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Background: The role of the number of involved structures (NIS) in thymic epithelial tumors (TETs) has been investigated for inclusion in future staging systems, but large cohort results still are missing. This study aimed to analyze the prognostic role of NIS for patients included in the European Society of Thoracic Surgeons (ESTS) thymic database who underwent surgical resection. Methods: Clinical and pathologic data of patients from the ESTS thymic database who underwent surgery for TET from January 2000 to July 2019 with infiltration of surrounding structures were reviewed and analyzed. Patients' clinical data, tumor characteristics, and NIS were collected and correlated with CSS using Kaplan–Meier curves. The log-rank test was used to assess differences between subgroups. A multivariable model was built using logistic regression analysis. Results: The final analysis was performed on 303 patients. Histology showed thymoma for 216 patients (71.3%) and NET/thymic carcinoma [TC]) for 87 patients (28.7%). The most frequently infiltrated structures were the pleura (198 cases, 65.3%) and the pericardium in (185 cases, 61.1%), whereas lung was involved in 96 cases (31.7%), great vessels in 74 cases (24.4%), and the phrenic nerve in 31 cases (10.2%). Multiple structures (range, 2–7) were involved in 183 cases (60.4%). Recurrence resulted in the death of 46 patients. The CSS mortality rate was 89% at 5 years and 82% at 10 years. In the univariable analysis, the favorable prognostic factors were neoadjuvant therapy, Masaoka stage 3, absence of metastases, absence of myasthenia gravis, complete resection, thymoma histology, and no more than two NIS. Patients with more than two NIS presented with a significantly worse CSS than patients with no more than two NIS (CSS 5- and 10-year rates: 9.5% and 83.5% vs 93.2% and 91.2%, respectively; p = 0.04). The negative independent prognostic factors confirmed by the multivariable analysis were incomplete resection (hazard ratio [HR] 2.543; 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.010–6.407; p = 0.048) and more than two NIS (HR 1.395; 95% CI 1.021–1.905; p = 0.036). Conclusions: The study showed that more than two involved structures are a negative independent prognostic factor in infiltrative thymic epithelial tumors that could be used for prognostic stratification. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Recipients transplanted for bronchiectasis in the context of a primary immune deficiency, such as common variable immunodeficiency, are at a high risk of severe infection in post-transplantation leading to poorer long-term outcomes than other transplant indications. In this report, we present a fatal case due to chronic Pseudomonas aeruginosa bronchopulmonary infection in a lung transplant recipient with common variable immunodeficiency despite successful eradication of an extensively drug-resistant (XDR) strain with IgM/IgA-enriched immunoglobulins and bacteriophage therapy. The fatal evolution despite a drastic adaptation of the immunosuppressive regimen and the maximal antibiotic therapy strategy raises the question of the contraindication of lung transplantation in such a context of primary immunodeficiency. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Open in new tab Download slide OBJECTIVES A lung transplant is the final treatment option for end-stage lung disease. We evaluated the individual risk of 1-year mortality at each stage of the lung transplant process. METHODS This study was a retrospective analysis of patients undergoing bilateral lung transplants between January 2014 and December 2019 in 3 French academic centres. Patients were randomly divided into development and validation cohorts. Three multivariable logistic regression models of 1-year mortality were applied (i) at recipient registration, (ii) the graft allocation and (iii) after the operation. The 1-year mortality was predicted for individual patients assigned to 3 risk groups at time points A to C. RESULTS The study population consisted of 478 patients with a mean (standard deviation) age of 49.0 (14.3) years. The 1-year mortality rate was 23.0%. There were no significant differences in patient characteristics between the development (n  =   319) and validation (n  =   159) cohorts. The models analysed recipient, donor and intraoperative variables. The discriminatory power (area under the receiver operating characteristic curve) was 0.67 (0.62–0.73), 0.70 (0.63–0.77) and 0.82 (0.77–0.88), respectively, in the development cohort and 0.74 (0.64–0.85), 0.76 (0.66–0.86) and 0.87 (0.79 – 0.95), respectively, in the validation cohort. Survival rates were significantly different among the low- (< 15%), intermediate- (15%–45%) and high-risk (> 45%) groups in both cohorts. CONCLUSIONS Risk prediction models allow estimation of the 1-year mortality risk of individual patients during the lung transplant process. These models may help caregivers identify high-risk patients at times A to C and reduce the risk at subsequent time points. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Primary ciliary dyskinesia, with or without situs abnormalities, is a rare lung disease that can lead to an irreversible lung damage that may progress to respiratory failure. Lung transplant can be considered in end-stage disease. This study describes the outcomes of the largest lung transplant population for PCD and for PCD with situs abnormalities, also identified as Kartagener’s syndrome. Retrospectively collected data of 36 patients who underwent lung transplantation for PCD from 1995 to 2020 with or without SA as part of the European Society of Thoracic Surgeons Lung Transplantation Working Group on rare diseases. Primary outcomes of interest included survival and freedom from chronic lung allograft dysfunction. Secondary outcomes included primary graft dysfunction within 72 h and the rate of rejection ≥A2 within the first year. Among PCD recipients with and without SA, the mean overall and CLAD-free survival were 5.9 and 5.2 years with no significant differences between groups in terms of time to CLAD (HR: 0.92, 95% CI: 0.27–3.14, p = 0.894) or mortality (HR: 0.45, 95% CI: 0.14–1.43, p = 0.178). Postoperative rates of PGD were comparable between groups; rejection grades ≥A2 on first biopsy or within the first year was more common in patients with SA. This study provides a valuable insight on international practices of lung transplantation in patients with PCD. Lung transplantation is an acceptable treatment option in this population. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Open in new tab Download slide OBJECTIVES The aim of this study was to describe the epidemiology of patients undergoing diagnostic and/or curative surgical pulmonary resections for lung opacities suspected of being localized primary lung cancers without preoperative tissue confirmation. METHODS We performed a single-centre retrospective study of a prospectively implemented institutional database of all patients who underwent pulmonary resection between January 2010 and December 2020. Patients were selected when surgery complied with the Fleischner society guidelines. We performed a multivariable logistic regression to determine the preoperative variables associated with malignancy. RESULTS Among 1392 patients, 213 (15.3%) had a final diagnosis of benignancy. We quantified futile parenchymal resections in 29 (2.1%) patients defined by an anatomical resection of >2 lung segments for benign lesions that did not modified the clinical management. Compared with patients with malignancies, patients with benignancies were younger (57.5 vs 63.9 years, P  < 0.001), had lower preoperative risk profile (thoracoscore 0.4 vs 2.1, P  < 0.001), had a higher proportion of wedge resection (50.7% vs 12.2%, P  < 0.01) and experienced a lower burden of postoperative complication (Clavien–Dindo IV or V, 0.4% vs 5.6%, P  < 0.001). Preoperative independent variables associated with malignancy were (adjusted odd ratio [95% confident interval]) age 1.02 [1.00; 1.04], smoking (year-pack) 1.005 (1.00; 1.01), history of cardiovascular disease 2.06 [1.30; 3.30], history of controlled cancer 2.74 [1.30; 6.88] and clinical N involvement 4.20 [1.11; 37.44]. CONCLUSIONS Futile parenchymal lung resection for suspicious opacities without preoperative tissue diagnosis is rare (2.1%) while surgery for benign lesions represented 15.3% and has a satisfactory safety profile with very low postoperative morbi-mortality. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background Physiotherapy is a major cornerstone of enhanced rehabilitation after surgery (ERAS) and reduces the development of atelectasis after thoracic surgery. By initiating physiotherapy in the post-anaesthesia care unit (PACU), the aim was to evaluate whether the ultra-early initiation of rehabilitation (in the first hour following tracheal extubation) would improve the outcomes of patients undergoing elective thoracic surgery. Methods A case–control study with a before-and-after design was conducted. From a historical control group, patients were paired at a 3:1 ratio with an intervention group. This group consisted of patients treated with the ultra-early rehabilitation programme after elective thoracic surgery (clear fluids, physiotherapy, and ambulation). The primary outcome was the incidence of postoperative atelectasis and/or pneumonia during the hospital stay. Results After pairing, 675 patients were allocated to the historical control group and 225 patients to the intervention group. A significant decrease in the incidence of postoperative atelectasis and/or pneumonia was found in the latter (11.4 versus 6.7 per cent respectively; P  = 0.042) and remained significant on multivariate analysis (OR 0.53, 95 per cent c.i. 0.26 to 0.98; P  = 0.045). A subgroup analysis of the intervention group showed that early ambulation during the PACU stay was associated with a further significant decrease in the incidence of postoperative atelectasis and/or pneumonia (2.2 versus 9.5 per cent; P  = 0.012). Conclusions Ultra-early rehabilitation in the PACU was associated with a decrease in the incidence of postoperative atelectasis and/or pneumonia after major elective thoracic surgery. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Open in new tab Download slide Open in new tab Download slide OBJECTIVES Pulmonary retransplant (ReTx) is considered a controversial procedure. Despite literature reporting outcomes following ReTx, limited data exist in recipients bridged to their ReTx on extracorporeal life support (ECLS). The goal of this study was to investigate the outcomes of recipients bridged to a first-time ReTx by ECLS. METHODS We performed a retrospective multicentre cohort analysis from 10 centres in Europe, Asia and North America. The primary outcome was overall survival. Risk factors were analysed using Cox regression models. RESULTS ECLS as a bridge to a first-time ReTx was performed in 50 recipients (ECLS-ReTx). During the study period, 210 recipients underwent a first-time ReTx without bridging on ECLS (regular-ReTx) and 4959 recipients had a primary pulmonary transplant (index-Tx). The overall 1-year (55%) and 5-year (29%) survival was significantly worse for the ECLS-ReTx group. Compared to the index-Tx group, the mortality risk was significantly higher after ECLS-ReTx [hazard ratio 2.76 (95% confidence interval 1.94–3.91); P  < 0.001] and regular-ReTx [hazard ratio 1.65 (95% confidence interval 1.36–2); P  < 0.001]. In multivariable analysis, recipient age ≥35 years, time interval <1 year from index-Tx, primary graft dysfunction as transplant indication, venoarterial-extracorporeal membrane oxygenation and Zurich donor score ≥4 points were significant risk factors for mortality in ECLS-ReTx recipients. CONCLUSIONS Recipients for ECLS-ReTx should be carefully selected. Risk factors, such as recipient age, intertransplant interval, primary graft dysfunction as transplant indication and type of ECLS should be kept in mind before bridging these patients on ECLS to ReTx. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

OBJECTIVES: Surgery for thymic epithelial tumours (TETs) with pleural involvement is infrequently performed. Thus, the value of surgical therapy for primary or recurrent TETs with pleural involvement is not sufficiently defined yet. METHODS: Twelve institutions contributed retrospective data on 152 patients undergoing surgery (1977–2014) on behalf of the ESTS Thymic Working group. Outcome measures included overall (OS), cause-specific (CSS) and disease-free (DFS) survival as well as freedom from recurrence (FFR). RESULTS: In 70.4% of cases, pleural involvement was present at the time of primary intervention, whereas 29.6% had surgery for recurrent disease involving the pleura. Pleural involvement resulted from thymomas (88.8%) and thymic carcinomas (11.2%). Forty extrapleural pneumonectomies (EPPs), 23 total pleurectomies (TPs), and 88 local pleurectomies (LPs) were performed (completeness of resection in 76.8%). OS for the entire patient population at 1, 3, 5 and 10 years was 96.4%, 91.0%, 87.2% and 62.7%, respectively. There was no statistically significant difference regarding FFR and OS for patients with local or advanced disease undergoing EPP, TP or LP. Thymic carcinomas in comparison with thymomas had a negative impact on OS [hazard ratio 6.506, P = 0.002], CSS and FFR. Incomplete resections predicted worse OS [hazard ratio 6.696, P = 0.003]. CONCLUSIONS: Complete resection remains the mainstay of treatment for TETs with pleural involvement. Study populations treated with EPP, TP and LP had similar survival that may be factual as observed, but in the presence of selection bias, we can further conclude from the results that EPP, TP and LP are equally effective procedures. Procedural choice depends upon the extent of tumour distribution. EPPs, TPs and LPs performed within a multimodality setting seem to be efficient procedures for local control of disease, as they yield excellent results regarding OS, DFS, CSS and FFR. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

OBJECTIVES: It has been suggested that laparoscopic Ivor Lewis (IL) oesophagectomy reduces postoperative morbidity and mortality rates. However, data related to the long-term outcomes of this hybrid minimally invasive procedure are scarce. METHODS: All of the patients who had an IL oesophagectomy for cancer were extracted from a prospective database. Patients were matched one to one according to the surgical approach (laparoscopy versus laparotomy) and on the basis of a propensity score including eight variables: age, gender, American Society of Anaesthesiologists score, forced expiratory volume in 1 s, surgery (first-line treatment, after neoadjuvant treatment and salvage surgery), histology, location and pathological stage. The first end point was the assessment of the 5-year survival and disease-free survival rates. The secondary end points were R0 resection rate, number of resected lymph nodes (LNs) and patterns of recurrence. RESULTS: Over a 12-year period, 272 IL oesophagectomies were performed. A total of 140 patients were matched in two homogeneous groups: laparotomy (n = 70) and laparoscopy (n = 70). The 5-year overall survival and disease-free survival rates were 65% and 48% in laparotomy group and 73% and 51% in the laparoscopy group (P = 0.891; P = 0.912). R0 resection rates were, respectively, 93% vs 97% (P = 0.441). The number and distribution of resected LNs were similar between the groups except at the level of the celiac axis (P < 0.001). Depending on the surgical approach, the patterns of recurrence were similar in both groups. CONCLUSIONS: Laparoscopic IL oesophagectomy does not compromise the long-term oncological outcome compared to open IL oesophagectomy. The quality of the operations is similar for both techniques except for the number of resected LNs at the level of the celiac trunk. Further randomized controlled trials are necessary to confirm these results. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: Despite recent advances in imaging and core or endoscopic biopsies, a percentage of patients have a major lung resection without diagnosis. We aimed to assess the feasibility of a rapid tissue preparation/analysis to discriminate cancerous from non-cancerous lung tissue. Methods: Fresh sample preparations were analyzed with the Microflex LTTM MALDI-TOF analyzer. Each main reference spectra (MSP) was consecutively included in a database. After definitive pathological diagnosis, each MSP was labeled as either cancerous or non-cancerous (normal, inflammatory, infectious nodules). A strategy was constructed based on the number of concordant responses of a mass spectrometry scoring algorithm. A 3-step evaluation included an internal and blind validation of a preliminary database (n = 182 reference spectra from the 100 first patients), followed by validation on a whole cohort database (n = 300 reference spectra from 159 patients). Diagnostic performance indicators were calculated. Results: 127 cancerous and 173 non-cancerous samples (144 peripheral biopsies and 29 inflammatory or infectious lesions) were processed within 30 minutes after biopsy sampling. At the most discriminatory level, the samples were correctly classified with a sensitivity, specificity and global accuracy of 92.1%, 97.1% and 95%, respectively. Conclusions: The feasibility of rapid MALDI-TOF analysis, coupled with a very simple lung preparation procedure, appears promising and should be tested in several surgical settings where rapid on-site evaluation of abnormal tissue is required. In the operating room, it appears promising in case of tumors with an uncertain preoperative diagnosis and should be tested as a complementary approach to frozen-biopsy analysis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Recently, tissue-based methods for proteomic analysis have been used in clinical research and appear reliable for digestive, brain, lymphomatous, and lung cancers classification. However simple, tissue-based methods that couple signal analysis to tissue imaging are time consuming. To assess the reliability of a method involving rapid tissue preparation and analysis to discriminate cancerous from non-cancerous tissues, we tested 141 lung cancer/non-tumor pairs and 8 unique lung cancer samples among the stored frozen samples of 138 patients operated on during 2012. Samples were crushed in water, and 1.5 µl was spotted onto a steel target for analysis with the Microflex LT analyzer (Bruker Daltonics). Spectra were analyzed using ClinProTools software. A set of samples was used to generate a random classification model on the basis of a list of discriminant peaks sorted with the k-nearest neighbor genetic algorithm. The rest of the samples (n = 43 cancerous and n = 41 non-tumoral) was used to verify the classification capability and calculate the diagnostic performance indices relative to the histological diagnosis. The analysis found 53 m/z valid peaks, 40 of which were significantly different between cancerous and non-tumoral samples. The selected genetic algorithm model identified 20 potential peaks from the training set and had 98.81% recognition capability and 89.17% positive predictive value. In the blinded set, this method accurately discriminated the two classes with a sensitivity of 86.7% and a specificity of 95.1% for the cancer tissues and a sensitivity of 87.8% and a specificity of 95.3% for the non-tumor tissues. The second model generated to discriminate primary lung cancer from metastases was of lower quality. The reliability of MALDI-ToF analysis coupled with a very simple lung preparation procedure appears promising and should be tested in the operating room on fresh samples coupled with the pathological examination. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background Acquired Tracheo-broncho-esophageal fistulae of the adult are uncommon, severe and require a complex management associating medical, endoscopic and surgical treatment. Methods From January 2013 to December 2017, we conducted a monocentric, retrospective study on the etiology, the diagnosis and the management of acquired tracheo-broncho-esophageal fistulae. Results During the last 5 years, 29 consecutive acquired tracheo-broncho-esophageal fistulae were diagnosed in our department (23 men and 6 women), of which 2 malignant fistulae. Sixteen appeared in the early postoperative period after esophagectomy (From 7 to 63 days), and two more later at post-operative day 150 and 154 days. The other 10 tracheo-broncho-esophageal fistulae had variable etiologies: post-radiation (5), traumatic (4), severe reflux. Clinical presentation were of variable severity as well. Six patients were asymptomatic, the fistula diagnosed on systematic radiological or endoscopic examinations. The other patients had respiratory and infectious symptoms, going from iterative pneumopathy to acute respiratory distress with septic shock. The management was complex and specific to each patient, but 3 situations can be described: 1. Endoscopic treatment (7) 2. Surgical treatment, more or less followed by an endoscopic treatment (7) 3. Multiple endoscopic treatment, followed by surgery (13). Regardless of the treatment, the mortality rate was extremely high, 12 patients out of 27 dying in the early follow-up (44,4%). Conclusion The incidence of acquired tracheo-broncho-esophageal fistulae seems to be increasing, especially after esophagectomy. Their treatment is different than from the usual anastomotic fistula. Multimodal management is associated with patient death in about half of the cases. Endoscopic treatment allows the stabilisation of patients in a precarious clinical situation, but where the immediate results can be satisfactory it can later on lead to chronic and harmful situations. Surgery remains the cornerstone of the treatment. Disclosure All authors have declared no conflicts of interest. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]