Intercostal Nerve Cryoanalgesia Versus Thoracic Epidural Analgesia in Lung Transplantation: A Retrospective Single-Center Study.

INTRODUCTION: The optimal pain management strategy after lung transplantation is unknown. This study compared analgesic outcomes of intercostal nerve blockade by cryoanalgesia (Cryo) versus thoracic epidural analgesia (TEA). METHODS: Seventy-two patients who underwent bilateral lung transplantation via clamshell incision at our center from 2016 to 2018 were managed with TEA (N = 43) or Cryo (N = 29). We evaluated analgesic-specific complications, opioid use in oral morphine equivalents (OME), and pain scores (0-10) through postoperative day 7. Adjusted linear regression was used to assess for non-inferiority of Cryo to TEA. RESULTS: The overall mean pain scores (Cryo 3.2 vs TEA 3.8, P = 0.21), maximum mean pain scores (Cryo 4.7 vs TEA 5.5, P = 0.16), and the total opioid use (Cryo 484 vs TEA 705 OME, P = 0.12) were similar in both groups, while the utilization of postoperative opioid-sparing analgesia, measured as use of lidocaine patches, was lower in the Cryo group (Cryo 21% vs TEA 84%, P < 0.001). Analgesic outcomes remained similar between the cohorts after adjustment for pertinent patient and analgesic characteristics (P = 0.26), as well as after exclusion of Cryo patients requiring rescue TEA (P = 0.32). There were no Cryo complications, with four patients requiring subsequent TEA for pain control. Two TEA patients experienced hemodynamic instability following a test TEA bolus requiring code measures. Additionally, TEA placement was delayed beyond postoperative day 1 in 33% owing to need for anticoagulation or clinical instability. CONCLUSIONS: In lung transplantation, Cryo was found to be safe with analgesic effectiveness similar to TEA. Cryo may be advantageous in this complex patient population, as it can be used in all clinical scenarios and eliminates risks and delays associated with TEA.

Resectability, Recurrence, and Risk Stratification of Giant Solitary Fibrous Tumors in the Thoracic Cavity.

BACKGROUND: Solitary fibrous tumors (SFTs) are rare mesenchymal tumors most commonly arising from the pleura in the thoracic cavity. The impact of tumor size on risk of recurrence in thoracic SFTs is not well understood. METHODS: A single institution review was performed on all resected thoracic SFTs (1992-2019) with giant SFT defined as ≥ 15 cm. Clinical information, pathologic characteristics, and long-term survival data were collected, and predictors of recurrence and survival were evaluated with regression and Kaplan-Meier analysis. RESULTS: There were 38 thoracic SFTs resected from patients, with the majority of tumors (n = 23, 60.5%) originating from visceral pleura. There were nine (23.7%) giant SFTs with a mean size 20.4 cm (range 17-30 cm). Mean follow-up time was 81.0 months (range 1-261 months), during which 4 of 38 (10.5%) patients experienced a recurrence within the thorax (range 51-178 months). The presence of tumor necrosis (p = 0.021) and ≥ 4 mitoses per high-powered field (p = 0.010) were associated with SFT recurrence on univariate regression. Overall 5-year, 10-year, and 20-year survival was 78.2%, 72.6%, and 42.4%, respectively, and SFT-related mortality occurred in three patients at 83, 180, and 208 months postoperatively. There were no recurrences or SFT-related mortality among patients with giant SFT. CONCLUSION: This study represents one of the largest contemporary single institution reviews of long-term outcomes of giant thoracic SFT. Our data suggest that size is not a risk factor for recurrence in thoracic SFTs and long-term survival is excellent for giant SFTs.

Perioperative Lung Resection Outcomes After Implementation of a Multidisciplinary, Evidence-based Thoracic ERAS Program.

OBJECTIVE: This prospective study evaluated perioperative lung resection outcomes after implementation of a multidisciplinary, evidence-based Thoracic Enhanced Recovery After Surgery (ERAS) Program in an academic, quaternary-care center. BACKGROUND: ERAS programs have the potential to improve outcomes, but have not been widely utilized in thoracic surgery. METHODS: In all, 295 patients underwent elective lung resection for pulmonary malignancy from 2015 to 2019 PRE (n = 169) and POST (n = 126) implementation of an ERAS program containing all major ERAS Society guidelines. Propensity score-matched analysis, based upon patient, tumor, and surgical characteristics, was utilized to evaluate outcomes. RESULTS: After ERAS implementation, there was increased minimally invasive surgery (PRE 39.6%→POST 62.7%), reduced intensive care unit utilization (PRE 70.4%→POST 21.4%), improved chest tube (PRE 24.3%→POST 54.8%) and urinary catheter (PRE 20.1%→POST 65.1%) removal by postoperative day 1, and increased ambulation ≥3× on postoperative day 1 (PRE 46.8%→POST 54.8%). Propensity score-matched analysis that accounted for minimally invasive surgery demonstrated that program implementation reduced length of stay by 1.2 days [95% confidence interval (CI) 0.3-2.0; PRE 4.4→POST 3.2), morbidity by 12.0% (95% CI 1.6%-22.5%; PRE 32.0%→POST 20.0%), opioid use by 19 oral morphine equivalents daily (95% CI 1-36; PRE 101→POST 82), and the direct costs of surgery and hospitalization by $3500 (95% CI $1100-5900; PRE $23,000→POST $19,500). Despite expedited discharge, readmission remained unchanged (PRE 6.3%→POST 6.6%; P = 0.94). CONCLUSIONS: The Thoracic ERAS Program for lung resection reduced length of stay, morbidity, opioid use, and direct costs without change in readmission. This is the first external validation of the ERAS Society thoracic guidelines; adoption by other centers may show similar benefit.

Comparison of Conventional TNM and Novel TNMB Staging Systems for Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer.

Importance: Improved staging for non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) represents a critical unmet need. External validations of the eighth edition of the TNM staging system have yielded disappointing results, with persistently high mortality observed in early-stage disease. Objective: To determine whether incorporation of a molecular prognostic classifier into conventional TNM staging for NSCLC improves estimation of disease-free survival. Design, Setting, and Participants: This cohort study was conducted at an academic, quaternary care medical center from 2012 to 2018. A consecutive series of 238 patients underwent surgical resection of stage I to IIIC nonsquamous NSCLC and had molecular prognostic classifier testing performed. Data analysis was conducted in May 2019. Exposures: Patients were restaged according to the seventh and eighth editions of the TNM staging system and the novel TMMB staging system, which maintains the order and structure of the eighth edition of the TNM but downstages or upstages according to low or high molecular risk, respectively. Main Outcomes and Measures: The primary outcome was disease-free survival 3 years from the time of surgical resection. Reclassification statistics were then used to evaluate performance and improvement measures of the TNM seventh and eighth editions and the TNMB staging system. Results: Two hundred thirty-eight patients (144 [60.5%] female; median [interquartile range] age, 70 [63-75] years) were analyzed. The median (interquartile range) follow-up was 25 (14-40) months, and the disease-free survival rate was estimated to be 58.3% (95% CI, 45.7% to 69.0%). One hundred fifty-nine patients (66.8%) were reclassified by the TNMB staging system. Overall model fit remained the same for the seventh and eighth editions of the TNM staging system, whereas the R2 statistic (change from 0.22 to 0.31), concordance index (change from 0.68 to 0.73), and log-rank χ2 (change from 38 to 108) were all associated with improvements after TNMB adoption. The TNMB system, compared with the TNM eighth edition, was associated with enhanced identification of high-risk patients and better differentiation of those without recurrence from those who had recurrence (net reclassification improvement, 0.28; 95% CI, 0.08 to 0.46; P < .001), whereas the eighth edition compared with the seventh edition was not associated with improvement of this measure (net reclassification improvement, 0.02; 95% CI, -0.18 to 0.21; P = .87). Conclusions and Relevance: The TNMB staging system was associated with improved estimation of disease-free survival compared with conventional TNM staging. Incorporation of a molecular prognostic classifier into staging for NSCLC may lead to better identification of high-risk patients.

Incorporation of a Molecular Prognostic Classifier Improves Conventional Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer Staging.

INTRODUCTION: Despite adoption of molecular biomarkers in the management of NSCLC, the recently adopted eighth edition of the TNM staging system utilized only clinicopathologic characteristics and validated improvement in risk stratification of early-stage disease has remained elusive. We therefore evaluated the integration of a clinically validated molecular prognostic classifier into conventional staging. METHODS: A novel staging system, the TNMB (with the B denoting biology) system, which integrates a 14-gene molecular prognostic classifier into the eighth edition of the TNM staging system, was developed by using data from 321 patients with NSCLC at the University of California, San Francisco. The TNMB staging system was subsequently validated in an independent, multicenter cohort of 1373 patients, and its implementation was compared with adoption of the seventh and eighth edition staging systems utilizing metrics of reclassification. RESULTS: Compared with staging according to the eighth edition of the TNM system, the TNMB staging system enhanced the identification of high-risk patients, with a net reclassification improvement of 0.33 (95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.24-0.41). It better predicted differences in survival, with a relative integrated discrimination improvement of 22.1% (95% CI: 8.8%-35.3%), and it improved agreement between observed and predicted survival, with a decrease in the reclassification calibration statistic of from 39 to 21. The seventh and eighth editions failed to change the net reclassification improvement (0.01 [95% CI: -0.04 to 0.03] and 0.03 [95% CI: 0.00 to 0.06], respectively) or relative integrated discrimination improvement (2.1% [95% CI: -5.8 to 9.9] and -2.5% [95% CI: -17.6 to 12.4], respectively); in addition, the eighth edition worsened calibration, with an increase in the reclassification calibration statistic from 23 to 25. CONCLUSIONS: Incorporation of a molecular prognostic classifier significantly improved identification of high-risk patients and survival predictions compared with when conventional staging is used. The TNMB staging system may lead to improved survival of early-stage disease through more effective application of adjuvant therapy.

Central Airway Obstruction Due to Tracheal Glomus Tumor.

Background Tracheal glomus tumors are rare mesenchymal neoplasms that have the potential to cause malignant, central airway obstruction. They require a thoughtful approach to safely secure the airway and definitively resect the tumor. Case Description We report the clinical course of a 25-year-old man in severe respiratory distress secondary to tracheal glomus tumor and the subsequent surgical management. Conclusion Due to their hypervascular nature, greater familiarity with tracheal glomus tumors is needed to ensure appropriate preoperative planning and intervention.