Is There a Rationale for Structural Quality Assurance in Esophageal Surgery?

Textbook outcome contributes to long-term prognosis in elderly colorectal cancer patients

PURPOSE

Textbook outcome (TO) has been used to define achievement of multiple "ideal" or "optimal" surgical and postoperative quality measures from the patient's perspective. However, TO has not been reported for their impact on survival in elderly, including CRC surgery. This study determined whether TO is associated with long-term outcomes after curative colorectomy in patients with colorectal cancer (CRC).

METHODS

Patient who underwent curative surgery over 75 years old for CRC between March 2005 and December 2016. TO included five separate parameters: surgery within 6 weeks, radical resection, Lymph node (LN) yield ≥ 12, no stoma, and no adverse outcome. When all 5 short-term quality of care parameters were realized, TO was achieved (TO). If any one of the 5 parameters was not met, the treatment was not considered TO (nTO).

RESULTS

TO was realized in 80 patients (43.0%). Differences in surgical-related characteristics and pathological characteristics according to TO had no statistically significant differences in baseline characteristics, except for Lymph node dissection. The Kaplan-Meier curves for OS and RFS association between TO and nTO had significantly poor 5-year OS and 5-year RFS compared with the TO groups (OS, 77.8% vs. 60.8%, P < 0.01; RFS, 69.6% vs. 50.8%, P = 0.01). In the multivariate analysis, nTO was an independent predictive factor for worse OS (HR, 2.04; 95% confidence interval (CI), 1.175-3.557; P = 0.01) and RFS (HR, 1.72; 95% CI, 1.043-2.842; P = 0.03).

CONCLUSIONS

TO can be a useful predictor for postoperative morbidity and prognosis after curative colorectomy for CRC.

A Population-Based Study Using Belgian Cancer Registry Data Supports Centralization of Esophageal Cancer Surgery in Belgium

BACKGROUND

Esophageal cancer surgery outcomes benefit from higher hospital volumes. Despite the evidence, organization of national health care often is complex and depends on various factors. The volume-outcome results of this population-based study supported national health policy measures regarding concentration of esophageal resections in Belgium.

METHODS

The Belgian Cancer Registry (BCR) database was linked to administrative data on cancer treatment. All Belgian patients with newly diagnosed esophageal cancer in 2008-2018 undergoing resection were allocated to the hospital at which surgery was performed. The study assessed hospital volume association with 90-day mortality and 5-year overall survival, classifying average annual hospital volume of resections as low (LV, <6), medium (MV, 6-19), or high (HV, ≥20) and as a continuous covariate in the regression models.

RESULTS

The study included 4156 patients who had surgery in 79 hospitals (2 HV hospitals [37% of all surgeries], 12 MV hospitals [30% of all surgeries], and 65 LV hospitals [33% of all surgeries]). Adjusted 90-day mortality in HV hospitals was lower than in LV hospitals (odds ratio [OR], 0.37; 95% CI, 0.21-0.65; p = 0.001). Case-mix adjusted 5-year survival was superior in HV versus LV (hazard ratio [HR], 0.43; 95% CI, 0.31-0.60; p < 0.001). The continuous model demonstrated a lower 90-day mortality (OR, 0.40; 95% CI, 0.23-0.71; p = 0.002) and a superior 5-year survival (HR, 0.45; 95% CI, 0.33-0.63; p < 0.001) in hospitals with volumes of 40 or more resections annually.

CONCLUSION

Population-based data from the BCR confirmed a strong volume-outcome association for esophageal resections. Improved 5-year survival in centers with annual volumes of 20 or more resections was driven mainly by the achievement of superior 90-day mortality. These findings supported centralization of esophageal resections in Belgium.

Textbook outcome for esophageal cancer surgery: an international consensus-based update of a quality measure

Textbook outcome for esophageal cancer surgery is a composite quality measure including 10 short-term surgical outcomes reflecting an uneventful perioperative course. Achieved textbook outcome is associated with improved long-term survival. This study aimed to update the original textbook outcome based on international consensus. Forty-five international expert esophageal cancer surgeons received a personal invitation to evaluate the 10 items in the original textbook outcome for esophageal cancer surgery and to rate 18 additional items divided over seven subcategories for their importance in the updated textbook outcome. Items were included in the updated textbook outcome if ≥80% of the respondents agreed on inclusion. In case multiple items within one subcategory reached ≥80% agreement, only the most inclusive item with the highest agreement rate was included. With a response rate of 80%, 36 expert esophageal cancer surgeons, from 34 hospitals, 16 countries, and 4 continents responded to this international survey. Based on the inclusion criteria, the updated quality indicator 'textbook outcome for esophageal cancer surgery' should consist of: tumor-negative resection margins, ≥20 lymph nodes retrieved and examined, no intraoperative complication, no complications Clavien-Dindo ≥III, no ICU/MCU readmission, no readmission related to the surgical procedure, no anastomotic leakage, no hospital stay ≥14 days, and no in-hospital mortality. This study resulted in an international consensus-based update of a quality measure, textbook outcome for esophageal cancer surgery. This updated textbook outcome should be implemented in quality assurance programs for centers performing esophageal cancer surgery, and could standardize quality measures used internationally.

Perioperative Risk Factors Associated With Postoperative Unplanned Intubation After Lung Resection

OBJECTIVE

Postoperative respiratory failure requiring reintubation is associated with a significant increase in mortality. However, perioperative risk factors and their effects on unplanned 30-day reintubation and postoperative outcomes after unplanned reintubation following lung resection are not described well. The aim of this study was to determine whether certain comorbidities, demographic factors, and postoperative outcomes are associated with 30-day reintubation after thoracic surgery.

DESIGN

This was a retrospective observational study using multivariable logistic regression to identify preoperative risk factors and consequences of unplanned 30-day reintubation.

SETTING

Multi-institutional, prospective, surgical outcome-oriented database study.

PARTICIPANTS

Using the American College of Surgeons National Surgical Quality Improvement Program database, video-assisted thorascopic surgery and thoracotomy lung resections (lobectomy, wedge resection, segmentectomy, bilobectomy, pneumonectomy) were analyzed by Common Procedural Terminology codes from the years 2007 to 2016 in 16,696 patients undergoing thoracic surgery.

INTERVENTION

None.

MEASUREMENT AND MAIN RESULTS

The final analysis included 16,696 patients, of who 593 (3.5%) underwent unplanned reintubation. Among the final study population, 137 (23%) of unplanned intubations occurred within 24 hours postoperatively and the median (25%, 75% quartile) day of reintubation was day 3 (2, 8 days). The final multivariable logistic regression analysis suggested that age, American Society of Anesthesiologists physical status classification score ≥4, dyspnea with moderate exertion and at rest, history of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, male sex, smoking, functional dependence, steroid use, open thoracotomies, increased operation time, and preoperative laboratory results (albumin and hematocrit) were associated with unplanned intubation after lung resection (p < 0.05). Unplanned intubation was associated significantly with 30-day mortality, reoperation, postoperative blood transfusion, and increased hospital length of stay (p < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONS

Nonmodifiable and modifiable preoperative risk factors were associated with increased odds of unplanned reintubation. Patients who experienced unplanned intubation were at considerable risk for 30-day mortality, reoperation, postoperative blood transfusion, and increased hospital length of stay.

ECCO essential requirements for quality cancer care: Oesophageal and gastric cancer

BACKGROUND

ECCO essential requirements for quality cancer care (ERQCC) are checklists and explanations of organisation and actions that are necessary to give high-quality care to patients who have a specific type of cancer. They are written by European experts representing all disciplines involved in cancer care. ERQCC papers give oncology teams, patients, policymakers and managers an overview of the elements needed in any healthcare system to provide high quality of care throughout the patient journey. References are made to clinical guidelines and other resources where appropriate, and the focus is on care in Europe.

OESOPHAGEAL AND GASTRIC

ESSENTIAL REQUIREMENTS FOR QUALITY CARE: CONCLUSION: Taken together, the information presented in this paper provides a comprehensive description of the essential requirements for establishing a high-quality OG cancer service. The ERQCC expert group is aware that it is not possible to propose a 'one size fits all' system for all countries, but urges that access to multidisciplinary units or centres must be guaranteed for all those with OG cancer.