Surgical Risk Following Anatomic Lung Resection in Thoracic Surgery: A Prediction Model Derived from a Spanish Multicenter Database.

Introduction: The aim of this study was to develop a surgical risk prediction model in patients undergoing anatomic lung resections from the registry of the Spanish Video-Assisted Thoracic Surgery Group (GEVATS).

Methods: Data were collected from 3,533 patients undergoing anatomic lung resection for any diagnosis between December 20, 2016 and March 20, 2018. We defined a combined outcome variable: death or Clavien Dindo grade IV complication at 90 days after surgery.

Effectiveness of bilateral clipping of the thoracic sympathetic chain for the treatment of severe palmar and/or axillary hyperhidrosis and facial flushing.

Introduction: Division of the thoracic sympathetic chain is the standard treatment for severe palmar and/or axillary hyperhidrosis and facial flushing. Clipping is an alternative option which allows the block to be reverted in cases of intolerable compensatory sweating.

Methods: This is a prospective study performed to assess: a) results of clipping of the thoracic sympathetic chain in patients with palmar and/or axillary hyperhidrosis and facial flushing; and b) to determine the improvement obtained after removal of the clip in patients with unbearable compensatory sweating.

Lung cancer diagnosis by trained dogs.

Objectives: Early lung cancer (LC) diagnosis is key to improve prognosis. We explored here the diagnostic performance of a trained dog to discriminate exhaled gas samples obtained from patients with and patients without LC and healthy controls.

Methods: After appropriate training, we exposed the dog (a 3-year-old cross-breed between a Labrador Retriever and a Pitbull) to 390 samples of exhaled gas collected from 113 individuals (85 patients with LC and 28 controls, which included 11 patients without LC and 17 healthy individuals) for a total of 785 times.

Benchmarking in Thoracic Surgery. Third Edition.

Introduction: Benchmarking entails continuous comparison of efficacy and quality among products and activities, with the primary objective of achieving excellence.

Objective: To analyze the results of benchmarking performed in 2013 on clinical practices undertaken in 2012 in 17 Spanish thoracic surgery units.

Methods: Study data were obtained from the basic minimum data set for hospitalization, registered in 2012.

[Impact of a rescue program on the operability of patients with bronchogenic carcinoma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease].

Objective: Bronchogenic carcinoma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) are strongly associated in our setting, occurring together in around 70% of cases. Approximately 60% of COPD patients who require resection for bronchogenic carcinoma are considered unfit for surgery because of seriously impaired lung function. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the extent to which a rescue program could improve lung function in COPD patients who had previously been considered unfit for surgery because of poor lung function.