The Annals of thoracic surgery
-
A highly selected subset of patients with oligometastatic non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) will be cured after all sites of established disease (primary and metastases) have been eliminated by surgery or radiation (ie, "curative intent" approach). Mediastinal lymph node metastases (N2) have been found retrospectively to predict a poor prognosis in this setting (5-year survival of 4% for N2-positive versus 31% for N2-negative). Hence, our institution has programmatically limited the use of curative intent local therapy to oligometastatic NSCLC patients confirmed to be free of N2 disease. However, it is unclear whether the exclusion of N2-positive patients is an effective prospective selection step to aggressively treat oligometastatic NSCLC. ⋯ Using invasive mediastinal staging to exclude N2 disease has a role in surgical decision making and achieving long-term survival among oligometastatic NSCLC patients. Further study is warranted to determine whether a subset of patients with N2 disease also have the potential for long-term survival with local therapy.
-
Quantitative analysis of specific exhaled carbonyl compounds (ECCs) has shown promise for the detection of lung cancer. The purpose of this study is to demonstrate the normalization of ECCs in patients after lung cancer resection. ⋯ The analysis of ECCs demonstrates reduction to the level of control patients after surgical resection for lung cancer. This technology has the potential to be a useful tool to detect disease after lung cancer resection. Continued follow-up will determine whether subsequent elevation of ECCs is indicative of recurrent disease.
-
Comparative Study
Pulmonary Artery Sealing With an Ultrasonic Energy Device in Video-Assisted Thoracoscopic Surgery Lobectomy: An Animal Survival Study.
Pulmonary artery (PA) sealing in video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS) lobectomy is typically accomplished using vascular endostaplers. Endostaplers may be associated with iatrogenic PA branch injury, especially in short, small PA branches. We evaluated PA branch sealing with the HARMONIC ACE +7 (ACE) shears (Ethicon, Cincinnati, OH) in VATS lobectomy in a canine survival model. ⋯ The use of the ACE for PA branch sealing in VATS lobectomy is safe and effective in an animal survival model. Human studies are needed to determine the clinical safety of ultrasonic PA branch sealing before widespread clinical use.
-
Multicenter Study Clinical Trial
Immediate Postoperative Oral Nutrition Following Esophagectomy: A Multicenter Clinical Trial.
Immediate start of oral intake is beneficial following colorectal surgery. However, following esophagectomy the safety and feasibility of immediate oral intake is unclear, thus these patients are still kept nil by mouth. This study therefore aimed to determine the feasibility and safety of oral nutrition immediately after esophagectomy. ⋯ Immediate start of oral nutrition following esophagectomy seems to be feasible and does not increase complications compared to a retrospective cohort and literature. However, if complications arise an alternative nutritional route is required. This explorative study shows that a randomized controlled trial is needed.