-up of 6 years, the patient remains free of any symptoms and evidence of recurrence.

Prospective study of percutaneous tracheostomy: Role of bronchoscopy and surgical technique.

OBJECTIVE: Percutaneous tracheostomy is a common procedure but varies considerably in approach. The aim of our study was to evaluate the need for intraoperative bronchoscopy and to compare various surgical techniques. METHODS: During 1 year all percutaneous tracheostomies in three intensive care units were prospectively documented according to a unified protocol. In one unit, bronchoscopy was used routinely and in others only during the study. RESULTS: A total of 111 subjects (77 males) with median age 64 (range, 18-86) years and body mass index 25.4 (range, 15.9-50.7) were included. In unit A, tracheal wall was directly exposed; in unit B, limited dissection to enable tracheal palpation was made. In both units, bronchoscopy was used to check the location of an already inserted guiding needle; needle position required correction in 8% and 12% of cases, respectively. In unit C, in tracheostomies without pretracheal tissue dissection, bronchoscopy was used to guide needle insertion; needle position required correction in 66% of cases. Median duration of operations performed by thoracic surgeons and residents was 10 (range, 3-37) min and by intensive care doctors and residents was 16.5 (range, 3-63) min (p < 0.001). Time from the beginning of preparations for tracheostomy until the end of the whole procedure was median 32 min for bedside tracheostomies and 64 min for operations in the operating theatre (p < 0.001). CONCLUSION: Limited pretracheal tissue dissection enabled proper guiding needle insertion and bronchoscopy was rarely needed. Percutaneous tracheostomies performed by thoracic surgeons took less time, and duration of the whole procedure was remarkably shorter when performed at bedside.

Unusual case of self-inflicted thoracic knife wounds with five knives embedded in the left thoracic cavity.

Suicide by chest stabbing is a rare cause of penetrating chest trauma. We hereby report a unique case of suicide attempt with multiple thoracic stab wounds and five embedded knives. Although the long kitchen knives were entirely embedded into the left hemithorax no fatal injury occurred. Emergency thoracotomy was performed to remove the knives and repair the lung laceration. Uneventful recovery followed.

Effect of intrapleural streptokinase administration on antistreptokinase antibody level in patients with loculated pleural effusions.

BACKGROUND: Streptokinase is widely used IV for the treatment of myocardial infarction and intrapleurally for the treatment of loculated pleural effusions. IV administration of streptokinase is known to cause the production of antistreptokinase antibodies. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to evaluate whether the intrapleural administration of streptokinase results in a similar elevation of the serum antistreptokinase antibody level. METHODS: During 1 year, venous blood samples were taken from 16 consecutive patients (10 men and 6 women; age range, 22 to 60 years) requiring intrapleural streptokinase administration (250,000 IU once a day, for 2 to 6 days). Blood samples were taken before treatment, on day 5, and day 14. Antistreptokinase antibodies were measured using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and were expressed in arbitrary ELISA units. Four patients with myocardial infarction treated with IV streptokinase (1,500,000 IU) were included as control subjects for the method. RESULTS: Before treatment, the median antistreptokinase antibody level in patients with loculated pleural effusions was 729 ELISA units (range, 196 to 13,529 ELISA units) and increased to 9,240 ELISA units (range, 1,456 to 77,389 ELISA units) by day 14 (p < 0.0001). In the control group, the median pretreatment level was 119 ELISA units, and by day 14 it had increased to 20,495 ELISA units. Four patients who developed an elevated body temperature after intrapleural administration of streptokinase had a significantly higher pretreatment antistreptokinase antibody level compared to other patients. CONCLUSIONS: The intrapleural administration of streptokinase results in the elevation of the serum antistreptokinase antibody level, which is similar to the case with IV administration. An increased pretreatment antistreptokinase antibody level does not influence the result of intrapleural fibrinolysis but can cause an elevation of body temperature after the administration of streptokinase.

Pharyngoesophageal diverticulum perforation 18 years after anterior cervical fixation.

Anterior cervical spinal surgery can lead to various complications. We hereby present a case of two rare complications combined-pharyngo-oesophageal diverticulum and its perforation after cervical plate dislodgement. A 53-year old male patient presented with progressive dysphagia 18 years after anterior cervical spinal fusion with tricortical bone graft and custom-made plate at the C6/7 level. Oesophagography revealed a pharyngo-oesophageal diverticulum in front of the cervical plate. It was confirmed by subsequent oesophagoscopy, which also demonstrated a 3-cm longitudinal defect at the posterior wall of the diverticulum. During surgical exploration of the patient's neck, the plate was removed, the diverticulum was completely mobilized and excised, the oesophageal wall manually sutured and a cricopharyngeal myotomy performed. An oesophageal suture line failure was suspected postoperatively, but was not confirmed during reoperation. A year later, the patient has no dysphagia or any other symptoms.

Long-term follow-up after thoracoscopic resection of solitary pulmonary tuberculoma.

BACKGROUND: Pulmonary tuberculosis continues to be a significant health problem, especially due to increasing incidence of multi-resistant mycobacteria and patients with immunodeficiency. Pulmonary tuberculoma, like other solitary lung nodules, can often be a diagnostic challenge; moreover no consensus exists on the management strategy. AIM: To analyze the results of tuberculoma treatment with thoracoscopic lung resection, followed by anti-tuberculosis treatment (ATT). METHODS: All patients who underwent thoracoscopic resection of tuberculoma between 1996 and 2008 were retrospectively analyzed. The diagnosis was confirmed morphologically and/or microbiologically. Data were collected from case reports, outpatient medical records, Estonian Tuberculosis Registry and National Population Registry. RESULTS: Forty-three patients (25 men, 18 women) with mean age of 43.3 (range 15-68) years were included. Thoracoscopic approach was converted to thoracotomy in three cases. Median postoperative stay in surgical department was four days. No intra-hospital mortality occurred. Eleven patients received pre-operative ATT for 8 to 288 (median 115) days and 42 patients were treated post-operatively for 40 to 672 (median 185) days. One patient defaulted in ATT. First-line drugs were prescribed in 37 and second-line in five patients. During the median follow-up of 9.0 (range 3.2 to 16.1) years, none of the patients developed relapse. CONCLUSIONS: Thoracoscopic pulmonary resection provides a minimally invasive opportunity for morphological and microbiological diagnosis of tuberculoma; and results in an excellent cure rate in combination with ATT.

Pulmonary intravascular talcosis mimicking miliary tuberculosis in an intravenous drug addict.

Pulmonary foreign body granulomatosis following intravenous administration of medications meant for oral use among drug addicts has been occasionally reported. This condition is often misdiagnosed because of its rarity, but rather due to its similarity to other pulmonary diseases that are more common. Here we report a case of pulmonary intravascular talcosis mimicking miliary tuberculosis in a young male intravenous drug addict from North-Eastern Estonia, known as a hotspot for tuberculosis and drug misuse. The condition was caused by intravenous administration of crushed tablets of diphenhydramine, but miliary tuberculosis was misdiagnosed on patient's demographical, clinical and radiological grounds and a decision to start treatment with four first-line antituberculosis drugs followed. The current report refers to the importance of considering rare causes of pulmonary disseminations with attempts to identify the causative agent and warns against the use of antituberculosis treatment without confirmation of microbiological diagnosis of tuberculosis.