Assessment of textbook outcome after lobectomy for early‐stage non‐small cell lung cancer in a Korean institution: A retrospective study. Issue 8 (20th March 2022) - Yu, Woo Sik
Abstract: Background: Textbook outcome (TO) has been introduced as a novel composite measure for lung cancer surgery. We investigated TO after lobectomy for early‐stage non‐small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) in a Korean tertiary hospital and its prognostic implications for overall survival and recurrence. Methods: Between January 2012 and December 2017, 418 consecutive patients who underwent lobectomy for clinical stages I and II NSCLC were identified and retrospectively reviewed. TO was defined as complete resection (negative resection margins and sufficient lymph node dissection), no 30‐day or in‐hospital mortality, no reintervention within 30 days, no readmission to the intensive care unit, no prolonged hospital stay (<14 days), no hospital readmission within 30 days, and no major complications. Propensity score matching analysis was performed to investigate the association between TO, medical costs, and long‐term outcomes. Results: Of 418 patients, 277 (66.3%) achieved TO. The most common events leading to TO failure were prolonged air leakage ( n = 54, 12.9%) and prolonged hospital stay ( n = 53, 12.7%). Male sex (odds ratio [OR] = 2.148, p = 0.036) and low diffusing capacity for carbon monoxide (OR = 0.986, p = 0.047) were significant risk factors for failed TO in multivariate analysis. In matched cohorts, achieving TO was associated with lower medical costs and better overall survival but not cancer recurrence. Conclusions: TO is associated with low medical cost and favorable overall survival; thus, surgical teams and hospitals should make efforts to improve the quality of care and achieve TO. Abstract : This study analyzed textbook outcome (TO) after lobectomy for early stage non‐small cell lung cancer in a Korean tertiary institution. The rate of achievement of TO and the cause of failure in achieving TO were quite different from the previous reports from western countries (achievement of TO, 66.3%; leading cause of failure, prolonged air leakage [ n = 54, 12.9%], prolonged hospital stay [ n = 53, 12.7%]). TO is associated with low medical costs and favorable overall survival; thus, surgical teams and hospitals should make efforts to improve the quality of care and achieve TO.