Objective Diffusing capacity is not routinely used in assessing risk of lung resection, perhaps owing to uncertainty as to whether patients with normal spirometric results require additional ...evaluation. We determined whether diffusing capacity is predictive of pulmonary complications after lung resection in patients with normal spirometric results. Methods We reviewed outcomes of major lung resection in The Society of Thoracic Surgeons General Thoracic Surgery Database from 2002 to 2008 to determine the relationship of diffusing capacity (expressed as percent of predicted) to postoperative pulmonary complications stratified by chronic obstructive pulmonary disease status. Results Percent of predicted diffusing capacity was measured in 7891 (57%) patients. There were 3905 women and 3986 men with a mean age of 66.3 ± 10.6 years who underwent lobectomy (6904; 87.5%), bilobectomy (463; 5.9%), and pneumonectomy (524; 6.6%). Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease was identified in 2711 (34.4%) patients. Pulmonary complications occurred in 13%, and the operative mortality was 1.9%. Percent of predicted diffusing capacity was strongly associated with the development of pulmonary complications (odds ratio, 1.12 per 10-point decrease; P < .0001). Decreasing percent of predicted diffusing capacity was incrementally related to an increased incidence of pulmonary complications regardless of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease status. There was no apparent interaction between percent of predicted diffusing capacity and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease status in the predictive model. Conclusions Percent of predicted diffusing capacity predicts pulmonary complications after lung resection in patients without chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. We recommend measurement of diffusing capacity in lung resection candidates, regardless of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, as an important element in the accurate assessment of operative risk.
Tracheal resection for primary carcinoma may extend survival. We evaluated survival after surgical resection or palliative therapy to identify prognostic factors.
We conducted a retrospective study ...of patients diagnosed with primary adenoid cystic carcinoma (ACC) or squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) of the trachea between 1962 and 2002. Laryngotracheal, tracheal, or carinal resection was performed when distant metastasis and invasion of adjacent mediastinal structures were absent and tumor length permitted. Radiotherapy was administered after operation (54 Gy), except in superficial tumors, or as palliation (60 Gy).
Of 270 patients with ACC or SCC (135 each), 191 (71%) were resected. Seventy-nine were not resected due to tumor length (67%), regional extent (24%), distant metastasis (7%), or other reasons (2%). Overall operative mortality was 7.3% (14/191) and improved each decade from 21% to 3%. Tumor in airway margins was present in 40% (17/191) of resected patients (ACC 59% versus SCC 18%) and lymph node metastasis in 19.4% (37/191). Overall 5- and 10-year survival in resected ACC was 52% and 29% (unresectable 33% and 10%) and in resected SCC 39% and 18% (unresectable 7.3% and 4.9%). Multivariate analysis of long-term survival found statistically significant associations with complete resection (
p < 0.05), negative airway margins (
p < 0.05), and adenoid cystic histology (
p < 0.001), but not with tumor length, lymph node status, or type of resection.
Locoregional, not distant, disease determines resectability in primary tracheal carcinoma. Resection of trachea or carina is associated with long-term survival superior to palliative therapy, particularly for patients with complete resection, negative airway margins, and ACC.
The objective of this study was to evaluate the influence of total number of resected lymph nodes, lymph node ratio, and the number of lymph node stations sampled on prognosis in patients with early ...stage non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) treated with video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS).
Five hundred and fifty patients who underwent VATS lobectomy or segmentectomy for early clinical stage NSCLC were retrospectively analyzed from 2006 to 2012. Disease-free survival (DFS) and overall survival (OS) were compared for cutoff values of total number of resected lymph nodes (RNs) and lymph node stations (LNS) using Kaplan-Meier methods and Cox proportional hazard models.
Lobectomy was performed in 493 (90%) patients with a median follow-up of 2.7 years. Median age was 68 (range, 29 to 92 years) and 342 (62%) were female. Pathologic stage I, II, and III was observed in 434 (79%), 80 (14.5%) and 36 (6.5%) patients, respectively. The N0, N1, and N2 pathologic nodal status was observed in 485 (88%), 38 (7%), and 27 (5%) patients, respectively. Nodal upstaging was observed in 11.3% (59 of 550) in the total cohort and 15% (49 of 332) in patients who underwent LNS greater than 3 compared with 5% (10 of 218) in patients with LNS 3 or less (p < 0.01). Multivariate analysis identified LNS greater than 3 as a negative independent predictor for DFS (hazard ratio 2.36, p = 0.003) and OS (hazard ratio 1.77, p = 0.046).
Sampling greater than 3 LNS and greater than 10 RNs was associated with an increase in nodal upstaging. Only LNS greater than 3 was found to be an independent predictor of mortality in VATS lobectomy and segmentectomy in clinical early-stage NSCLC.
OBJECTIVES
With the increasing popularity of minimally invasive oesophageal resections, equivalence, if not superiority, to open techniques must be demonstrated. Here we compare our open and ...minimally invasive Ivor Lewis oesophagectomy (MIE) experience.
METHODS
A prospective database of all oesophagectomies performed at Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston, MA between November 2007 and January 2011 was analysed. A total of 38 MIE and 76 open Ivor Lewis (OIE) oesophagectomies were performed for oesophageal carcinoma. Sixty-day surgical, oncological and postoperative outcomes were examined between the two groups.
RESULTS
Groups had similar demographics in terms of age, gender, tumour histology, clinical stage, preoperative comorbidities and neoadjuvant therapy. No difference was found with respect to adequacy of oncological resections. The median number of lymph nodes retrieved (OIE: 21, inter-quartile range (IQR): (16, 27) versus MIE: 19, IQR: (15, 28)), resection margins (OIE: 6.6% positive versus MIE: no positive margins) and 60-day mortality (OIE: 2.6% versus MIE: no deaths) were comparable. However, rates of pulmonary complications were significantly lower in the MIE group (OIE: 43.4 versus MIE: 2.6%, P < 0.001). Additionally, the median length of ICU and hospital stay, intraoperative blood loss and amount of intravenous fluids infused intraoperatively were also significantly decreased with MIE, while median operative times and the requirement for intraoperative blood transfusion were not significantly different between the two groups. Multivariate logistic regression analysis identified MIE as the only variable associated with a significant reduction in the rate of pulmonary complications in our study, while pre-existing pulmonary comborbidity was associated with an increased risk of pulmonary complications.
CONCLUSIONS
Open and MIE appear equivalent with regard to early oncological outcomes. A minimally invasive approach, however, appears to lead to a significant reduction in the rate of postoperative pulmonary complications. Length of ICU and hospital stay, as well as intraoperative blood loss and intravenous fluid requirements are also reduced in the setting of MIE. Long-term survival data will need to be followed closely. A large, multi-centred, randomized, controlled trial is warranted to confirm these results.
Non-intubated thoracoscopic surgery with spontaneous breathing is rarely utilized, but may have several advantages over standard intubation, especially in those with significant cardiopulmonary ...comorbidities. In this study we evaluate the safety, feasibility, and 3-year survival of thoracoscopic surgery without endotracheal intubation for oncologic and non-oncologic indications.
All consecutive patients 2018-2022 selected for lung resection or other pleural space intervention under local anesthesia and sedation were compared to a cohort undergoing elective thoracoscopic procedures with endotracheal intubation. A propensity-score matched cohort was used to compare perioperative outcomes and 3-year overall survival.
A total of 72 patients underwent thoracoscopic surgery without intubation compared to 1,741 who were intubated. Non-intubated procedures included 19 lobectomies (26.4%), 9 segmentectomies (12.5%), 25 wedge resections (34.7%), and 19 pleural or mediastinal resections (26.4%). Non-intubated patients had a lower average body mass index (BMI; 24.6
27.1 kg/m
, P<0.001) and a higher comorbidity burden. Primary lung cancer was the indication in 30 (41.7%) non-intubated patients. The non-intubated cohort had no operative or 30-day mortality. After propensity-score matching, there was no significant difference in pre-operative factors. In propensity-score matched analysis, non-intubated patients had shorter median total operating room time (109
159 min, P<0.001) and procedure time (69
119 min, P<0.001). Peri-operative morbidity was rare and did not differ between intubated and non-intubated patients. There was no significant difference in 3-year survival associated with non-intubation in the propensity-score matched cohorts (95%
89%, P=0.10) or in a Cox proportional hazard model hazard ratio (HR), 1.15; 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.36-3.67; P=0.81.
Non-intubated thoracoscopic surgery is safe and feasible in carefully selected patients for both benign and oncologic indications.
Gastric emptying delay after oesophagectomy may occur in conduits exposed to pleural forces of respiration or anatomic obstruction. Remedial operations addressing both causes are rarely reported. The ...study aim was to categorize severe gastric conduit obstruction (GCO) and report the outcome of surgical revision.
A single-institution, retrospective study of gastric conduit revision following oesophagectomy for oesophageal cancer investigated incidence, risk factors and categories of conduit obstruction. Evaluation consisted of contrast studies, computed tomogram and endoscopy. Interventions were categorized according to obstructive cause and included pyloroplasty, hiatal hernia reduction and thoraco-abdominal conduit repositioning.
Among 1246 oesophagectomies over a 17-year period, 14 patients (1.1%) required post-oesophagectomy relief of GCO. Two additional patients presented after oesophagectomy elsewhere. Before oesophagectomy, 18.8% (3/16) and 62.5% (10/16) of patients were on chronic opioid and psychotropic medications, respectively. Distinct anatomic features separated obstruction into 3 categories: pyloric in 31% (5/16), extrinsic in 12.5% (2/16) and combined in 56.3% (9/16). Operative revision led to complete symptom resolution in 50% (8/16) of patients and symptom improvement in 43.8% (7/16) of patients. One patient (1/16, 6.25%) in the combined obstruction group did not improve with surgical revision.
GCO after oesophagectomy rarely requires surgical revision. Potential association with medications affecting oesophageal and gastric motility requires further investigation. Classification of obstruction identifies a patient subset with lower success after surgical revision.
Body composition analysis, also referred to as analytic morphomics, morphomics, or morphometry, describes the measurement of imaging biomarkers of body composition such as muscle and adipose tissue, ...most commonly on computed tomography (CT) images. A growing body of literature supports the use of such metrics derived from routinely acquired CT images for risk prediction in various patient populations, including those with lung cancer. Metrics include cross-sectional area and attenuation of skeletal muscle and subcutaneous, visceral, and intermuscular adipose tissue. The purpose of this review is to provide an overview of the concepts, definitions, assessment tools, segmentation techniques and associated pitfalls, interpretation of those measurements on chest and abdomen CT, and a discussion of reported outcomes associated with body composition metrics in patients with early-stage and advanced lung cancer.
Background
Mortality risk prediction in patients undergoing pneumonectomy for non‐small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) remains imperfect. Here, we aimed to assess whether sarcopenia on routine chest ...computed tomography (CT) independently predicts worse cancer‐specific (CSS) and overall survival (OS) following pneumonectomy for NSCLC.
Methods
We included consecutive adults undergoing standard or carinal pneumonectomy for NSCLC at Massachusetts General Hospital and Heidelberg University from 2010 to 2018. We measured muscle cross‐sectional area (CSA) on CT at thoracic vertebral levels T8, T10, and T12 within 90 days prior to surgery. Sarcopenia was defined as T10 muscle CSA less than two standard deviations below the mean in healthy controls. We adjusted time‐to‐event analyses for age, body mass index, Charlson Comorbidity Index, forced expiratory volume in 1 second in % predicted, induction therapy, sex, smoking status, tumor stage, side of pneumonectomy, and institution.
Results
Three hundred and sixty‐seven patients (67.4% male, median age 62 years, 16.9% early‐stage) underwent predominantly standard pneumonectomy (89.6%) for stage IIIA NSCLC (45.5%) and squamous cell histology (58%). Sarcopenia was present in 104 of 367 patients (28.3%). Ninety‐day all‐cause mortality was 7.1% (26/367). After a median follow‐up of 20.5 months (IQR, 9.2–46.9), 183 of 367 patients (49.9%) had died. One hundred and thirty‐three (72.7%) of these deaths were due to lung cancer. Sarcopenia was associated with shorter CSS (HR 1.7, p = 0.008) and OS (HR 1.7, p = 0.003).
Conclusions
This transatlantic multicenter study confirms that sarcopenia on preoperative chest CT is an independent risk factor for CSS and OS following pneumonectomy for NSCLC.
This transatlantic bi‐institutional study confirms sarcopenia on preoperative chest computed tomography (CT) as an independent binary risk factor for both cancer‐specific and overall survival following pneumonectomy for lung cancer. In the future, muscle mass on chest CT scans obtained as part of guideline‐concordant preoperative evaluation could be harnessed to improve mortality risk prediction in this patient cohort.
Airway release (AR) maneuvers performed during airway resection to reduce anastomotic tension have not been thoroughly studied.
This study retrospectively analyzed consecutive resections for ...postintubation stenosis (PITS) and primary tracheal neoplasms (PTNs) at Massachusetts General Hospital (Boston, MA). Anastomotic complications were defined as stenosis, separation, necrosis, granulation tissue, and air leak. Logistic regression modeling was used to identify factors associated with AR and adverse outcome.
From 1993 to 2019, 545 patients with PITS (375; 68.8%) and PTNs (170; 31.2%) underwent laryngotracheal, tracheal, or carinal (resections and reconstructions; 5.7% (31 of 545) were reoperations. AR was performed in 11% (60 of 545): in 3.8% of laryngotracheal resections (6 of 157; all laryngeal), in 9.8% of tracheal resections (34 of 347; laryngeal, 12, and hilar, 22), and in 49% of carinal resections (20 of 41; laryngeal, 1, and hilar, 19). Mean resected length was 3.5 cm (range, 1to- 6.3 cm) with AR and 3.0 cm (range, 0.8 to 6.5 cm) without AR (P < .01). Operative mortality was 0.7% (4 of 545); all 4 anastomoses were intact until death. Anastomotic complications were present in 5% of patients who underwent AR (3 of 60) and in 9.3% (45 of 485) of patients who did not. AR was associated with resection length of 4 cm or longer (odds ratio OR, 6.15; 95% confidence interval CI, 1.37 to 27.65), PTNs (OR, 7.81; 95% CI, 3.31 to 18.40), younger age (OR, 0.96; 95% CI, 0.94 to 0.98), and lung resection (OR, 6.09; 95% CI, 1.33 to 27.90). Anastomotic complications in patients with tracheal anastomoses were associated with preexisting tracheostomy (OR, 2.68; 95% CI, 1.50 to 4.80), but not release.
Tracheal reconstruction succeeds, even when anastomotic tension requires AR. Because intraoperative assessment may underestimate tension, lowering the threshold for AR seems prudent, particularly in patients with diabetes.
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