Association of social vulnerability on time-to-treatment for patients with non-small cell lung cancer.

Background: For patients with early-stage non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), treatment delays confer worse overall survival. The relationship between social vulnerability and time-to-treatment for NSCLC is unknown.

Methods: Using statewide cancer registry data, patients with localized (N0) NSCLC from 2015 to 2021 were identified.

Provider and procedural factors associated with guideline-concordant lymph node sampling in lung cancer resection.

Objective: The American College of Surgeons Commission on Cancer Standard 5.8 requires sampling of 3 mediastinal and 1 hilar lymph node stations during lung cancer resection. This study explores provider and procedural factors associated with guideline-concordant lymph node sampling during lung cancer resection.

Association of Guideline-Concordant Care with Superior Survival Outcomes for Clinical T2N0M0 Esophageal Squamous Cell Carcinoma.

Background: For patients with clinical T2N0M0 (cT2N0M0) esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC), upfront esophagectomy is recommended for low-risk tumors (tumor size less than 3 cm, low-grade histology), and neoadjuvant chemoradiation with esophagectomy or chemoradiation alone is recommended for high-risk tumors (tumor size 3 cm or greater, high-grade histology). The objectives of this study were to (1) describe the treatment strategies used for patients with cT2N0M0 ESCC and (2) analyze survival outcomes for patients according to treatment strategy and tumor risk category.

Study Design: We performed a retrospective cohort analysis of patients with cT2N0M0 ESCC in the National Cancer Database from 2006 to 2020 comparing patients by tumor risk categories.

A Mixed-Methods Evaluation of a Collaborative-Wide Quality Improvement Project to Improve Postdischarge Venous Thromboembolism Chemoprophylaxis After Abdominopelvic Cancer Surgery.

Objective: We studied a collaborative-wide quality improvement project (CQIP) focused on improving postdischarge venous thromboembolism (VTE) chemoprophylaxis adherence. We aimed to identify patient-level characteristics associated with adherence, evaluate differences in adherence rates among participating hospitals, and assess facilitators and barriers to adherence at high- and low-performing hospitals.

Background: VTE is the most common preventable cause of death after abdominopelvic cancer surgery, yet adherence to guideline-recommended postdischarge VTE chemoprophylaxis remains suboptimal.

Use of Normothermic Regional Perfusion in Circulatory Death Donors for Lung Transplantation in the United States.

Introduction: Use of normothermic regional perfusion (NRP) to recover donation after circulatory death (DCD) organs demonstrates increased heart utilization with favorable outcomes. Conversely, DCD lung allograft use when NRP was employed remains controversial. This is a contemporary analysis of DCD lung recipient outcomes in which NRP was used.

Postoperative outcomes following lung resection performed at private equity-acquired hospitals.

Objective: Private equity acquisition of hospitals performing complex operations is increasingly prevalent in the US healthcare landscape. Although comparative health outcomes for common medical conditions have been investigated, the quality of thoracic surgical care in private equity-acquired hospitals is unknown.

Methods: Medicare beneficiaries, aged 65 to 99 years, undergoing elective lung resection between 2016 and 2020 were included.

Ex-vivo lung perfusion: National trends and post-transplant outcomes.

Background: Ex-vivo lung perfusion (EVLP) has potential to expand donor lung utilization, evaluate allograft viability, and mitigate ischemia-reperfusion injury. However, trends in EVLP use and recipient outcomes are unknown on a national scale. We examined trends in EVLP use and recipient outcomes in the United States.

Assessment of intermediate-term mortality following pancreatectomy for cancer.

Background: Pancreatic cancer remains highly lethal, and resection represents the only chance for cure. Although patients are counseled regarding short-term (0-3 months) mortality, little is known about mortality 3-6 months (intermediate-term) following surgery. We assessed predictors of intermediate-term mortality, evaluated hospital-level variation, and developed a nomogram to predict intermediate-term mortality risk.

Association of pathologic factors with postoperative venous thromboembolism after gastrointestinal cancer surgery.

Background: Venous thromboembolism (VTE) chemoprophylaxis is the standard of care after gastrointestinal (GI) cancer surgery; however, variation in risk based on pathologic factors (eg, stage and histology) is unclear. This study aimed to evaluate the association of pathologic factors with VTE after GI cancer surgery.

Methods: The American College of Surgeons National Surgical Quality Improvement Program procedure targeted datasets were queried for patients who underwent colorectal, pancreatic, primary hepatic, and esophageal cancer surgery between 2017 and 2020.

Association Between Racial and Socioeconomic Disparities and Hospital Performance in Treatment and Outcomes for Patients with Colon Cancer.

Background: Disparities in colon cancer care and outcomes by race/ethnicity, socioeconomic status (SES), and insurance are well recognized; however, the extent to which inequalities are driven by patient factors versus variation in hospital performance remains unclear. We sought to compare disparities in care delivery and outcomes at low- and high-performing hospitals.

Methods: We identified patients with stage I-III colon adenocarcinoma from the 2012-2017 National Cancer Database.

Venous Thromboembolism Chemoprophylaxis Adherence Rates After Major Cancer Surgery.

Importance: Venous thromboembolism (VTE) represents a major source of preventable morbidity and mortality and is a leading cause of death in the US after cancer surgery. Previous research demonstrated variability in VTE chemoprophylaxis prescribing, although it is unknown how these rates compare with performance in the Veterans Health Administration (VHA).

Objective: To determine VTE rates after cancer surgery, as well as rates of inpatient and outpatient (posthospital discharge) chemoprophylaxis adherence within the VHA.

The Society of Thoracic Surgeons Looking to the Future Scholarship Program: A 15-Year Review.

Background: It has been postulated that a possible barrier to pursuing cardiothoracic surgery is a lack of exposure and mentorship during training. In 2006, The Society of Thoracic Surgeons began the Looking to the Future Scholarship to expand interest in the field. Undecided trainees with limited exposure were prioritized in the selection process.

Rapid Discharge After Anatomic Lung Resection: Is Ambulatory Surgery for Early Lung Cancer Possible?

Background: Given resource constraints during the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic, we explored whether minimally invasive anatomic lung resections for early-stage lung cancer could undergo rapid discharge.

Methods: All patients with clinical stage I-II non-small cell lung cancer from September 2019 to June 2022 who underwent minimally invasive anatomic lung resection at a single institution were included. Patients discharged without a chest tube <18 hours after operation, meeting preset criteria, were considered rapid discharge.

Inpatient lung cancer surgery outcomes in Illinois.

Objective: This study analyzed inpatient mortality and length of stay for lung cancer surgery in Illinois hospitals by patient clinical and demographic characteristics, procedure types, and hospital and surgeon volume.

Methods: The study analyzed lung cancer patients who underwent lobectomy or sublobar resection at Illinois hospitals from 2016 to June 2022. Trends in procedure type, inpatient mortality, one-day length of stay (LOS), and prolonged LOS (>10 days) were evaluated.

Evaluation of Nationwide Trends in Nodal Sampling Guideline Adherence for Gastric Cancer: 2005-2017.

Introduction: Surgical resection is the primary curative treatment for localized gastric cancer. A multitude of research supports surgical nodal sampling guidelines. Though there are known disparities in adherence to nodal sampling, it is unclear how hospital program-level disparities have changed over time.

Association between travel distance and overall survival among patients with adrenocortical carcinoma.

Background And Objectives: Regionalization of care is associated with improved perioperative outcomes after adrenalectomy. However, the relationship between travel distance and treatment of adrenocortical carcinoma (ACC) is unknown. We investigated the association between travel distance, treatment, and overall survival (OS) among patients with ACC.

Evaluation of emergency department treat-and-release encounters after major gastrointestinal surgery.

Background And Objectives: Emergency department (ED) utilization after gastrointestinal cancer operations is poorly characterized. Our study objectives were to determine the incidence of, reasons for, and predictors of ED treat-and-release encounters after gastrointestinal cancer operations.

Methods: Patients who underwent elective esophageal, hepatobiliary, gastric, pancreatic, small intestinal, or colorectal operations for cancer were identified in the 2015-2017 Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project State Inpatient and State Emergency Department Databases for New York, Maryland, and Florida.