The Annals of thoracic surgery
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Energy-sealing devices may be useful to divide small pulmonary arteries (PAs) during video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS) lobectomy. We evaluated the safety of PA branch sealing with an ultrasonic energy vessel-sealing device during VATS lobectomy. ⋯ PA branch sealing for vessels 7 mm or less was safely achieved using an ultrasonic energy vessel-sealing device in VATS lobectomy. Large-scale, prospective, multi-institutional studies are necessary before widespread clinical application of energy for PA branch sealing in VATS lobectomy.
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Prior risk models using the STS General Thoracic Surgery database (STS-GTSD) have been limited to 30-day outcomes. We have now linked STS data to Medicare data and sought to create a risk prediction model for long-term mortality after lung cancer resection in patients older than 65 years. ⋯ The STS-GTSD-Medicare long-term risk model includes several novel factors associated with mortality. Although medical factors predict long-term survival, age and stage are the strong predictors. Despite this, procedure choice and thoracoscopic/open approach are potentially modifiable predictors of long-term survival after lung cancer resection.
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Early Mentoring of Medical Students and Junior Doctors on a Path to Academic Cardiothoracic Surgery.
In 2005 the Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery at The Royal Children's Hospital started an early academic mentoring program for medical students and junior doctors with the aim of fostering an interest in academic surgery. ⋯ A successful early academic mentoring program in a busy cardiothoracic surgery unit is feasible. Mentoring of motivated individuals in academic surgery benefits not only their medical career, but also helps maintain high academic output of the unit.
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Through nearly 3 decades of iterative refinement, The Society of Thoracic Surgeons Adult Cardiac Surgery Database has evolved into one of the most comprehensive and respected clinical data registries in health care. It is a widely acknowledged exemplar for accurately benchmarking risk-adjusted outcomes in cardiac surgery and underpins all quality measurement and improvement activities of The Society of Thoracic Surgeons. This is the latest in a series of annual reports that outlines current national aggregate outcomes and volume trends in cardiac surgery and summarizes database-related work in quality measurement and performance improvement during the past year.
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Comparative Study
Does Donor Age and Double Versus Single Lung Transplant Affect Survival of Young Recipients?
In an effort to expand the donor pool for lung transplants, numerous studies have examined the use of advanced age donors with mixed results, including decreased survival among younger recipients. We evaluated the impact of the use of advanced age donors and single versus double lung transplantation on posttransplant survival. ⋯ Reasonable posttransplant outcomes can be achieved with use of advanced age donors in all recipient groups. Double lung transplantation should be performed when older donors (age more than 60) are used in young recipients (age 50 or less).