The Society of Thoracic Surgeons 2024 Member Practice Survey.

Background: The Society of Thoracic Surgeons (STS) has conducted a practice survey every five years since 1974 to guide decision-making and resource allocation.

Methods: The 2024 Practice Survey, conducted online between January 25 to March 14, 2024, included a 72-question survey distributed to 4,692 active STS members from the Senior, Surgeon, and Resident/Fellow member categories. A total of 1,027 responses (22%) were received and interpreted.

Survival and quality-of-life in mucormycosis: a multicentric ambispective cohort study.

Objectives: We aimed to evaluate long-term survival and identify predictors of mortality among patients hospitalized with mucormycosis.

Methods: This prospective, multicentre cohort study included patients hospitalized for mucormycosis across 26 sites in India from March to July 2021. Follow-up data were collected at 1-, 3-, 6-, and 12-month intervals post-discharge through telephonic or in-person interviews with patients or caregivers.

Efficacy, Safety, and Tolerance of Split Dose Oral Sulfate Solution Versus Split-Dose Polyethylene Glycol Versus Single Dose Polyethylene Glycol for Colonoscopy Preparation: A Prospective Randomized Study.

Background: The quality of bowel preparation is one of the key determinants of a successful colonoscopy. Bowel preparation regimens have evolved greatly over the past few decades, with attempts to improve the efficiency and tolerability; still an ideal agent or regimen continues to be oblivious. To compare the efficacy, safety, and tolerance of three bowel preparation regimens for colonoscopy: split dose of oral sulfate solution (OSS), split dose of polyethylene glycol (PEG), and same-day single dose PEG.

Increased risks of type II diabetes among older Asian, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander lung cancer survivors: a SEER-Medicare analysis.

Purpose: Asian, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islanders (ANHPI) have a higher prevalence of type II diabetes compared to the non-Hispanic White (NHW) population. However, the incidence of type II diabetes among ANHPI lung cancer survivors is unknown. The aim of this study is to investigate the risk of newly diagnosed type II diabetes among older ANHPI lung cancer survivors compared to older NHW lung cancer survivors.

Precision Exercise Effect on Fatigue and Function in Lung Cancer Surgery: A Randomized Clinical Trial.

Importance: Exercise intervention studies have shown benefits for patients with lung cancer undergoing surgery, yet most interventions to date have been resource intensive and have followed a one-size-fits-all approach.

Objective: To determine whether a personalized, clinic-aligned perioperative exercise program with remote monitoring and instructions can improve physical function and fatigue among patients undergoing surgery for lung cancer.

Design, Setting, And Participants: The Precision-Exercise-Prescription (PEP) randomized clinical trial is a single-center phase 3 trial.

Cardiovascular Disease Risk Among Older Asian, Native Hawaiian, Pacific Islanders Lung Cancer Survivors.

Background: There may be heterogeneity in lung cancer-related outcomes for individuals who are Asian, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islanders (ANHPI).

Objectives: The aims of this study were to investigate possible disparities in cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk between ANHPI and Non-Hispanic White (NHW) lung cancer survivors and evaluate potential CVD risk factors.

Methods: A total of 3920 ANHPI and 11,760 NHW lung cancer patients aged 66 years and older were identified from the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER)-Medicare registry from 1999 to 2017.

Analysis of Smad3 in the modulation of stromal extracellular matrix proteins in corneal scarring after alkali injury.

Purpose: During ocular trauma, excessive proliferation and transdifferentiation of corneal stromal fibroblasts cause haze/fibrosis in the cornea. Transforming growth factor β (TGFβ) plays a key role in corneal fibrosis through the Smad signaling pathway. The aberrant activity of TGFβ signaling during ocular trauma (viz.

Pre-Operative Atrial Deformation Indices Predict Post-Operative Atrial Fibrillation in Patients Undergoing Lung Resection Surgery.

Background: There are no established predictors of post-operative atrial fibrillation (POAF) in non-cardiac thoracic surgery. Pre-operative left atrial imaging has been shown to identify patients with POAF undergoing cardiac surgery. The purpose of this study was to determine whether pre-operative left atrial strain (LAS) predicts POAF in patients undergoing lung resection.

Systematic Review of the Comparative Studies of Image-Guided Thermal Ablation, Stereotactic Radiosurgery, and Sublobar Resection for Treatment of High-Risk Patients with Stage I Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer.

The Clinical Practice Standards Committee of the American Association for Thoracic Surgery assembled an expert panel and conducted a systematic review of the literature detailing studies directly comparing treatment options for high-risk patients with stage I non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). A systematic search was performed to identify publications comparing outcomes following image-guided thermal ablation (IGTA), stereotactic ablative radiotherapy (SABR; also called stereotactic body radiation therapy [SBRT] and stereotactic radiosurgery [SRS]), and sublobar resection-the main treatment options applicable to high-risk patients with stage I NSCLC. There were no publications detailing completed randomized controlled trials comparing these treatment options.

Systematic Review of Stereotactic Ablative Radiotherapy (SABR)/Stereotactic Body Radiation Therapy (SBRT) for Treatment of High-Risk Patients with Stage I Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer.

Stereotactic ablative radiotherapy (SABR) has emerged as an alternative, non-surgical treatment for high-risk patients with stage I non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) with increased use over time. The American Association for Thoracic Surgery (AATS) Clinical Practice Standards Committee (CPSC) assembled an expert panel and conducted a systematic review of the literature evaluating the results of SABR, which is also referred to as stereotactic body radiation therapy (SBRT) or stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS), prior to developing treatment recommendations for high-risk patients with stage I NSCLC based on expert consensus. Publications detailing the findings of 16 prospective studies of SABR and 14 retrospective studies of SABR for the management of early-stage lung cancer in 54,697 patients were identified by systematic review of the literature with further review by members of our expert panel.

Systematic Review of Sublobar Resection for Treatment of High-Risk Patients with Stage I Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer.

Sublobar resection offers a parenchymal-sparing surgical alternative to lobectomy and includes wedge resection and segmentectomy. Sublobar resection has been historically utilized in high-risk patients with compromised lung function; however, the technique is becoming more prevalent for normal-risk patients with peripheral stage IA non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) <2 cm. In this article, we summarize the technique of sublobar resection, the importance of surgical margins and lymph node sampling, patient selection, perioperative complications, outcomes, and the impact of sublobar resection on the quality of life.

Treatment Selection for the High-Risk Patient with Stage I Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer: Sublobar Resection, Stereotactic Ablative Radiotherapy or Image-Guided Thermal Ablation?

A significant proportion of patients with stage I non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) are considered at high risk for complications or mortality after lobectomy. The American Association for Thoracic Surgery (AATS) previously published an expert consensus document detailing important considerations in determining who is at high risk. The current objective was to evaluate treatment options and important factors to consider during treatment selection for these high-risk patients.

Systematic Review of Image-Guided Thermal Ablation for Treatment of High-Risk Patients with Stage I Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer.

Image-guided thermal ablation (IGTA) applied to pulmonary pathology is an alternative to surgery in high-risk patients with stage I non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Its application to lung neoplasm was first introduced in 2001 and has been implemented to treat metastatic disease to the lung or in select medically inoperable patients with peripheral stage I NSCLC. IGTA may also be an alternative to treat stage I NSCLC in non-operable patients with interstitial lung disease in whom a radiation modality is deemed too high risk.

Predictors of Discharge With Supplemental Oxygen After Lobectomy for Lung Cancer.

Background: Before lung cancer resection, patients inquire about dyspnea and the potential need for supplemental oxygen. The objective of this study was to identify predictors of discharge with supplemental oxygen for patients undergoing lobectomy for lung cancer.

Methods: Using The Society of Thoracic Surgeons General Thoracic Surgery Database, study investigators conducted a retrospective cohort study of patients who underwent lobectomy for lung cancer from July 2018 to December 2021.

A Multidisciplinary Curriculum to Standardize Chest Procedures Training for Trainees in General Surgery, Emergency Medicine, and Critical Care.

Introduction: Critical care, emergency medicine, and surgical trainees frequently perform surgical and Seldinger-technique tube thoracostomy, thoracentesis, and thoracic ultrasound. However, approaches to teaching these skills are highly heterogeneous. Over 10 years, we have developed a standardized, multidisciplinary curriculum to teach these procedures.

Primary Extraskeletal Falcine Myxoid Chondrosarcoma-A Case Report and Review of Literature.

Intracranial chondrosarcomas are rare malignant lesions. Both skull base and dural-based extraosseous chondrosarcomas have been reported to occur intracranially. Dural-based chondrosarcomas arising from the falx cerebri are rare lesions with only 19 cases reported till date.

Management of Congenital Hernias in Adults: Foramen of Morgagni Hernia.

Morgagni hernias may range from asymptomatic incidental findings to surgical emergencies. An abdominal approach is ideal in the majority of cases, although surgeons should understand alternatives for repair.

Baseline findings of a multicentric ambispective cohort study (2021-2022) among hospitalised mucormycosis patients in India.

In India, the incidence of mucormycosis reached high levels during 2021-2022, coinciding with the COVID-19 pandemic. In response to this, we established a multicentric ambispective cohort of patients hospitalised with mucormycosis across India. In this paper, we report their baseline profile, clinical characteristics and outcomes at discharge.

Surgical-decision making in the setting of unsuspected N2 disease: a cost-effectiveness analysis.

Background: Identification of unsuspected nodal metastasis may occur at the time of operation for a stage I non-small cell lung cancer. Guidelines for this scenario are unclear. Our goal was to assess the cost-effectiveness of aborting the operation in an attempt to first provide neoadjuvant systemic therapy compared with upfront resection.

Risk factors and health behaviors associated with loneliness among cancer survivors during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Loneliness may exacerbate poor health outcomes particularly among cancer survivors during the COVID-19 pandemic. Little is known about the risk factors of loneliness among cancer survivors. We evaluated the risk factors of loneliness in the context of COVID-19 pandemic-related prevention behaviors and lifestyle/psychosocial factors among cancer survivors.

Disparities in Gender and Diversity Representation Among Surgical Subspecialties: Are we Losing Momentum?

Introduction: Recruitment efforts have demonstrated small increases in female and under-represented applicants in recent years; however, the majority of surgical programs remain predominantly Caucasian and male. With increased national emphasis on Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion initiatives and mentoring programs, applicants to surgical specialties have continued to increase. While strategies to improve gender and racial diversity are now openly discussed, it is unclear if we have seen significant improvement.