Risk assessment for postoperative venous thromboembolism using the modified Caprini risk assessment model in lung cancer.

Background: Postoperative venous thromboembolism (VTE) is a well-documented cause of morbidity and mortality in lung cancer patients. However, risk identification remains limited. In this study, we sought to analyze the risk factors for VTE and verify the predictive value of the modified Caprini risk assessment model (RAM). Methods: This prospective single-center study included patients with resectable lung cancer who underwent resection between October 2019 and March 2021. The incidence of VTE was estimated. Logistic regression was used to analyze the risk factors for VTE. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis was performed to test the ability of the modified Caprini RAM to predict VTE. Results: The VTE incidence was 10.5%. Several variables, including age, D-dimer, hemoglobin (Hb), bleeding, and patient confinement to bed were significantly associated with VTE after surgery. The difference between the VTE and non-VTE groups in the high-risk levels was statistically significant (P<0.001), while the low and moderate risk levels showed no significant difference. The combined use of the modified Caprini score and the Hb and D-dimer levels showed an area under the curve (AUC) was 0.822 [95% confidence interval (CI): 0.760-0.855. P<0.001]. Conclusions: The risk-stratification approach of the modified Caprini RAM is not particularly valid after lung resection in our population. The use of the modified Caprini RAM combined with Hb and D-dimer levels shows a good diagnostic performance for VTE prediction in patients with lung cancer undergoing resection.

Suggested robotic-assisted thoracic surgery training curriculum.

Robotic-assisted surgery, a technological advancement in the field of surgery, has become increasingly popular among surgeons of many specialties over time. Robotic-assisted thoracic surgery (RATS) is comparable to video-assisted thoracic surgery (VATS) in terms of patient care outcomes; however, the perception of increased operative time and a lack of cost-effectiveness have led to controversy regarding its alleged benefits. Nevertheless, robotic surgery is one of the preferred options for minimally invasive surgery by some thoracic surgeon over VATS, due to its ability to provide 3-D vision, precise wrist movements, enhanced magnification, and instrument stability and articulation. Notably, trainees in the field of thoracic surgery experience difficulty gaining knowledge and learning skills associated with RATS due to its complexity, limited access to robotic instruments, the lack of a standardized curriculum for trainees, and lack of mentorship or proctorship, thus leading to a steeper learning curve compared to laparoscopic or VATS procedures that are cost-friendly, easy to learn, and feasible to practice. Nevertheless, focusing on RATS training for thoracic surgeons will keep them familiar with robotic techniques, including the pre-operative setup and intra-operative process, which will ultimately decrease operative times. In this paper, we will review the literature, express and discuss the most viable training curriculum from authors' point of view to help achieve this goal.

A predictive model for identifying candidates for adjuvant chemotherapy based on recurrence risk profile of resected, node-negative (N0) non-small cell lung cancer.

BACKGROUND: The decision for administering adjuvant chemotherapy (AC) in completely resected node-negative non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) is guided by likelihood of disease recurrence or death based on tumor, node, metastasis (TNM) stage. However, within each TNM stage are sub-groups of patients that are more or less likely to relapse than stage alone predicts. METHODS: In this retrospective cohort study, prospective data from 394 consecutive patients who underwent complete resection of node-negative NSCLC without adjuvant therapies, between 2002 and 2019 was retrospectively analyzed. Independent tumor and host risk factors for recurrence were subjected to multivariate analysis to develop a predictive risk model distributing patients into low-risk or high-risk categories. RESULTS: Recurrence risk was independently predicted by a neutrophil:lymphocyte ratio (NLR) of ≥3.5 [hazard ratio (HR), 1.9; 95% confidence interval (CI), 1.1-3.5], visceral pleural invasion (HR, 2.2; 95% CI, 1.3-3.8), histopathology other than adenocarcinoma or squamous cell (HR, 2.6; 95% CI, 1.2-5.5) and tumor size >33 mm (HR, 3.9; 95% CI, 2.3-6.7). The specific combination of risk factors contributed to a score for a risk model which classified 9% of Stage I and 69% of Stage ≥II patients as high-risk. The predicted 5-year disease-free survival (DFS) for high-risk and low-risk patients as scored by the predictive model was 30% and 85%, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Our readily reproducible, low-technology model, developed from individually validated tumor/host risk factors, identified sub-groups of resected node-negative NSCLC patients at significantly discordant risk of recurrence to their TNM stage category.

Locally advanced non-small cell lung cancer: the place of specialist thoracic surgery in the multidisciplinary team.

One reason that lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer mortality worldwide, is that surgical intervention is highly dependent on earlier tumor stage and good patient condition. As large proportion of cases are already metastatic at presentation and many are locally advanced, curative surgery is only possible in a minority of fit patients. Increasing the number of patients achieving complete resection is one of the avenues to increase overall survival using our existing technology. In the past, complex cases may have been sporadically discussed between various specialists in order to achieve better outcomes. More recently, the idea of discussing those cases on a routine basis, rather than an accident of geography or referral pattern, gave rise to the multidisciplinary team. Lung cancer management is now increasingly complex, especially with novel modalities such as targeted therapies, immune checkpoint inhibitors and stereotactic body radiotherapy delivery. Likewise, in thoracic surgery, minimally invasive techniques, early recovery after surgery protocols and complex techniques for resecting locally advanced tumours or preserving lung parenchyma must all be deployed appropriately to continue our incremental gains in survival and quality of life. To highlight the role of specialist thoracic surgeon in the multidisciplinary care of locally advanced non-small cell lung cancer, we conducted a search of English language publications for its multidisciplinary-based surgical management. We limited our search to the last decade, then hand-searched relevant references. In addition, we used our large prospective database as a team-oriented specialized thoracic surgical service to benchmark and demonstrate the benefits of specialist surgeons in the modern multidisciplinary team. In conclusion, patients with locally advanced non-small cell lung cancer should have any surgical option withheld without a specialist thoracic surgical opinion as part of the multidisciplinary team discussion.