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Thoracic

July 16, 2014
Spontaneous pneumothorax is often treated with a large bore chest tube placement and hospitalization. This article presents a reproducible education model for treating spontaneous pneumothorax with a percutaneous catheter and water seal/collection device.
July 12, 2014
Volume-outcomes relationships for operative mortality were first identified more than a decade ago.  This study updated the data using Medicare claims for more than 3 million patients.  The inverse relationship between volume and outcomes was confirmed for all 8 procedures studied.  The inverse ratio actually increased for 5 of 8 procedures despite o
July 12, 2014
This single institution study evaluated differences in 30-day and 90-day mortality after esophagectomy in nearly 1300 patients.  30-day mortality was 2.9%, hospital mortalit was 5.1%, and 90-day mortality was 7%.  Late deaths were related to surgery (particularly the occurrence of anastomotic leakage), sudden death, and recurrent cancer.  The sensiti
July 12, 2014
A risk model of mortality associated with esophagectomy in Japan was developed using variables identified in the ACS NSQIP program.  30-day and overall surgical mortality rates were 1.2% and 3.4%, and the morbidity rate was 42%.  Morbidity was higher after minimally invasive esophagectomy.  Mortality was related to difficulty with ADLs, recent smokin
July 12, 2014
This editorial, authored by a number of presidents/leaders of prominent medical societies, laments a recent position paper of the ESMO espousing medical oncologists as the natural team leaders of multidisciplinary oncologic care.  It cautions other cancer specialists not to abandon their roles as advocates for their cancer patients.
July 10, 2014
This video demonstrates the removal of a 10 cm anterior mediastinal teratoma through single incision VATS.
July 8, 2014
Stephanie Worrel discusses the use of lobectomy in lung cancer patients over 75 years old, and the impact robotic lobectomy has on outcomes.
July 8, 2014
This is an interesting opinion piece about misplaced fears on the part of physicians and patients/families regarding the dangers of radiation exposure as part of diagnostic imaging.
July 4, 2014
To illustrate the potential need for regional quality improvement efforts in thoracic surgery, the authors conducted a study of lung resection in Washington state using a discharge database including nearly 8,500 pts over a 12-year period.  Inpatient mortality decreased over time but there was no change in the incidence of prolonged length of stay. 
July 3, 2014
Ara Vaporciyan, Deputy Chair of the Department of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery at the University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center, discusses new electronic education opportunities that can enhance the training of cardiothoracic surgery residents.

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