Impact of major video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery on care quality.

BACKGROUND: The objective of this study was to investigate the impact of a program of major video-assisted surgery on care quality in a Unit of Thoracic Surgery. METHODS: A descriptive comparative study was conducted of 793 major thoracic procedures performed between 2009 and 2012. Quality indicators and hospital performance before [2009-2010] and after (2011 and 2012) the implementation of the program. RESULTS: The incidence of surgical complications decreased significantly from 6.32%/7.88% (2009/2010, respectively) to 1.87%/1.67% (2011/2012, respectively) [95% CI for 7.08% (4.20-9.96%); 95% CI for 1.76% (0.44-3.08%) P<0.001, respectively]. The mean hospital stay was reduced from 8.5/7.8 days in 2009/2010, respectively, to 6.3/5.8 days in 2011/2012, respectively. Mortality rates were 0.57%, 0.60%, 0.93% and 0.43% in 2009, 2010, 2011, and 2012, respectively (P=0.624, 95% CI: -0.6, 0.7). The percentages of emergency readmissions in 2009/2010 were 1.16%/1.23%, respectively vs. 2.80%/0.84% in 2011/2012. CONCLUSIONS: The implementation of the video-assisted thoracic surgery (VATS) program in the unit of Thoracic Surgery Care resulted in a significant improvement in care quality, with a reduction of length of hospital stay, but without any changes in mortality or the percentage of readmissions at 30 post-operative days.

Association of circulating tumour cells with early relapse and 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography uptake in resected non-small-cell lung cancers.

OBJECTIVES: More than 20% of lung cancer patients develop a recurrence, even after curative resection. We hypothesized that relapse may arise from the dissemination of circulating tumour cells (CTCs). This study evaluates the significance of CTC detection as regards the recurrence of non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) in surgically resected patients. Secondly, we investigated the association between CTCs and the uptake of 18 F-fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG) by the primary tumour on a positron emission tomographic (PET) scan. METHODS: In this single-centre prospective study, blood samples for analysis of CTCs were obtained from 102 patients with Stage I-IIIA NSCLC both before (CTC1) and 1 month after (CTC2) radical resection. CTCs were isolated using immunomagnetic techniques. The presence of CTCs was correlated with the maximum standardized uptake value (SUVmax) measured on preoperative FDG PET/computed tomographic scans. Recurrence free survival (RFS) analysis was performed. RESULTS: CTCs were detected in 39.2% of patients before and in 27.5% 1 month after the operation. The presence of CTCs after the operation was significantly correlated with SUVmax on PET scans, pathological stage and surgical approach. Only SUVmax was an independent predictor for the presence of CTC2 on multivariate analysis. Postoperative CTCs were significantly correlated with a shorter RFS ( P = 0.005). In multivariate analysis, the presence of CTC2 was associated with RFS, independent of disease staging. CONCLUSIONS: Detection of CTCs 1 month after radical resection might be a useful marker to predict early recurrence in Stage I-III NSCLC. The SUVmax value of the primary tumour on preoperative PET scans was associated with the presence of CTC 1 month after the operation.

Is age a predisposing factor of postoperative complications after lung resection for primary pulmonary neoplasms? / ¿Es la edad un factor predisponente de complicaciones postoperatorias en las resecciones pulmonares por neoplasias pulmonares primarias?

INTRODUCTION: Age has been classically considered as a determining factor for the development of postoperative complications related to lung resection for bronchogenic carcinoma. The Postoperative Complications Study Group of the Spanish Society of Thoracic Surgery has promoted a registry to analyze this factor. METHODS: A total of 3,307 patients who underwent any type of surgical resection for bronchogenic carcinoma have been systematically and prospectively recorded in any of the 24 units that are part of the group. Several variables related to comorbidity and age, as well as postoperative complications, were analyzed. RESULTS: The mean age of patients was 65,44. Men were significantly more common than female. The most frequent complication was prolonged air leak, which was observed in more than one third of patients. In a univariant analysis, air leak presence and postsurgical atelectasis showed statistical association with patient age, when stratified in age groups. In a multivariate analysis, age was recognized as an independent prognostic factor in relation to air leak onset. However, this could not be confirmed for postoperative atelectasis. CONCLUSION: Age is a predisposing factor for the development of postoperative complications after lung resection. Other associated factors also influence the occurrence of these complications.

Es la edad un factor predisponente de complicaciones postoperatorias en las resecciones pulmonares por neoplasias pulmonares primarias / Is age a predisposing factor of postoperative complications after lung resection for primary pulmonary neoplasms?

INTRODUCCIÓN: La edad del paciente ha sido clásicamente interpretada como un factor condicionante de la aparición de complicaciones postoperatorias en cirugía de resección pulmonar por carcinoma broncogénico. El Grupo de Estudio de Complicaciones Postoperatorias de la Sociedad Española de Cirugía Torácica promovió un registro que permitiera analizar este hecho. MÉTODOS: Se recogieron de forma consecutiva, sistemática y prospectiva los datos de un total de 3.307 pacientes tratados con algún tipo de resección quirúrgica por carcinoma broncogénico en las 24 unidades que forman parte del grupo. Fueron analizadas variables relativas a la comorbilidad y la edad del paciente, así como a las complicaciones postoperatorias acaecidas. RESULTADOS: La edad media de los pacientes intervenidos fue de 65,44 años. La población masculina en la serie era significativamente mayor que la femenina. La complicación más frecuente fue la fuga aérea prolongada, que ocurrió en más de un tercio de los pacientes. En el estudio univariante, la aparición de fugas aéreas y de atelectasias posquirúrgicas mostraron asociación estadística con la edad de los enfermos, analizada por grupos etarios. En el análisis multivariante, la edad se presentó como un factor pronóstico independiente en relación con la aparición de fugas aéreas posquirúrgicas, no así en cuanto a las atelectasias posresección. CONCLUSIÓN: La edad es un factor predisponente para el desarrollo de complicaciones postoperatorias tras resección pulmonar en nuestro medio, si bien otros factores asociados condicionan también la aparición de estas complicaciones

INTRODUCTION: Age has been classically considered as a determining factor for the development of postoperative complications related to lung resection for bronchogenic carcinoma. The Postoperative Complications Study Group of the Spanish Society of Thoracic Surgery has promoted a registry to analyze this factor. METHODS: A total of 3,307 patients who underwent any type of surgical resection for bronchogenic carcinoma have been systematically and prospectively recorded in any of the 24 units that are part of the group. Several variables related to comorbidity and age, as well as postoperative complications, were analyzed. RESULTS: The mean age of patients was 65,44. Men were significantly more common than female. The most frequent complication was prolonged air leak, which was observed in more than one third of patients. In a univariant analysis, air leak presence and postsurgical atelectasis showed statistical association with patient age, when stratified in age groups. In a multivariate analysis, age was recognized as an independent prognostic factor in relation to air leak onset. However, this could not be confirmed for postoperative atelectasis. CONCLUSION: Age is a predisposing factor for the development of postoperative complications after lung resection. Other associated factors also influence the occurrence of these complications

Tratamiento quirúrgico del CNCP estadios I y II / No disponible

No disponible

Tratamiento quirúrgico del CPCNP estadio III / No disponible

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Circulating Tumor Cells Identify Early Recurrence in Patients with Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer Undergoing Radical Resection.

BACKGROUND: Surgery is the treatment of choice for patients with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) stages I-IIIA. However, more than 20% of these patients develop recurrence and die due to their disease. The release of tumor cells into peripheral blood (CTCs) is one of the main causes of recurrence of cancer. The objectives of this study are to identify the prognostic value of the presence and characterization of CTCs in peripheral blood in patients undergoing radical resection for NSCLC. PATIENTS AND METHODS: 56 patients who underwent radical surgery for previously untreated NSCLC were enrolled in this prospective study. Peripheral blood samples for CTC analysis were obtained before and one month after surgery. In addition CTCs were phenotypically characterized by epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) expression. RESULTS: 51.8% of the patients evaluated were positive with the presence of CTCs at baseline. A decrease in the detection rate of CTCs was observed in these patients one month after surgery (32.1%) (p = 0.035). The mean number of CTCs was 3.16 per 10 ml (range 0-84) preoperatively and 0.66 (range 0-3) in postoperative determination. EGFR expression was found in 89.7% of the patients at baseline and in 38.9% patients one month after surgery. The presence of CTCs after surgery was significantly associated with early recurrence (p = 0.018) and a shorter disease free survival (DFS) (p = .008). In multivariate analysis CTC presence after surgery (HR = 5.750, 95% CI: 1.50-21.946, p = 0.010) and N status (HR = 0.296, 95% CI: 0.091-0.961, p = 0.043) were independent prognostic factors for DFS. CONCLUSION: CTCs can be detected and characterized in patients undergoing radical resection for non-small cell lung cancer. Their presence might be used to identify patients with increased risk of early recurrence.

Tratamiento quirúrgico de la mediastinitis necrosante descendente / Surgical management of descending necrotizing mediastinitis

Introducción La mediastinitis necrosante descendente (MND) consiste en una infección grave que aparece como complicación de una infección orofaríngea. Aún existe controversia a propósito del tratamiento quirúrgico y si está indicado un abordaje transtorácico rutinario. En este artículo presentamos nuestra experiencia en el tratamiento de la mediastinitis necrosante descendente y revisamos en la bibliografía las diferentes opciones de abordaje propuestas. Material y métodos Estudio observacional retrospectivo de los pacientes con mediastinitis necrosante descendente intervenidos entre 1988 y 2009. Se analizan variables demográficas, origen de la infección, estadio de la enfermedad según la clasificación de Endo, técnica quirúrgica realizada y evolución. Resultados En dicho periodo se intervino a 29 pacientes. El tratamiento quirúrgico consistió en el drenaje y desbridamiento radical a nivel cervical y mediastínico. El drenaje mediastínico se realizó por vía transcervical en 10 casos y transtorácica en 19, en función de la extensión de la mediastinitis. De ellos, 24 presentaron buena evolución y 5 fallecieron (mortalidad 17,2%).Conclusiones De acuerdo con nuestros resultados y las conclusiones de los principales autores, se debe realizar un tratamiento quirúrgico precoz y agresivo que incluya un abordaje transtorácico en casos de mediastinitis extendida (AU)

Introduction Descending necrotizing mediastinitis (DNM) is a serious infection which occurs as a complication of oropharyngeal infection. Its surgical management and the routine transthoracic approach remain controversial. In this article we report our experience in the management of this disease, and review the different surgical approaches that have been reported in the medical literature. Material and methods A retrospective review was made of the clinical records of 29 patients treated between 1988 and 2009. Several demographic variables were analyzed, origin of the initial infection, stage of the disease according to Endo's classification, surgical technique and outcome. Results Surgical treatment consisted of both cervical and mediastinal drainage and radical debridement. The mediastinal drainage was made through a transcervical approach in 10 cases and transthoracic in 19, depending on the extent of the mediastinitis. The outcome was satisfactory in 24 patients and 5 died (mortality 17.2%).Conclusions According to our results and the conclusions of the main authors, we recommend a prompt and aggressive surgery with a transthoracic approach in cases of widespread DNM (AU)

[Surgical management of descending necrotizing mediastinitis]. / Tratamiento quirúrgico de la mediastinitis necrosante descendente.

INTRODUCTION: Descending necrotizing mediastinitis (DNM) is a serious infection which occurs as a complication of oropharyngeal infection. Its surgical management and the routine transthoracic approach remain controversial. In this article we report our experience in the management of this disease, and review the different surgical approaches that have been reported in the medical literature. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A retrospective review was made of the clinical records of 29 patients treated between 1988 and 2009. Several demographic variables were analyzed, origin of the initial infection, stage of the disease according to Endo's classification, surgical technique and outcome. RESULTS: Surgical treatment consisted of both cervical and mediastinal drainage and radical debridement. The mediastinal drainage was made through a transcervical approach in 10 cases and transthoracic in 19, depending on the extent of the mediastinitis. The outcome was satisfactory in 24 patients and 5 died (mortality 17.2%). CONCLUSIONS: According to our results and the conclusions of the main authors, we recommend a prompt and aggressive surgery with a transthoracic approach in cases of widespread DNM.

Spontaneous hemomediastinum and hemothorax after dissecting bronchial artery aneurysm.

Spontaneous hemomediastinum is a rare pathological event due to bleeding disorders, mediastinal organ hemorrhage or idiopathic causes. It usually presents with chest pain and dyspnea, which can lead to confusion with other clinical conditions. The election diagnostic method is computed tomography and treatment depends on underlying etiology, aimed on controlling hemorrhages, if present. In this paper, we present a case of spontaneous hemomediastinum and hemothorax after bronchial artery aneurysm dissection treated with endovascular embolization and chest drainage.

Síndrome de Horner causado por la fractura de la primera costilla / No disponible

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