Analytical Equations for the Prediction of the Failure Mode of Reinforced Concrete Beam-Column Joints Based on Interpretable Machine Learning and SHAP Values.

One of the most critical components of reinforced concrete structures are beam-column joint systems, which greatly affect the overall behavior of a structure during a major seismic event. According to modern design codes, if the system fails, it should fail due to the flexural yielding of the beam and not due to the shear failure of the joint. Thus, a reliable tool is required for the prediction of the failure mode of the joints in a preexisting population of structures.

[Current status of lung cancer care in Germany in the context of treatment centralization and lack of personnel].

Introduction: Lung cancer is the malignancy with the highest mortality rate worldwide. In January 2025, the German public healthcare system will introduce a new regulation according to which a centre can offer surgery for lung cancer only if it carries out a minimum number of lung resections. The purpose of this directive is to reduce the number of centres offering surgical treatment for primary lung cancer, thus centralising and improving lung cancer care.

A scoping review of lung cancer surgery with curative intent: workup, fitness assessment, clinical outcomes.

Lung cancer surgery with curative intent has significantly developed over recent years, mainly focusing on minimally invasive approaches that do not compromise medical efficiency and ensure a decreased burden on the patient. It is directly linked with an efficient multidisciplinary team that will perform appropriate pre-operative assessment. Caution is required in complex patients with several comorbidities to ensure a meaningful and informed thoracic surgery referral leading to optimal patient outcomes.

Thoracic skeletal muscle mass predicts mortality in patients with surgery for pleural empyema: A case control study.

Background: This study investigated the role of the thoracic skeletal muscle mass as a marker of sarcopenia on postoperative mortality in pleural empyema.

Methods: All consecutive patients (n = 103) undergoing surgery for pleural empyema in a single tertiary referral center between January 2020 and December 2022 were eligible for this study. Thoracic skeletal muscle mass index (TSMI) was determined from preoperative computed tomography scans.

ERASURE: early autologous blood pleurodesis for postoperative air leaks-a randomized, controlled trial comparing prophylactic autologous blood pleurodesis versus standard watch and wait treatment for postoperative air leaks following thoracoscopic anatomic lung resections.

Background: The prolonged air leak is probably the most common complication following lung resections. Around 10-20% of the patients who undergo a lung resection will eventually develop a prolonged air leak. The definition of a prolonged air leak varies between an air leak, which is evident after the fifth, seventh or even tenth postoperative day to every air leak that prolongs the hospital stay.

A randomized controlled trial: Comparison of 14 and 24 French thoracic drainage after minimally invasive lobectomy - MZ 14-24 study.

Background: The optimal placement of a chest drain after video-assisted minimally invasive lobectomy should facilitate the aspiration of air and drainage of fluid. Typically, a conventional 24Ch polyvinyl chloride chest drain is used for this purpose. However, there is currently no scientific literature available on the impact of drain diameter on postoperative outcomes following anatomical lung resection.

Uniportal robotic assisted surgery for anatomical lung resection-First German experience.

Background: Uniportal robotic-assisted thoracic surgery (uRATS) has emerged as a promising technique with potential advantages over multiportal approaches. This study aims to evaluate our initial outcomes of uRATS.

Material And Methods: Five patients underwent anatomic lung resections with systematic nodal dissection through a uniportal robotic approach by one surgeon.

Ureterovesical Anastomosis Complications in Kidney Transplantation: Definition, Risk Factor Analysis, and Prediction by Quantitative Fluorescence Angiography with Indocyanine Green.

Ureteral stenosis and urinary leakage are relevant problems after kidney transplantation. A standardized definition of ureterovesical anastomosis complications after kidney transplantation has not yet been established. This study was designed to demonstrate the predictive power of quantitative indocyanine green (ICG) fluorescence angiography.

Prognostic factors for long-term survival following complete resection by lobectomy in stage I non-small cell lung cancer.

Background: The aim of this study was to evaluate predictors for long-term overall survival (OS) in patients with stage I non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC).

Methods: All patients undergoing complete resection by lobectomy for stage I NSCLC between October 2012 and December 2015 at a single center were included. Univariable and multivariable Cox regression analyses were performed to identify prognostic factors.

[Fluorescence-guided Lymph Vessel Sealing in Systematic Nodal Dissection: a New Surgical Technique to Prevent Lymphorrhea and Lymphocele.].

Introduction: The primary morbidities of inguinal and axillary systematic nodal dissection are lymphatic fistulas and seromas. Intraoperative fluorescence imaging-guided sealing of lymph vessels may prevent these postoperative complications.

Methods: Indocyanine dye was injected intracutaneously into the distal limb before the beginning of the lymphadenectomy.

Impact of Secretion-Active Osteoblast-Specific Factor 2 in Promoting Progression and Metastasis of Head and Neck Cancer.

Treatment success of head and neck cancer (HNC) is still hampered by tumor relapse due to metastases. Our study aimed to identify biomarkers by exploiting transcriptomics profiles of patient-matched metastases, primary tumors, and normal tissue mucosa as well as the HNC cohort data sets. Analyses identified osteoblast-specific factor 2 (OSF-2) as significantly overexpressed in lymph node metastases and primary tumors compared to normal tissue.

Thoracic surgery in patients on veno-venous extracorporeal membrane oxygenation for COVID-19 associated acute respiratory distress syndrome.

Objectives: The COVID-19 pandemic has generated a new type of acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) arising as a complication of COVID-19 pneumonia. Extreme cases require the support of extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO). Here we present the outcomes of patients that underwent surgical tracheostomy or thoracic surgery at a single tertiary centre whilst on ECMO support for COVID-19 related ARDS.

[Management of Chest Drains after Elective, Thoracoscopic, Anatomical Lung Resections. A Survey in Thoracic Surgical Departments in Germany].

Introduction: The increasing use of minimally invasive techniques along with the introduction of the "Enhanced Recovery After Surgery" (ERAS) guidelines have reduced the perioperative risk of anatomic lung resections. However, the prolonged postoperative air leak still remains one of the major postoperative issues. The purpose of this survey was to evaluate the perioperative management of chest drains and the current clinical practice in treating prolonged air leaks after elective, thoracoscopic, anatomic lung resections in Germany.

Computer tomography guided thoracoscopic resection of small pulmonary nodules in the hybrid theatre.

Purpose: Thoracic surgeons are currently asked to resect smaller and deeper lesions which are difficult to detect thoracoscopically. The growing number of those lesions arises both from lung cancer screening programs and from follow-up of extrathoracic malignancies. This study analyzed the routine use of a CT-aided thoracoscopic approach to small pulmonary nodules in the hybrid theatre and the resulting changes in the treatment pathway.

Risk factors for surgical complications after anatomic lung resections in the era of VATS and ERAS.

Background: The aim of this study was to identify risk factors for surgical complications after anatomic lung resections in the era of video-assisted thoracic surgery (VATS) and enhanced recovery after surgery (ERAS).

Methods: A retrospective analysis of all consecutive adult patients who underwent elective anatomic lung resections between January and December 2020 at our institution was performed.

Results: Eighty patients (40 VATS, 40 thoracotomy) were included.

Autologous blood pleurodesis for the treatment of postoperative air leaks. A systematic review and meta-analysis.

Background: Postoperative air leaks are a common complication after lung surgery. They are associated with prolonged hospital stay, increased postoperative pain and treatment costs. The treatment of prolonged air leaks remains controversial.

Multidisciplinary care models for patients with lung cancer.

Multidisciplinary care is the cornerstone of lung cancer treatment in the developed world, even though there is a relative lack of consistent evidence that this care model improves outcomes. In this review, we present the available literature regarding how to set up and run an efficient multidisciplinary care model for lung cancer patients with emphasis on team members' roles and responsibilities. Moreover, we present some limited evidence about multidisciplinary care and its impact on lung cancer outcomes and survival.

[Successful treatment of a stage III pleural empyema following a COVID-19 infection].

Parapneumonic pleural effusion is a common complication of pneumonia and can progress to empyema. Pleural empyema is a life-threatening infection, which can be treated with antibiotics and interventional drainage but in later stages often requires surgery. Here we describe the first case of pleural empyema following a COVID-19 infection with no respiratory failure in a previously healthy and athletic patient.

Outpatient treatment of pulmonary embolism.

Over the past decade there has been an increasing trend to manage many conditions traditionally treated during a hospital admission as outpatients. Evidence is increasing to support this approach in patients with pulmonary embolism (PE). In this article, we review the current status of outpatient management of confirmed PE and present a pragmatic approach for clinical healthcare settings.