WITHDRAWN: Dehydrated Human Amnion/Chorion Membrane (Placenta) Reduces Anastomotic Leaks after Esophagectomy.

This article has been withdrawn at the request of the author(s) and/or editor. The Publisher apologizes for any inconvenience this may cause. The full Elsevier Policy on Article Withdrawal can be found at https://www.

Evaluation of Esophageal Anastomotic Integrity With Serial Pleural Amylase Levels.

Background: An anastomotic leak is the most devastating and potentially fatal complication after esophagectomy. Current detection methods can be inaccurate and place patients at risk of other complications. Analysis of pleural fluid for amylase may be more accurate and place patients at less of a risk for evaluating the integrity of an esophageal anastomosis.

Digital Drainage System Reduces Hospitalization After Video-Assisted Thoracoscopic Surgery Lung Resection.

Background: The purpose of this study was to assess the efficacy of a digital versus traditional drainage system on hospitalization for patients undergoing video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS) anatomic lung resection.

Methods: Consecutive patients who underwent VATS anatomic lung resection (July 2014 through January 2015) for lung cancer were analyzed. Patients were managed with overnight suction (-20 cm H2O) followed by gravity drainage (water seal or -8 cm H2O) in both the traditional and digital drainage systems, respectively; the digital system also allowed for continuous monitoring of air leaks.

Computed Tomography Screening for Lung Cancer: Mediastinal Lymph Node Resection in Stage IA Nonsmall Cell Lung Cancer Manifesting as Subsolid and Solid Nodules.

Objective: To compare long-term survival rates of patients with first, primary, clinical stage IA nonsmall cell lung cancer from a large cohort undergoing computed tomography screening with and without mediastinal lymph node resection (MLNR) under an Institutional Review Board-approved common protocol from 1992 to 2014.

Background: Assessing survival differences of patients with and without MLNR manifesting as solid and subsolid nodules.

Methods: Long-term Kaplan-Meier (K-M) survival rates for those with and without MLNR were compared and Cox regression analyses were used to adjust for demographic, computed tomography, and surgical covariates.

Community-Based Multidisciplinary Computed Tomography Screening Program Improves Lung Cancer Survival.

Background: Lung cancer is the most common cause of cancer deaths in the United States. Overall survival is less than 20%, with the majority of patients presenting with advanced disease. The National Lung Screening Trial, performed mainly in academic medical centers, showed that cancer mortality can be reduced with computed tomography (CT) screening compared with chest radiography in high-risk patients.

Balancing curability and unnecessary surgery in the context of computed tomography screening for lung cancer.

Objective: Surgical management is a critical component of computed tomography (CT) screening for lung cancer. We report the results for US sites in a large ongoing screening program, the International Early Lung Cancer Action Program (I-ELCAP).

Methods: We identified all patients who underwent surgical resection.

Sublobar resection is equivalent to lobectomy for clinical stage 1A lung cancer in solid nodules.

Objectives: A single randomized trial established lobectomy as the standard of care for the surgical treatment of early-stage non-small cell lung cancer. Recent advances in imaging/staging modalities and detection of smaller tumors have once again rekindled interest in sublobar resection for early-stage disease. The objective of this study was to compare lung cancer survival in patients with non-small cell lung cancer with a diameter of 30 mm or less with clinical stage 1 disease who underwent lobectomy or sublobar resection.

Survival analysis of patients with stage I non-small-cell lung cancer using clinical and DNA repair pathway expression variables.

Background: Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer-related mortality. Understanding patient attributes that enhance survival and predict recurrence is necessary to individualize treatment options.

Methods: Patients (N = 162) were dichotomized into favorable (n = 101) and unfavorable (n = 61) groups based on survival characteristics.

Anvil extension technology in thoracic surgery.

Purpose: Endoscopic staplers are the dominant tools to divide tubular structures in thoracoscopic lobectomy. However, passing these devices can be challenging because of limitations in their design.

Description: Two independent concepts were combined into one design aiming to overcome the limitation of passing the straight anvil of an endoscopic stapler through a tunnel typically created by a curved dissection instrument within the complex cluster of tubular structures that comprise the pulmonary hilum.

Statistical learning methods as a preprocessing step for survival analysis: evaluation of concept using lung cancer data.

Background: Statistical learning (SL) techniques can address non-linear relationships and small datasets but do not provide an output that has an epidemiologic interpretation.

Methods: A small set of clinical variables (CVs) for stage-1 non-small cell lung cancer patients was used to evaluate an approach for using SL methods as a preprocessing step for survival analysis. A stochastic method of training a probabilistic neural network (PNN) was used with differential evolution (DE) optimization.

Opening wedge high tibial osteotomy: an operative technique and rehabilitation program to decrease complications and promote early union and function.

Background: High tibial osteotomy has been associated with significant complications, including delayed union or nonunion, loss of correction, arthrofibrosis, and patella infera.

Hypotheses: A technique for opening wedge osteotomy that incorporates an autogenous iliac crest bone graft will prevent delayed union or nonunion, allow early rehabilitation and weightbearing, and prevent knee arthrofibrosis and patella infera. Secondly, the authors' methods for calculating the desired correction of valgus alignment prevent undesired alterations in tibial slope.