A comparison of robotic and laparoscopic minimally invasive adrenalectomy for adrenal malignancies.

Background: Although guidelines recommend open adrenalectomy for most resectable adrenal malignancies, minimally invasive adrenalectomies are performed. Robotic adrenalectomies have become more popular recently, but there is a paucity of literature comparing laparoscopic and robotic resections.

Methods: Patients who underwent a planned minimally invasive adrenalectomy for adrenal malignancies (adrenocortical carcinoma, malignant pheochromocytoma, other carcinoma) were identified in the National Cancer Database.

Iatrogenic rib fractures and the associated risks of mortality.

Purpose: Rib fractures, though typically associated with blunt trauma, can also result from complications of medical or surgical care, including cardiopulmonary resuscitation. The purpose of this study is to describe the demographics and outcomes of iatrogenic rib fractures.

Methods: Patients with rib fractures were identified in the 2016 National Inpatient Sample.

Outcomes of robotic esophagectomies for esophageal cancer by hospital volume: an analysis of the national cancer database.

Background: Robotic minimally invasive esophagectomies (RMIE) have been associated with superior outcomes; however, it is unclear if these are specific to robotic technique or are present only at high-volume institutions. We hypothesize that low-volume RMIE centers would have inferior outcomes.

Methods: The National Cancer Database (NCDB) identified patients receiving RMIE from 2010 to 2016.

Conventional Computed Tomographic Calcium Scoring vs full chest CTCS for lung cancer screening: a cost-effectiveness analysis.

Background: Conventional CTCS images the mid/lower chest for coronary artery disease (CAD). Because many CAD patients are also at risk for lung malignancy, CTCS often discovers incidental pulmonary nodules (IPN). CTCS excludes the upper chest, where malignancy is common.

Desaturation during Six-Minute Walk Testing Predicts Major Morbidity Following Anatomic Lung Resection among Patients with COPD.

Background: Pulmonary function testing (PFT) is commonly used to risk-stratify patients prior to lung resection. Guidelines recommend that patients with reduced lung function, due to chronic lung conditions such as Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD), should receive additional physiologic testing to determine fitness for resection. We reviewed our experience with six-minute walk testing (SMWT) to determine the association of test results and post-operative complications.