Author of

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  MO22 - Advanced Disease and Outcomes (ID 103)

  • Event: WCLC 2013
  • Type: Mini Oral Abstract Session
  • Track: Surgery
  • Presentations: 1
  • Moderators:T. Yano, J. Roth
  • Coordinates: 10/30/2013, 10:30 - 12:00, Parkside 110 A+B, Level 1

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    MO22.04 - Standardising the Management of Patients Following Lung Resection: Does It Improve Outcome? (ID 2114)

    10:45 - 10:50  |  Author(s): J. Coad
    • Abstract
    • Presentation
    • Slides

    Background
    There is marked variation in the management of Thoracic surgical patients post-operatively, both between individual surgeons and surgical centres. This lack of standardisation can lead to staff and patient dissatisfaction, and differing outcomes for patients. In 2012 we introduced a more standardised approach to the management of patients undergoing Thoracic surgery under the care of one consultant (Consultant A). This was based on the ‘fast-track’ protocol published in 2001 by Cerfolio et al. We aimed to determine whether this approach to patient management has affected patient outcome.

    Methods
    Data for all patients undergoing lung resection at a single centre from April 2012 to March 2013 were collected. The patients were split into two groups, those under the care of Consultant A (group A), and those under the care of the remaining 4 consultants (group B). Group A were managed according to the new standardised pathway which included; stopping the routine use of suction unless clinically required, chest drain removal with cessation of an air leak and drainage below 400mls in 24 hours, and epidural catheter removal on post-operative day 2. Those in group B were managed according to the instructions of the operating Consultant, or the surgical registrars covering the ward. Pre-operative, operative and post-operative data were collected and analysed. Patients were then propensity matched using operation and age.

    Results
    Two hundred and thirty one patients were identified. Overall mean length of stay for all patients in group A was 5.65 days (SD±4.68), and in group B; 9.97 days (SD±12.06), p<0.001. Of these patients 94 were suitable for propensity matching. There were no significant differences found in the proportion of patients with benign versus malignant pathology, the number with primary lung cancer, or in the stage of the resected primary lung cancer. In-hospital mortality for both groups was one patient (2.13%). There was a lower number of drains inserted peri-operatively in group A patients (p<0.001). Mean time to drain removal (all drains) was 3.42 days (SD±6.35) for group A and 4.24 days (SD±3.08) for group B, p=0.026. Mean length of stay for group A was 6.00 days (SD± 4.86) and for group B 10.33 days (SD±19.29), p=0.042.

    Conclusion
    Standardising care following surgery has been shown to improve patient safety, and both patient and staff satisfaction. We have found that reducing variation, and following a validated management pathway, significantly reduces the time to chest drain removal and in-hospital length of stay for patients undergoing lung resection for any pathology. We are currently analysing the various elements of the pathway to determine which specific factors impact patient outcome. Further work is required to determine the effect these differences have on patient reported outcome measures, including overall satisfaction.

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