Surgery-related outcomes from a close-knit surgeons' team in thoracic oncology

Reducing morbidity, length of hospital stay, and readmission rate are of paramount importance to improve patients' care. In the present paper, we aim to describe our experience in managing major oncologic thoracic surgery in clinical practice. This is a retrospective experience over the last 7 years. Data from 215 consecutive patients (performed by a single-team of two surgeon) undergoing thoracic surgery were reviewed and evaluated. The total hospital mean stay was 3,3 days. Complications were represented by 4 hemothorax, 1 pleural empyema without fistula, 3 arrhythmias (atrial fibrillation), 2 pnuemonias and 1 chylotorax. No 30-day severe surgery-related complication occurred, no mortality. In 169 Vats procedures, no convertion was necessary. We conclude that a united team work represented by two close-knit surgeons, with similar clinical background, propensity to share problems, no competitive behavior, allow to do faster surgery, to standardize the procedure improving the post-operative outcomes of cancer patients.