ERS task force statement: diagnosis and treatment of primary spontaneous pneumothorax.

Primary spontaneous pneumothorax (PSP) affects young healthy people with a significant recurrence rate. Recent advances in treatment have been variably implemented in clinical practice. This statement reviews the latest developments and concepts to improve clinical management and stimulate further research.The European Respiratory Society's Scientific Committee established a multidisciplinary team of pulmonologists and surgeons to produce a comprehensive review of available scientific evidence.Smoking remains the main risk factor of PSP. Routine smoking cessation is advised. More prospective data are required to better define the PSP population and incidence of recurrence. In first episodes of PSP, treatment approach is driven by symptoms rather than PSP size. The role of bullae rupture as the cause of air leakage remains unclear, implying that any treatment of PSP recurrence includes pleurodesis. Talc poudrage pleurodesis by thoracoscopy is safe, provided calibrated talc is available. Video-assisted thoracic surgery is preferred to thoracotomy as a surgical approach.In first episodes of PSP, aspiration is required only in symptomatic patients. After a persistent or recurrent PSP, definitive treatment including pleurodesis is undertaken. Future randomised controlled trials comparing different strategies are required.

[Pilot benchmarking study of thoracic surgery in Spain: comparison of cases of lung resection and indicators of quality]. / Experiencia piloto de benchmarking en cirugía torácica: comparación de la casuística e indicadores de calidad en resección pulmonar.

OBJECTIVE: This article describes the methods and conclusions of the first Spanish benchmarking study of thoracic surgery. The proposed aims were to describe cases of lung resection in 9 Spanish hospitals, compare indicators of quality among the 9 participating centers, and identify and propose common areas where lung-resection processes could be improved. METHODS: Information was taken from the minimum basic data set for lobectomy and pneumonectomy processes performed in 2002 and 2003. The chosen outcome indicators were in-hospital mortality, morbidity, length of hospital stay, and emergency readmissions within 30 days of discharge, adjusted according to surgical complexity. Once the results had been analyzed, the participating centers with best outcomes were identified and a variety of proposed improvements were discussed. RESULTS: A total of 1666 procedures (1276 lobectomies and 390 pneumectomies) were studied. We found differences in mean length of stay, mortality, readmission rate, and morbidity that identified centers with lower mortality or shorter hospital stay for comparable or more complex surgical procedures. However, higher morbidity and readmission rates were found in these centers. CONCLUSIONS: Measures were proposed to ensure that relevant diagnostic information is recorded on discharge. It was also proposed to reduce unnecessarily long hospital stays and to standardize the procedures. With such an approach, reliable criteria that improve the quality of lung-resection processes can be established in the future.

Experiencia piloto de benchmarking en cirugía torácica: comparación de la casuística e indicadores de calidad en resección pulmonar / Pilot benchmarking study of thoracic surgery in Spain: comparison of cases of lung resection and indicators of quality

Objetivo: En el presente artículo se describen los métodos y las conclusiones del primer estudio español de benchmarking en cirugía torácica. Los objetivos propuestos fueron: describir la casuística de resección pulmonar desarrollada en 9 hospitales españoles, comparar indicadores de calidad entre los 9 centros participantes e identificar y proponer áreas de mejora comunes para los procesos de resección pulmonar. Métodos: Se utilizó como fuente de información el conjunto mínimo básico de datos de los años 2002 y 2003 de los procesos de lobectomía o neumonectomía. Los indicadores de resultados seleccionados fueron: mortalidad hospitalaria, morbilidad, estancia y readmisiones urgentes en los 30 días siguientes al alta, ajustadas por complejidad de los casos. Una vez presentados los resultados entre los participantes, se identificaron las unidades con mejores resultados y se discutieron diversas propuestas de mejora. Resultados: Se ha estudiado un total de 1.666 procedimientos (1.276 lobectomías y 390 neumonectomías). Se detectaron diferencias en estancia media, mortalidad, tasa de readmisiones y morbilidad, que permitieron identificar unidades, de complejidad equiparable o superior, con baja mortalidad y estancia. Sin embargo, en estas unidades se apreciaron tasas de morbilidad y readmisión más elevadas. Conclusiones: Se propusieron medidas encaminadas a registrar todos los diagnósticos relevantes en los informes de alta, disminuir las estancias inadecuadas y estandarizar los procedimientos que permitirán en el futuro establecer criterios fiables para mejorar la calidad de los procesos de resección pulmonar

Objective: This article describes the methods and conclusions of the first Spanish benchmarking study of thoracic surgery. The proposed aims were to describe cases of lung resection in 9 Spanish hospitals, compare indicators of quality among the 9 participating centers, and identify and propose common areas where lung-resection processes could be improved. Methods: Information was taken from the minimum basic data set for lobectomy and pneumonectomy processes performed in 2002 and 2003. The chosen outcome indicators were in-hospital mortality, morbidity, length of hospital stay, and emergency readmissions within 30 days of discharge, adjusted according to surgical complexity. Once the results had been analyzed, the participating centers with best outcomes were identified and a variety of proposed improvements were discussed. Results: A total of 1666 procedures (1276 lobectomies and 390 pneumectomies) were studied. We found differences in mean length of stay, mortality, readmission rate, and morbidity that identified centers with lower mortality or shorter hospital stay for comparable or more complex surgical procedures. However, higher morbidity and readmission rates were found in these centers. Conclusions: Measures were proposed to ensure that relevant diagnostic information is recorded on discharge. It was also proposed to reduce unnecessarily long hospital stays and to standardize the procedures. With such an approach, reliable criteria that improve the quality of lung-resection processes can be established in the future

Bronchial colonization and postoperative respiratory infections in patients undergoing lung cancer surgery.

STUDY OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the risk factors associated with postoperative respiratory infection in patients undergoing lung cancer surgery, with special emphasis on the perioperative pattern of airway colonization. DESIGN: Prospective cohort study. SETTING: Department of Pneumology and Thoracic Surgery of a tertiary hospital. PATIENTS: Seventy-eight consecutive patients undergoing lung cancer surgery were evaluated. Patients were followed up until hospital discharge or death. INTERVENTIONS: Fiberoptic bronchoscopies with bilateral protected specimen brush or bronchial aspirates were performed during anesthesia prior to the initiation of the surgical procedure. RESULTS: Sixty-five patients (83%) had perioperative bronchial colonization by either potentially pathogenic microorganisms (PPMs) [28 patients, 36%] or non-potentially pathogenic microorganisms (56 patients, 72%). The 24 patients (31%) with a postoperative respiratory infection (pneumonia, purulent tracheobronchitis, or pleural empyema) had significantly higher perioperative bronchial colonization by PPMs (15 patients [63%] vs 13 patients [24%], p = 0.003) and a higher bacterial index (mean +/- SD, 3.6 +/- 3.3 vs 0.9 +/- 1.4; p = 0.003), compared to patients without infection. The agreement between pathogens found in perioperative evaluation and during postoperative infection was total in 5 patients (21%), partial in 5 patients (21%), and no concordance in 14 patients (58%). In the multivariate analysis, the presence of perioperative airway colonization by a PPM (odds ratio [OR], 6.9; p = 0.001) and a higher postoperative pain score (OR, 4.1; p = 0.014) were independent predictors of postoperative respiratory infection. CONCLUSION: Adequate control of postoperative pain, as well as the conditions that potentially cause airway colonization by PPMs, could be beneficial in preventing postoperative respiratory infections after lung cancer surgery.

Axillary thoracotomy versus videothoracoscopy for the treatment of primary spontaneous pneumothorax.

BACKGROUND: A prospective, randomized study was carried out on patients with primary spontaneous pneumothorax, with the aim of determining if video-assisted thoracoscopy is superior to axillary thoracotomy in the surgical treatment of this condition. METHODS: Patients were randomly assigned to two groups; video-assisted thoracoscopy (group A; n = 46) and axillary thoracotomy (group B; n = 44). All fit the established criteria for surgical indication (relapse or persistent air leakage after pleural drainage). In all cases the treatment consisted of apical segmentectomy of the blebs or dystrophic complex and pleural mechanical abrasion. The study evaluated the following factors: postoperative blood loss, respiratory function (maximum inspiratory and expiratory pressures, forced expiratory volume in the first second and forced vital capacity), postoperative pain (analog visual scale), supplementary doses of analgesics, postoperative complications, hospital stay, and resumption of normal activity. Relapses were evaluated for the minimum period of time of two years. RESULTS: No significant differences were found in any of the factors studied in either group. CONCLUSIONS: Video-assisted thoracoscopy and axillary thoracotomy offer similar results in the surgical treatment of primary spontaneous pneumothorax. The rate of complication is low and the level of pain is acceptable without long-term sequelae.

Experiencia en el tratamiento quirúrgico de los tumores primarios malignos de la pared torácica / Experience in the surgical treatment of primary malignant tumors of the chest wall

Analizamos de manera retrospectiva a 33 pacientes afectados de tumores malignos primarios de la pared torácica, intervenidos quirúrgicamente entre enero de 1985 y enero de 2002. Valoramos los resultados de la técnica quirúrgica utilizada, la recurrencia tumoral y la supervivencia de los pacientes. En todos los casos se realizó una resección en bloque de la lesión con pretensión radical. Se efectuaron 39 resecciones de pared torácica. El número de arcos costales resecados osciló entre dos y cinco (media, 2,6). En 27 casos fue necesario reconstruir la pared torácica con prótesis de material sintético, y en cinco de ellos se llevó a cabo, además, una mioplastia (cuatro injertos pediculados de músculo dorsal ancho y uno de músculo pectoral mayor). En 6 casos se realizó, además, una esternectomía parcial. El seguimiento medio de los pacientes fue de 45,6 meses (rango 3-140 meses). Once pacientes fallecieron a causa del tumor. Los 14 pacientes intervenidos de condrosarcoma tuvieron un seguimiento medio algo inferior (41,5 meses); diez de estos enfermos se hallan actualmente libres de enfermedad y dos han fallecido a consecuencia de la progresión tumoral. La supervivencia actuarial (Kaplan-Meier) a los 5 años de los pacientes con condrosarcoma (n = 14) fue del 75 ñ 21 por ciento. El resto de pacientes, exceptuando las fibromatosis agresivas (tumor desmoide) y el paracordoma (n = 14), tuvieron una supervivencia actuarial a los 5 años del 26 ñ 10 por ciento (AU)

Role of surgery in pulmonary tuberculosis.

BACKGROUND: The purpose of our study was to analyze current indications for surgery in tuberculosis (TB). We present our experience with TB patients presenting with indications for surgery between 1990 and 1998. MATERIAL/METHODS: The indications for surgical intervention included 25 cases of pulmonary aspergilloma, 19 cases of pneumothorax, 16 cases of pulmonary nodes and masses without histological diagnosis, 15 cases of bronchiectasis, 12 cases of massive hemoptysis, 12 cases of pleural empyema, and 33 cases of other complications. No patients with multidrug-resistant tuberculosis required surgical intervention, although 56 were treated during this period. RESULTS: The techniques utilized included lobectomy in 45 cases, pleural drainage in 32 cases, segmented pulmonary resection in 32 cases, surgical procedures on the thoracic wall in 17 cases, pneumonectomy in 10 cases, pleuropulmonary decortication in 8 cases, mediastinoscopy in 6 cases, and thoracoscopy in 5 cases. In 25 cases two or more procedures were performed on the same patient. In 36 cases (27.3%) there were complications, of which persistent air leakage after pulmonary resection was the most frequent (n=10). There was a mortality rate of 5.3% (7 CONCLUSIONS: In our experience, surgery in the treatment of TB is indicated to resolve sequelae or complications, since cases of simple or multidrug-resistant TB can be managed pharmacologically. The morbidity and mortality rates in our series were acceptable.