Optimal Lung Resection Therapy Varies by Surgeon Specialty

Major Finding: The in-hospital mortality rates for lung cancer resections performed by thoracic, cardiac, and general surgeons were 2.3%, 3.4%, and 4.0%, respectively. Thoracic surgeons performed lymphadenectomy significantly more often than did their counterparts (73% vs. 55% for both cardiac and general surgeons).

Data Source: A review of 222,233 primary lung cancer cases from the Nationwide Inpatient Sample from 1998 to 2007 that were treated surgically.

Disclosures: Dr. Ellis said that she had no relevant financial conflicts to disclose.