Objective To evaluate the pathways for improving the operational efficiency of medical teams, thereby providing micro-level empirical evidence for the refined management and high-quality development of public hospitals. MethodsBased on panel data from nine surgical teams in the Department of Thoracic Surgery at Sichuan Cancer Hospital from 2021 to 2024, this study employed the data envelopment analysis (DEA) with the BCC model to assess static efficiency, including technical efficiency (TE), scale efficiency (SE), and overall efficiency (OE). The Malmquist index was used to analyze the dynamic total factor productivity (TFP) and its decomposition into efficiency change (EC) and technology change (TC). Input indicators were the number of physicians and the number of open beds. Output indicators included the proportion of surgical patients, the proportion of grade Ⅳ surgeries, and the average length of stay (reciprocally transformed for positive orientation). Results The mean OE of all medical teams showed a continuous upward trend, while the mean SE exhibited a “V-shaped” pattern, initially decreasing and then increasing. The most significant growth was observed in mean TE, which was the primary driver of the OE improvement. All medical teams achieved positive TFP growth, with TC values greater than 1.000 across all teams, indicating that technological innovation was the core engine of efficiency enhancement. However, EC showed a divergent trend among the teams. Conclusion Public hospital performance appraisal policies effectively guide technological upgrading of medical teams through indicators such as “proportion of discharged patients undergoing surgery” and “proportion of grade Ⅳ surgeries”. However, issues of hospital resource mismatch and SE differentiation persist. It is necessary to establish specialized operation groups for dynamic resource monitoring and construct a “technological upgrading, scale adaptation, and management innovation” triangular balanced system to achieve a sustainable mechanism for maximizing healthcare resource input-output.
Great progress has been made in immunotherapy for esophageal squamous cell carcinoma in recent years. However, for thoracic surgeons, immunotherapy is still a new thing and they lack enough experience. Therefore, this paper attempts to discuss some hot issues of immunotherapy, including the indications, side effects, clinical efficacy and evaluation of efficacy. The author hopes that this article will help and attract the attention of thoracic surgeons.
Objective To systematically analyze and compare the research literature of thoracic surgery simulation-based medical education (SBME) at home and abroad, and provide ideas for the future development of thoracic surgery SBME in China. Methods Using word frequency analysis and cluster analysis as analysis methods, CiteSpace visualization software and Excel statistical software as tools, the domestic and foreign SBME literature retrieved from PubMed and CNKI databases were visualized and statistically analyzed respectively. Results A total of 2 491 domestic and foreign literature on SBME in thoracic surgery were included. The annual number of foreign publications showed an increasing trend. The top three countries in terms of number of publications were the USA (n=581), Canada (n=105) and Germany (n=57); "cardiac surgery", "medical knowledge medical knowledge" and "medical education" are the hotspots of research in the direction of thoracic surgery simulation, while "lung cancer", "surgical training" and "3D printing" were still in the process of explosion. The core research themes were endoscope simulation trainer, scenario-based simulation teaching methods, standardized patients and virtual reality models. Conclusion Domestic SBME in thoracic surgery should learn from foreign development experience, keep up with the frontier and integrate cutting-edge technology, innovate the curriculum and offer non-technical skills teaching, and improve the system and focus on software construction.
In order to further regulate the application of 3D reconstruction in thoracic surgery, the Chinese Expert Consensus Group on the Application of Integrated 3D Reconstruction with Artificial Intelligence in Thoracic Surgery conducted discussions and developed this consensus. This consensus is based on the clinical experience and existing prospective or retrospective studies of 3D reconstruction technology in various scenarios of thoracic surgery and summarizes recommendations, and also appends a list of 3D reconstruction technology application scenarios that are currently controversial, not fully studied, or still in the exploratory stage, to provide direction and evidence for future clinical research and disease diagnosis and treatment, and to reach a consensus.
ObjectiveTo investigate the effectiveness and safety of robotic lobectomy in clinical N0 lung malignant tumor≥3 cm. MethodsWe retrospectively analyzed the clinical data of 182 patients with lung malignant tumor≥3 cm receiving robotic or thoracoscopic lobectomy at Shanghai Chest Hospital in 2019. The patients were divided into a robotic surgery group (RATS group) and a thoracoscopic surgery group (VATS group). There were 39 males and 38 females with an average age of 60.55±8.59 years in the RATS group, and 51 males and 54 females with an average age of 61.58±9.30 years in the VATS group. A propensity score matching analysis was applied to compare the operative data between the two groups. ResultsA total of 57 patients were included in each group after the propensity score matching analysis. Patients in the RATS group had more groups of N1 lymph node dissected (2.53±0.83 groups vs. 2.07±0.88 groups, P=0.005) in comparison with the VATS group. No statistical difference was found in operation time, blood loss, postoperative hospital stay, number of N1 and N2 lymph nodes dissected, groups of N2 lymph node dissected, lymph node upstage rate or postoperative complications. The hospitalization cost of RATS was higher than that of VATS (P＜0.001). ConclusionIn contrast with thoracoscopic lobectomy, robotic lobectomy has similar operative safety, and a thorough N1 lymphadenectomy in patients with clinical N0 lung malignant tumor≥3 cm.