Associations of health beliefs and worry with COVID-19 protective behaviors among lung cancer patients.

Although cognitions have predicted COVID-19 protective behaviors in cancer populations, theory suggests that emotions may be more predictive of these behaviors. This study examined Health Belief Model (HBM) variables as correlates of COVID-19 protective behaviors in lung cancer patients and whether worry about COVID-19 was associated with these behaviors beyond the effects of HBM variables. From 2021 to 2022, 191 patients (62.

Transoral incisionless fundoplication with or without hiatal hernia repair for gastroesophageal reflux disease after peroral endoscopic myotomy.

Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) following peroral endoscopic myotomy (POEM) occurs in 40% to 60% of patients. There are limited data evaluating antireflux surgery or transoral incisionless fundoplication (TIF) for refractory post-POEM GERD. In a single-center prospective cohort study, consecutive patients with medically refractory post-POEM regurgitation and/or GERD treated with TIF or combined laparoscopic hernia repair and TIF (cTIF) were evaluated.

Effectiveness and safety of camrelizumab-containing neoadjuvant therapy in patients with esophageal squamous cell carcinoma: a prospective multicenter observational cohort study.

Background: Camrelizumab has been demonstrated to be a feasible treatment option for locally advanced esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) when combined with neoadjuvant chemotherapy. This trial was conducted to investigate the effectiveness and safety of camrelizumab-containing neoadjuvant therapy in patients with ESCC in daily practice.

Methods: This prospective multicenter observational cohort study was conducted at 13 tertiary hospitals in Southeast China.

Esophagectomy Complications Impact Long-term Survival: A National Cancer Database Analysis.

Objective: To determine the effect of prolonged length of stay (LOS) after esophagectomy on long term survival.

Background: Complications after esophagectomy have a significant impact in short-term survival. The specific effect of prolonged LOS after esophagectomy is unclear.

A clinical nomogram for predicting tumor regression grade in esophageal squamous-cell carcinoma treated with immune neoadjuvant immunotherapy.

Background: There are various treatment options for esophageal squamous cell cancer. including surgery, peri-operative chemotherapy, and radiation. More recently, neoadjuvant immunotherapy has also been shown improve outcomes.

Minimally invasive surgery in the management of resectable thymoma: a retrospective analysis from the National Cancer Database.

Background: Thymomas are relatively uncommon tumors traditionally resected via open sternotomy. Despite the appeal of minimally invasive techniques, concerns persist regarding their oncologic efficacy. We hypothesized that minimally-invasive thymectomies for resectable thymomas are oncologically safe when compared to open thymectomy.

Role of surgery following neoadjuvant chemoradiation in patients with lymph node positive locally advanced esophageal adenocarcinoma: a national cancer database analysis.

Background: Concurrent chemoradiation (CRT) followed by surgery is a standard of care for locally advanced esophageal adenocarcinoma. It remains unclear if surgery following CRT offers any meaningful survival benefit compared to CRT alone in patients with clinical N3 disease who are at the highest risk of developing distant disease relapse.

Methods: We conducted analysis of the National Cancer Database (NCDB) to compare overall survival (OS) of patients with locally advanced esophageal adenocarcinoma (cTanyN1-3M0 based on AJCC 7th staging system) who underwent CRT with or without surgery and analyzed outcomes based on the cN stage.

Consensus for Thoracoscopic Lower Lobectomy: Essential Components and Targets for Simulation.

Background: Despite demonstration of its clear benefits relative to open approaches, a video-assisted thoracic surgery technique for pulmonary lobectomy has not been universally adopted. This study aims to overcome potential barriers by establishing the essential components of the operation and determining which steps are most useful for simulation training.

Methods: After randomly selecting experienced thoracic surgeons to participate, an initial list of components to a lower lobectomy was distributed.

The impact of social determinants of health on management of stage I non-small cell lung cancer.

Background: Social Determinants of Health (SDOH) can be important contributors in health care outcomes. We hypothesized that certain SDOH independently impact the management and outcomes of stage I Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer (NSCLC).

Study Design: Patients with clinical stage I NSCLC were identified from the National Cancer Database.

A Phase II Trial of Adjuvant Durvalumab Following Trimodality Therapy for Locally Advanced Esophageal and Gastroesophageal Junction Adenocarcinoma: A Big Ten Cancer Research Consortium Study.

Background: Most patients with resectable locally advanced esophageal and gastroesophageal junction (GEJ) adenocarcinoma (AC) receive concurrent chemoradiation (CRT) followed by esophagectomy. The majority of patients do not achieve pathologic complete response (pCR) with neoadjuvant CRT, and the relapse rate is high among these patients.

Methods: We conducted a phase II study (ClinicalTrials.

Real world utilization of nurse-driven urinary catheter removal protocol in patients with epidural pain catheters.

Background: Surgeons use indwelling bladder catheters (IBCs) to avoid urinary retention in patients with epidural analgesic catheters. Reduction of IBC-days is associated with improved catheter-associated urinary tract infection rates (CAUTI). This study investigates real world application of a Nurse-Driven Catheter Removal Protocol (NDCRP) to reduce IBC-days in this patient population.

Hypercalcemic Crisis Caused by a Parathyroid Mass Requiring Thoracoscopic Resection.

Objective: To describe the presentation, work up, and treatment of a giant parathyroid adenoma presenting as hypercalcemic crisis that ultimately weighed 57 g and extended into the mediastinum, requiring hand-assisted thoracoscopic resection.

Methods: The patient is a 68-year-old man with a prior history of parathyroidectomy, who initially presented with a severe hypercalcemia of 16.3 mg/dL and a parathyroid hormone (PTH) level of 2692 pg/mL on routine labs.

The value of enhanced CT scanning for predicting lymph node metastasis along the right recurrent laryngeal nerve in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma.

Background: The right recurrent laryngeal nerve (RRLN) is the region most prone to lymph node metastasis in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC). Nodal involvement may be underestimated by traditional imaging prediction criteria, such as a short axis diameter of 10 mm. The purpose of this study was to determine a more accurate imaging criterion to guide clinical treatment strategy selection.

Consensus for Thoracoscopic Left Upper Lobectomy-Essential Components and Targets for Simulation.

Background: Simulation-based training is a valuable component of cardiothoracic surgical education. Effective curriculum development requires consensus on procedural components and focused attention on specific learning objectives. Through use of a Delphi process, we established consensus on the steps of video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS) left upper lobectomy and identified targets for simulation.

Randomized Prospective Study Evaluating Single-Injection Paravertebral Block, Paravertebral Catheter, and Thoracic Epidural Catheter for Postoperative Regional Analgesia After Video-Assisted Thoracoscopic Surgery.

Objective: Video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS) has improved patient outcomes; however, postoperative pain remains potentially severe. The objective of this study was to compare adjunct analgesic modalities for VATS, including paravertebral nerve blockade (PVB) and thoracic epidural anesthesia (TEA).

Design: Prospective, randomized trial.

First report of pulmonary large cell neuroendocrine carcinoma treated with stereotactic body radiation therapy.

Introduction: Pulmonary large-cell neuroendocrine carcinoma (LCNEC) is a very rare disease, comprising approximately 3% of lung cancers. Even for Stage I disease, recurrence after resection is common, with a poor five-year overall survival. We present the first report of stereotactic body radiotherapy (SBRT) for pulmonary LCNEC.

Management of clinical T2N0 esophageal cancer: a review.

While management of locally advanced esophageal cancer has mostly involved multimodality therapy, management of clinical T2N0 patients has been more controversial, primarily as a result of inaccurate clinical staging with existing modalities. This review article examines current literature on this topic and provides recommendations for management of individual patients.

Case Volume-to-Outcome Relationship in Minimally Invasive Esophagogastrectomy.

Background: Outcomes after open esophagogastrectomy (OE) have been shown to depend on institution case volume. We aim to determine whether a similar relationship exists for minimally invasive esophagogastrectomy (MIE).

Methods: Patients who had OE or MIE (excluding robotic procedures) between 2010 and 2013 in the National Cancer Database were included.

Management of anastomotic leaks following esophagectomy: when to intervene?

Background: Esophagectomy is the mainstay treatment for early stage and locoregionally advanced esophageal cancer. Anastomotic leaks following esophagectomy are associated with numerous detrimental sequelae. The management of anastomotic leaks has evolved over time.

"Show Me the Data": A Recipe for Quality Improvement Success in an Academic Surgical Department.

Background: Surgeons in academic medical centers have traditionally taken a siloed approach to reducing postoperative complications. We initiated a project focusing on transparency and sharing of data to engage surgeons in collaborative quality improvement. Its key features were the development of a comprehensive department quality dashboard and the creation of the Clinical Operations Council that oversaw quality.

Impact of the development of an endoscopic eradication program for Barrett's esophagus with high grade dysplasia or early adenocarcinoma on the frequency of surgery.

 The impact of the advent of an institutional endoscopic eradication therapy (EET) program on surgical practice for Barrett's esophagus (BE)-associated high grade dysplasia (HGD) or suspected T1a esophageal adenocarcinoma (EAC) is unknown. The aims of this study are to evaluate the different endoscopic modalities used during development of our EET program and factors associated with the use of EET or surgery for these patients after its development.  Patients who underwent primary endoscopic or surgical treatment for BE-HGD or early EAC at our hospital between January 1992 and December 2014 were retrospectively identified.

Impact of a Novel Preoperative Patient-centered Surgical Wellness Program.

Objective: The objective of this study was to evaluate if a preoperative wellness bundle significantly decreases the risk of hospital acquired infections (HAI).

Background: HAI threaten patient outcomes and are a significant burden to the healthcare system. Preoperative wellness efforts may significantly decrease the risk of infections.

Operative time in esophagectomy: Does it affect outcomes?

Background: The effect of operative duration on postoperative outcomes of esophagectomy is not well understood. The relationship between operative duration and postoperative complications was explored.

Methods: Esophagectomies with gastric reconstruction performed between 2010 and 2015 were queried from the National Surgical Quality Improvement Program.

Outcomes of a novel intrathoracic esophagogastric anastomotic technique.

Objectives: Anastomotic complications represent a significant source of morbidity and occasionally mortality after esophagectomy. Since 2009, we have used a novel "side-to-side: staple line-on-staple line" (STS) technique for intrathoracic esophagogastric anastomoses, designed to create a wide-diameter esophagogastric anastomosis while preserving stomach conduit blood supply. In this study, we describe the technique and review outcomes of our institution's initial 6-year experience.

Coping Skills Practice and Symptom Change: A Secondary Analysis of a Pilot Telephone Symptom Management Intervention for Lung Cancer Patients and Their Family Caregivers.

Context: Little research has explored coping skills practice in relation to symptom outcomes in psychosocial interventions for cancer patients and their family caregivers.

Objectives: To examine associations of coping skills practice to symptom change in a telephone symptom management (TSM) intervention delivered concurrently to lung cancer patients and their caregivers.

Methods: This study was a secondary analysis of a randomized pilot trial.