Assessment of online information on robotic cardiac and thoracic surgery.

Online health resources are important for patients seeking perioperative information on robotic cardiac and thoracic surgery. The value of the resources depends on their readability, accuracy, content, quality, and suitability for patient use. We systematically assess current online health information on robotic cardiac and thoracic surgery. Systematic online searches were performed to identify websites discussing robotic cardiac and thoracic surgery. For each website, readability was measured by nine standardized tests, and accuracy and content were assessed by an independent panel of two robotic cardiothoracic surgeons. Quality and suitability of websites were evaluated using the DISCERN and Suitability Assessment of Materials tools, respectively. A total of 220 websites (120 cardiac, and 100 thoracic) were evaluated. Both robotic cardiac and thoracic surgery websites were very difficult to read with mean readability scores of 13.8 and 14.0 (p = 0.97), respectively, requiring at least 13 years of education to be comprehended. Both robotic cardiac and thoracic surgery websites had similar accuracy, amount of content, quality, and suitability (p > 0.05). On multivariable regression, academic websites [Exp (B)], 2.25; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.60-3.16; P < 0.001), and websites with higher amount of content [Exp (B)],1.73; 95% CI, 1.24-2.41; P < 0.001) were associated with higher accuracy. There was no association between readability of websites and accuracy [Exp (B)], 1.04; 95% CI, 0.90-1.21; P = 0.57). Online information on robotic cardiac and thoracic surgery websites overestimate patients' understanding and require at least 13 years of education to be comprehended. As website accuracy is not associated with ease of reading, the readability of online resources can be improved without compromising accuracy.

Brief Report: Increasing Prevalence of Ground-Glass Nodules and Semisolid Lung Lesions on Outpatient Chest Computed Tomography Scans.

Introduction: The increased use of cross-sectional imaging frequently identifies a growing number of lung nodules that require follow-up imaging studies and physician consultations. We report here the frequency of finding a ground-glass nodule (GGN) or semisolid lung lesion (SSL) in the past decade within a large academic health system. Methods: A radiology system database review was performed on all outpatient adult chest computed tomography (CT) scans between 2013 and 2022. Radiology reports were searched for the terms "ground-glass nodule," "subsolid," and "semisolid" to identify reports with findings potentially concerning for an adenocarcinoma spectrum lesion. Results: A total of 175,715 chest CT scans were performed between 2013 and 2022, with a steadily increasing number every year from 10,817 in 2013 to 21,916 performed in the year 2022. Identification of GGN or SSL on any outpatient CT increased from 5.9% in 2013 to 9.2% in 2022, representing a total of 2019 GGN or SSL reported on CT scans in 2022. The percentage of CT scans with a GGN or SSL finding increased during the study period in men and women and across all age groups above 50 years old. Conclusions: The total number of CT scans performed and the percentage of chest CT scans with GGN or SSL has more than doubled between 2013 and 2022; currently, 9% of all chest CT scans report a GGN or SSL. Although not all GGN or SSL radiographic findings represent true adenocarcinoma spectrum lesions, they are a growing burden to patients and health systems, and better methods to risk stratify radiographic lesions are needed.

New molecular and immunologic targets of therapy for esophageal cancer and the prospects for ongoing and future clinical trials.

Esophageal cancer is a deadly disease worldwide. Advancements in diagnosis, surgical technique, chemotherapy, and radiotherapy have improved survival over the years. While targeted therapy and immunotherapy have significantly impacted survival for patients with advanced disease, they have also been demonstrating efficacy when added to trimodality therapy for locoregional disease. This review focuses on molecular and immunologic targets of therapy for esophageal cancer and the prospects for ongoing and future clinical trials.

Surgical Management of Pneumothorax and Pleural Space Disease.

Pleural space diseases constitute a wide range of benign and malignant conditions, including pneumothorax, pleural effusion and empyema, chylothorax, pleural-based tumors, and mesothelioma. The focus of this article is the surgical management of the 2 most common pleural disorders seen in modern thoracic surgery practice: spontaneous pneumothorax and empyema.

Revisiting Indications for Brain Imaging During the Clinical Staging Evaluation of Lung Cancer.

Introduction: Available guidelines are inconsistent as to whether patients with newly diagnosed clinical stage II NSCLC should receive routine brain imaging. Methods: The National Cancer Database was queried for the prevalence of isolated brain metastases among patients with newly diagnosed NSCLC in 2016 and 2017. Patients with metastases in locations other than the brain were excluded. The prevalences were then stratified by clinical T and N classifications and further stratified into a summary stage, which was calculated based on T and N classifications. The summary stage represents the clinical stage that would have been available at the time of decision for brain imaging. Results: A total of 6,949 of 149,958 patients (4.6%) with clinical stages I, II, III, or brain-limited stage IV NSCLC had dissemination limited to the brain. As T and N stages increased, prevalence of brain metastases generally increased. Among patients with node-negative (N0) NSCLC, the prevalence of brain-only metastases increased from 1.2% in patients with T1a to 3.8% among patients with T4 (p < 0.001). Among patients with T1a, the prevalence of brain-only metastases increased from 1.2% for patients with N0 to 7.9% for patients with N3 (p < 0.001). The prevalence of brain-limited metastases generally increased with increasing summary stage. The prevalence of brain-only metastases among patients with stage IA was 1.7% whereas that among patients with stage IIIA was 6.7% (p < 0.001). Of note, the prevalence of brain-limited metastases was approximately 6% for both summary stages II and III. Conclusions: Considering the similarity in prevalence of isolated brain metastases and the potential hazards associated with brain imaging in early stage NSCLC, practitioners may consider a more liberal use of brain imaging when interpreting conflicting guidelines.

Chest Tube Drainage in the Age of COVID-19.

Patients with COVID-19 are at risk of developing acute respiratory distress syndrome requiring invasive mechanical ventilation. Barotrauma in these patients often leads to clinically significant pneumothorax, which necessitates chest tube thoracostomy. However, given the mode of transmission of the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 virus and the aerosolizing nature of the procedure, special considerations and care must be taken to mitigate the exposure risks to health care personnel. This article discusses the risk mitigation strategies proposed and under review at the authors' institution.

Navigating by Stars: Using CMS Star Ratings to Choose Hospitals for Complex Cancer Surgery.

BACKGROUND: The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) developed risk-adjusted "Star Ratings," which serve as a guide for patients to compare hospital quality (1 star = lowest, 5 stars = highest). Although star ratings are not based on surgical care, for many procedures, surgical outcomes are concordant with star ratings. In an effort to address variability in hospital mortality after complex cancer surgery, the use of CMS Star Ratings to identify the safest hospitals was evaluated. METHODS: Patients older than 65 years of age who underwent complex cancer surgery (lobectomy, colectomy, gastrectomy, esophagectomy, pancreaticoduodenectomy) were evaluated in CMS Medicare Provider Analysis and Review files (2013-2016). The impact of reassignment was modeled by applying adjusted mortality rates of patients treated at 5-star hospitals to those at 1-star hospitals (Peters-Belson method). RESULTS: There were 105 823 patients who underwent surgery at 3146 hospitals. The 90-day mortality decreased with increasing star rating (1 star = 10.4%, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 9.8% to 11.1%; and 5 stars = 6.4%, 95% CI = 6.0% to 6.8%). Reassignment of patients from 1-star to 5-star hospitals (7.8% of patients) was predicted to save 84 Medicare beneficiaries each year. This impact varied by procedure (colectomy = 47 lives per year; gastrectomy = 5 lives per year). Overall, 2189 patients would have to change hospitals each year to improve outcomes (26 patients moved to save 1 life). CONCLUSIONS: Mortality after complex cancer surgery is associated with CMS Star Rating. However, the use of CMS Star Ratings by patients to identify the safest hospitals for cancer surgery would be relatively inefficient and of only modest impact.

Invasive Staging Procedures Do Not Prevent Nodal Metastases From Being Missed in Stage I Lung Cancer.

BACKGROUND: Up to 20% of clinical stage I lung cancer patients harbor lymph node metastases that go undetected (missed) during the clinical staging evaluation. We investigated to what degree the addition of invasive nodal staging procedures to imaging, as currently practiced, prevents radiographically occult nodal metastases from being missed during the clinical staging evaluation. METHODS: Treatment-naive patients, imaged by positron emission tomography and computed tomography, who underwent lobectomy for clinical stage I lung cancer from 2012 to 2017 in The Society of Thoracic Surgeons General Thoracic Surgery Database were studied. Rates of missed nodal metastases (MNM) (ie, nodal metastases in lobectomy specimens undetected during clinical staging evaluation) were determined. Risk factors were assessed with multivariable modeling. RESULTS: Of the 30,685 clinical stage I patients identified, 3895 (12.7%) underwent preoperative endobronchial ultrasound and 3341 (10.9%) underwent mediastinoscopy. Invasive staging was more common with tumors > 2 cm (66.4% vs 50.2%, P < .001) and squamous histology (26.9% vs 16.9%, P < .001). MNM were discovered in 14.7% of patients, including 20.1% of patients (95% confidence interval, 18.8%-21.5%) who had undergone endobronchial ultrasound and 18.2% (95% confidence interval, 16.7%-19.6%) who had undergone mediastinoscopy. Hilar nodes were most often "missed" (9.5%). Using cut-points in tumor size, histology, laterality, and age, patients could be stratified into particularly high-risk (25% MNM) and low-risk (6% MNM) cohorts. CONCLUSIONS: Substantial risk of occult lymph node metastases persists in patients with clinical stage I lung cancer despite negative invasive nodal staging, positron emission tomography, and computed tomography. In the absence of a thorough surgical nodal evaluation, early-stage lung cancer patients are at risk of under-treatment.

Prophylactic cranial irradiation is associated with improved survival following resection for limited stage small cell lung cancer.

BACKGROUND: Brain metastases are a major cause of mortality in patients with small cell lung cancer (SCLC). Prophylactic cranial irradiation (PCI) may improve survival among patients that respond to chemotherapy. Less is known about the outcomes of PCI following surgical resection of SCLC. The purpose of this study was to determine if patients who underwent initial surgical resection of SCLC benefit from PCI. METHODS: Adult patients in the National Cancer Database (NCDB) who underwent complete resection for primary, non-metastatic SCLC between 2004 and 2015 were identified. Patients that received preoperative chemotherapy or who did not receive appropriate adjuvant chemotherapy were excluded. Patients were grouped by treatment with or without cranial radiation within 8 months of resection. Survival was estimated using Kaplan-Meier and Cox multivariable analysis, adjusting for patient and tumor characteristics. RESULTS: A total of 859 patients met inclusion criteria (202 received PCI and 657 did not). Kaplan-Meier analysis demonstrated that patients treated with PCI had significantly improved survival compared to no PCI (5-year survival 59% vs. 50%, logrank P=0.0038). Multivariable cox models confirmed a significantly decreased hazard of death for patients receiving PCI (HR: 0.70, 95% CI: 0.55-0.89, P=0.003). In subset analyses, PCI was associated with significantly improved survival for node positive patients, but not node negative patients. CONCLUSIONS: PCI is associated with increased survival for patients following surgical resection of SCLC. Patients with positive lymph nodes appear to benefit the most, while it remains unclear if patients with negative lymph nodes derive a benefit. Further study is warranted to clarify which subsets of patients should be treated with PCI.

Big data, big contributions: outcomes research in thoracic surgery.

In recent years, analysis of registry data has defined clinically significant practice patterns and treatment strategies that optimize cancer care for thoracic surgery patients. These higher-order outcome studies rely on large patient cohorts that minimize the risk of selection bias and allow for a powered analysis that is not achievable with single- or multi-institutional data. This review uses recent study examples to highlight important contributions to our knowledge of thoracic surgery and describes how outcomes research using large data can address high impact clinical questions.

Primary Salivary Type Lung Cancers in the National Cancer Database.

BACKGROUND: Primary salivary type lung cancers such as adenoid cystic carcinoma (ACC) and mucoepidermoid carcinoma (MEC) are uncommon primary lung tumors that, given their rarity, remain incompletely understood. This study aimed to characterize the management and outcomes associated with these less common pulmonary malignancies. METHODS: Patients in the National Cancer Database diagnosed with primary lung and bronchial (not tracheal) MEC and ACC between 2004 and 2014 were identified. Adjusted mortality risk of surgically managed patients was evaluated in multivariable Cox proportional hazards regression models. RESULTS: In all, 699 MEC patients and 424 ACC patients were identified. The MEC tumors were smaller (mean size 3.1 cm versus 3.8 cm, p < 0.001), less likely to have lymph node metastases (16% versus 38%, p < 0.001), and less likely to undergo pneumonectomy (9% versus 39%, p < 0.001) compared with ACC. Adjusted Cox models of the surgically managed subset of MEC patients identified high tumor grade (hazard ratio [HR] 3.0, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.31 to 7.1, p = 0.01), tumor size greater than 4 cm (HR 6.7, 95% CI: 2.0 to 22.0, p = 0.01), and wedge resection (HR 3.7, 95% CI: 1.1 to 12.0, p = 0.03) to be associated with increased risk of death. For ACC patients, incomplete tumor resection, R1 versus R0 (HR 4.0, 95% CI: 1.5 to 10.6, p = 0.006), and distant metastases (HR 12.6, 95% CI: 2.5 to 64.4, p = 0.002) were associated with increased mortality. CONCLUSIONS: Pulmonary MEC and ACC appear to have distinct physical and oncologic attributes in the National Cancer Database. Although the overall prognosis appears to be favorable, there are subsets of primary salivary type lung cancers with increased mortality risk, and efforts should be made to completely resect these tumors.

Motivators, Barriers, and Facilitators to Traveling to the Safest Hospitals in the United States for Complex Cancer Surgery.

Importance: Directing patients to safer hospitals for complex cancer surgery (regionalization) may prevent thousands of mortalities in the United States. Objective: To understand the potential for individuals to move to safer hospitals: what would inspire them to travel (motivators), what challenges would they face (barriers), and what would enable them to travel (facilitators). Design, Setting, and Participants: This nationally representative online survey study asked respondents to consider complex cancer surgery at their local hospital or a hospital specializing in cancer an hour farther away. Completed surveys were weighted across sociodemographics to be nationally representative and outcomes were reported as weighted percentages. In January 2018, a panel of 1817 US adults recruited by address- and telephone-based sampling to be nationally representative were invited to take the survey. Data analysis was conducted from January 24, 2018, to September 19, 2018. Main Outcomes and Measures: Proportion of respondents motivated to travel by specific quality and safety indicators (motivators), magnitude in difference that would be necessary, proportion facing specific barriers, and proportion enabled to move by facilitators. Resistant individuals were identified as people who would not travel except for the largest (top quartile) outcomes differences. Results: There were 1016 completed surveys (response rate of 55.9%). The weighted median age was 48 years, 52% were female, median annual income was between $60 000 and $75 000, and 85% lived in a metropolitan area. Nonresponders were more likely than responders to be female, younger, nonwhite, less educated, and lower income (female: 54.4% vs 48.3%; P = .01; younger [aged <45 years]: 56.3% vs 37.1%; P < .001; nonwhite: 41.6% vs 30.0%; P < .001; less than college education: 43.8% vs 32.4%; P < .001; income <$30 000: 22.1% vs 17.1%; P = .01). Superior safety or oncologic outcomes, presented separately, motivated an average of 92% of respondents (95% CI, 90%-94%) to travel. One-third were easily motivated, requiring less than 1% advantage in safety or quality, while 12% were particularly resistant across outcomes. Respondents with lower income (income <$25 000: odds ratio, 2.01; 95% CI, 1.19-3.39) and nonwhite race (odds ratio, 1.60; 95% CI, 1.05-2.42) were more resistant to travel. At least 1 barrier was identified by 74% of respondents (95% CI, 72%-77%), most commonly financial (costs/insurance). However, 94% of respondents (95% CI, 92%-96%) with barriers would travel if provided facilitators, many of which were relatively low cost (transportation, parking, and hotel). Conclusions and Relevance: It appears that most of the US public could be motivated to travel to safer hospitals for complex cancer surgery, yet most would require some support to move. Further efforts to ensure that benefits from regionalization are equitable across sociodemographic strata are indicated.

Fate of Pneumonectomy Patients Variably Captured by Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer Staging System.

BACKGROUND: Lung cancer patients rely on survival estimates to weigh risks and benefits of treatment. However, pneumonectomy-requiring lung cancer may have inherent oncologic or physiologic survival implications not captured by the current stage classification. Stage-specific survival was evaluated to refine survival expectations for patients with pneumonectomy-requiring disease. METHODS: The National Cancer Database was queried for treatment-naive patients who underwent lobectomy or pneumonectomy for stage I to III non-small cell lung cancer between 2004 and 2013. Patients who died within 90 days after resection were excluded. Three-way propensity score weighted multivariable Cox models were built and incorporated into adjusted 5-year overall survival (OS) curves. RESULTS: A total of 79,953 patients met inclusion criteria: 75,708 lobectomies (95%) and 4,245 pneumonectomies (5%). Stage I and II patients undergoing right pneumonectomy had worse adjusted 5-year OS than patients undergoing left pneumonectomy, which was worse than lobectomy (stage I: 55%, 58%, 67%; stage II: 37%, 44%, 48%; indicating right pneumonectomy, left pneumonectomy, lobectomy). Stage III right pneumonectomy patients had worse adjusted 5-year OS; however, left pneumonectomy and lobectomy patients were similar (33%, 39%, 40%). A doubly robust Cox model identified a similar pattern for mortality risk for stage I and II (right pneumonectomy > left > lobectomy); however, stage III right pneumonectomy patients had higher mortality risk than lobectomy patients (hazard ratio [HR] 1.23, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.17 to 1.28, p < 0.001), whereas left pneumonectomy was similar to lobectomy (HR 1.02, 95% CI: 0.97 to 1.06, p = 0.47). CONCLUSIONS: Pneumonectomy-requiring lung cancer embodies a 5-year mortality risk not completely captured by the lung cancer staging system. Refined survival estimates for pneumonectomy patients may enhance shared decision making in this population.

Lung Cancer Screening and Its Impact on Surgical Volume.

Lung cancer screening has demonstrated a reduction in lung cancer mortality by 20%. Annual low-dose computed tomography examination in high-risk individuals is now recommended by multiple national health care organizations and is covered under Medicare and Medicaid services. The impact of this public health intervention is projected to increase the case load for the thoracic surgery workforce.

Subacute Pericardial Tamponade After Sleeve Lower Lobectomy for an Extremely Rare Tumor.

A rare case of subacute cardiac tamponade developed in a 71-year-old patient after a left lower lobe sleeve lobectomy for cancer. The patient was successfully treated by drainage of the pericardial effusion by a pigtail catheter. The exact cause is uncertain, but it appears to include an inflammatory component.

A single institutional comparison of endoscopic and open abdominal component separation.

BACKGROUND: The authors analyzed surgical factors and outcomes data in the largest single institutional study comparing endoscopic (ECS) and open component separation (OCS) in ventral hernia repairs (VHR). METHODS: A prospectively maintained database was reviewed, identifying 76 patients who underwent component separation for VHR with mesh from 2010 to 2013: 34 OCS and 42 ECS. Comparisons were made for demographics, surgical risk factors, and peri-operative outcomes. Wound complications and hernia occurrence post-operatively were reviewed. Risk analyses were performed to determine the association of pre-operative risk factors with surgical site occurrences. RESULTS: Twenty-five ECS patients underwent subsequent laparoscopic hernia repair, and 17 underwent open repair. Operative time for ECS was longer than OCS (334 vs. 239 min; P < 0.001); however, there was no difference in length of stay (4 days in both groups, P = 0.64) and estimated blood loss (ECS: 97 vs. OCS: 93 cc, P = 0.847). In a sub-analysis of ECS patients, those who underwent laparoscopic hernia repair had a 96 min shorter operative time (P < 0.001) and lower EBL (63 vs. 147 cc, P < 0.001) than open repair. Wound complications were 24% in the ECS (n = 10) and 32% in OCS group (n = 11). There was one midline hernia recurrence in the ECS group (mean follow-up of 8 months, range 0.5-34.5 months) and no hernia recurrences in the OCS group (mean follow-up 10 months, range 0.5-30 months). Three of the patients in the ECS group developed new lateral abdominal wall hernias post-operatively. CONCLUSIONS: The ECS group had a significantly longer operative time than the OCS group. Post-operative wound complications were similar between ECS and OCS groups. Patients in the ECS group who underwent subsequent laparoscopic VHR had a shorter operative time and blood loss than open repair.