Journal of thoracic disease
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Thoracic surgery databases continue to emerge as pillars for institutional quality improvement and research endeavors. This paper reviews the current state of the largest thoracic surgery databases: the Thoracic Surgeons General Thoracic Surgery Database (STS-GTSD) and the European Society of Thoracic Surgery Database (ESTSD). In addition, we utilize these as a platform to evaluate the role and key ingredients for successful international database collaborations. Ultimately, collaborative efforts among large databases unify research efforts, foster cohesion, serve as benchmarks for quality improvement locally, nationally and internationally, promote comparative innovation, and ultimately improve patient outcomes.
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Early recognition of the risks of acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) and prevention of the development of ARDS may be more effective in improving patient outcomes. We performed the present study to determine the ARDS risk factors in a Chinese population and validate a score to predict the development of ARDS. ⋯ The MAPS based on risk factors could help the clinician to predict patients who will develop ARDS.
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Acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) is driven by a severe pro-inflammatory response resulting in lung damage, impaired gas exchange and severe respiratory failure. There is no specific treatment that effectively improves outcome in ARDS. However, in recent years, cell therapy has shown great promise in preclinical ARDS studies. ⋯ Different approaches have also been studied to enhance the therapeutic effect of these cells, such as the over-expression of anti-inflammatory or pro-reparative molecules. Several clinical trials (phase I and II) have already shown safety of MSCs in ARDS and other diseases. However, several translational issues still need to be addressed, such as the large-scale production of cells, and their potentiality and variability, before the therapeutic potential of stem cells therapies can be realized.
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Although acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) has been recognized for more than 50 years, limited information exists about the incidence and management of ARDS in mainland China. To evaluate the potential for improvement in management of patients with ARDS, this study was designed to describe the incidence and management of ARDS in mainland China. ⋯ Despite general acceptance of low Vt and limited Pplat, high driving pressure, low PEEP and low use of adjunctive measures may still be a concern in mainland China, especially in patients with severe ARDS.
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Massive pulmonary embolism (PE) is a severe condition that can potentially lead to death caused by right ventricular (RV) failure and the consequent cardiogenic shock. Despite the fact thrombolysis is often administrated to critical patients to increase pulmonary perfusion and to reduce RV afterload, surgical treatment represents another valid option in case of failure or contraindications to thrombolytic therapy. ⋯ In fact, the worldwide incidence of PE is 60-70 per 100,000, with a mortality ranging from 1% for small PE to 65% for massive PE. This review provides an overview of the diagnosis and management of this highly lethal pathology, with a focus on the surgical approaches at the state of the art.