The ESTS-AIR database-initial results of a multi-institutional database on airway surgery

Area of Science:

• Thoracic Surgery
• Airway Surgery
• Database Development

Background:

• Airway procedures are rare in thoracic surgery, with limited large-scale data.
• Dedicated European airway centers collaborate, often serving as referral hubs.
• Existing evidence primarily stems from retrospective, single-center analyses.

Purpose of the Study:

• To establish a multi-institutional airway database (ESTS-AIR) within the European Society of Thoracic Surgeons (ESTS) framework.
• To conduct a pilot phase and initial descriptive analysis of airway surgery cases.
• To assess the feasibility and functionality of a centralized airway surgery database.

Main Methods:

• Formation of the ESTS-AIR initiative in 2018.
• Pilot testing of the database by five dedicated European airway centers.
• Descriptive analysis of the first cohort of cases entered into the ESTS-AIR database.

Main Results:

• Analysis included 415 cases from dedicated European airway centers.
• Common indications included post-tracheostomy and idiopathic subglottic stenosis in adults, and post-intubation stenosis in children.
• Malignant indications involved longer resections than benign ones; complication rates were low, with wound infection being most common.

Conclusions:

• The ESTS-AIR database evaluation demonstrates successful large-scale analysis of European airway surgery practices.
• The database proves functional and provides a foundation for broader implementation.
• This initiative supports the expansion of the AIR subsection to all ESTS database participants.