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Residential Distance to the Cancer Center and Outcomes after Robotic-Assisted Pulmonary Lobectomy
Allison O Dumitriu Carcoana1, Jenna C Marek1, William J West1
1Department of Medical Education, University of South Florida Health Morsani College of Medicine, Tampa, FL, USA.
Surgery in Practice and Science
|January 23, 2025
Summary
Patients traveling longer distances for robotic-assisted pulmonary lobectomy (RAPL) for lung cancer had worse outcomes. Increased travel burden may predict surgical oncology results as cancer care centralizes.
Area of Science:
- Oncology
- Surgical Oncology
- Thoracic Surgery
Background:
- Outcomes for lung cancer patients traveling long distances for surgical care are not well-documented.
- Investigated the impact of travel burden on patients undergoing robotic-assisted pulmonary lobectomy (RAPL) for lung cancer.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the association between travel distance and clinical outcomes in lung cancer patients undergoing RAPL.
- To determine if increased travel burden affects perioperative outcomes and survival.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective analysis of 711 consecutive patients who underwent RAPL.
- Patients were stratified based on residential distance from the cancer center (<160 km vs. ≥160 km).
- Compared clinical characteristics, perioperative outcomes, and survival between the two groups.
Main Results:
- No significant differences in comorbidity or tumor characteristics were observed between groups.
- Patients traveling ≥160 km had more unfavorable perioperative outcomes and postoperative complications.
- A trend towards worse median survival (1.68 years longer) was noted in the distant travel group, but it was not statistically significant.
Conclusions:
- Increased travel burden is associated with poorer surgical oncology outcomes in lung cancer patients.
- Travel distance may be a significant factor influencing patient results in the context of centralized cancer care.
