Journal and News Scan

This cross-sectional study examined gender representation in general thoracic surgery across 30 training programs in the United States and Europe (2023–2024). Women comprised 17.7 percent of faculty in US programs and 29.5 percent in European centers. Female representation in leadership was limited, with women serving as thoracic surgery program directors in 26.7 percent of US and 13 percent of European programs. While women were well represented among trainee society members (US: 39.2 percent, Europe: 46.1 percent), their proportion dropped significantly among active and senior members (US: 12.9 percent, Europe: 19.2 percent). The findings reveal persistent global disparities in women’s advancement to faculty and leadership roles, despite progress at the trainee levels. Barriers such as mentorship gaps and systemic biases hinder career progression. The authors call for targeted, collaborative strategies to foster diversity, equity, and inclusion. 

This study evaluated the long-term effects of blood pressure (BP) and heart rate (HR) on 839 patients post-surgical repair of acute type A aortic dissection. Key findings showed that a systolic BP over 150 mm HG at discharge correlated with increased mortality. An HR of 81 to 100 beats per minute was linked to higher overall mortality, while an HR over 100 beats per minute raised both mortality and aortic surgery event risk. This study illustrates the fact that effective management of BP and HR is crucial for better long-term outcomes.  

This multicenter retrospective study compared video-assisted thoracic surgery (VATS) and robot-assisted thoracic surgery (RATS) for anterior mediastinal lesions in 1,076 patients across three Chinese centers. Utilizing propensity score matching, researchers found that with the lateral thoracic approach, RATS demonstrated shorter catheter retention, reduced postoperative stays, and lower complication rates. However, with the subxiphoid approach, RATS resulted in higher drainage volume and longer catheter retention. The study concludes that the choice of surgical approach significantly impacts outcomes, with RATS being more beneficial for lateral thoracic cases. 

This retrospective single-center study evaluated the impact of 3D airway reconstruction on planning tracheobronchial stent insertion for malignant central airway obstruction (MCAO) in 136 patients from 2012 to 2024. Forty patients underwent stenting with preoperative 3D reconstruction, while 96 had standard planning.   

Both groups achieved a 96 percent airway patency restoration rate. However, the 3D reconstruction group showed a significant 17 percent reduction in operative time (median 40 minutes vs. 48 minutes; p=0.03) and a lower stent migration rate (5 percent vs. 17 percent; p=0.04). There were no differences in 30- or 90-day mortality. The 3D models, generated using open-source software from high-resolution CT scans, allowed detailed visualization of stenosis morphology and virtual endoscopy, facilitating optimal stent selection and placement. The observed improvements in efficiency and stent stability without additional cost or treatment delay indicate that 3D airway reconstruction could be considered for future practice.