Difficult Decisions in Thoracic Surgery

Part 1:Background.- Introduction.- Evidence-based medicine: levels of evidence and evaluation systems.- Decision analytic techniques.- Decision making:the surgeon's perspective.- Decision making - the patient's perspective.- Part 2: Lung.- PET for Mediastinal Restaging of Patients with Non Small Cell Lung Cancer after Induction Therapy.- Optimal Initial Pathologic Mediastinal Staging of Lung Cancer: EUS, EBUS, Mediastinoscopy.- VATS vs. Open Lobectomy for Early Stage Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer.- N2 Disease Discovered at Thoracotomy: Resect or Abort?.- Pulmonary Function Alterations After Induction Therapy for Lung Cancer: Preoperative Considerations.- Lobectomy After Induction Therapy for Stage IIIA NSCLC in the Presence of Persistent N2 Disease.- Pneumonectomy After Induction Therapy for Stage IIIA non-small-cell Lung Cancer.- Segmentectomy Versus Lobectomy for Stage I Lung Cancer in Patients with Good Pulmonary Function.- Optimal Therapy for Patients with Marginal Lung Function and Peripheral Stage I Lung Cancer.- VATS versus Thoracotomy for Major Lung Resection After Induction Therapy.- Chest Tube Management after Lung Resection.- Management of the Pleural Space Early After Pneumonectomy.- Perioperative Prophylaxis Against Venous Thrombo-Embolism in Major Lung Resection.- Perioperative Arrhythmia Prophylaxis for Major Lung Resection.- For Whom Is Lung Volume Reduction Surgery Effective?.- Support Therapy for Lung Failure.- Part 3: Esophagus.- Optimal Management of Barrett Esophagus with High Grade Dysplasia.- Induction Therapy for Resectable Esophageal Cancer.- Optimal Surgical Approach to Esophagectomy for Cancer.- Extent of Lymph Node Dissection in Esophageal Cancer.- Salvage Esophagectomy for Persistent Disease After Definitive Chemoradiotherapy.- Barrett Mucosa in the Cervical Remnant After Esophagectomy for Cancer.- Partial or Total Fundoplication for GERD in the Presence of Impaired Esophageal Motility.- Surgical management of Non-acidReflux Unresponsive to Medical Therapy.- Prophylactic Antireflux Surgery in Lung Transplantation.- Optimal Initial Therapy for Achalasia.- Stenting for Esophageal Perforation and Anastomotic Leak.- Lengthening Gastroplasty for Managing GERD and Giant Paraesophageal Hernia.- Optimal Therapy for Cricopharyngeal Diverticula.- Management of Distal Esophageal Pulsion Diverticula.- Part 4: Diaphragm.- Giant Paraesophageal Hernia: Optimal Surgical Approach.- Diaphragm Pacing for Acute Respiratory Failure.- Synthetic Reinforcement of Diaphragm Closure for Large Hiatal Hernia Repair.- Part 5: Airway.- Stents for Benign Airway Obstruction.- Tracheal Reconstruction with Autologous and Engineered Tissues.- Optimal Management of Malacic Airway Syndromes.- Carinal Resection for Cancer.- Use of Sealants to Reduce Air Leak Duration and Hospital Stay after Lung Resection.- Optimal Initial Therapy for Pleural Empyema.- Management of Malignant Pleural Effusion: Sclerosis or Chronic Tube Drainage.- The role of VATS Pleurodesis in the Management of Initial Primary Spontaneous Pneumothorax.- Malignant Pleural Mesothelioma: Patient Selection for Pleurectomy.- Malignant Pleural Mesothelioma - Patient Selection for Extrapleural Pneumonectomy.- Thymectomy for Myathenias Gravis.- Optimal Surgical Approach and Extent of Resection of the Thymus in Patients with Myasthenia Gravis.- The Optimal Approach for Resection of Encapsulated Thymoma: Open vs. VATS.- Management of Residual Disease After Therapy for Mediastinal Germ Cell Tumor and Normal Serum Markers.- Symptomatic Malignant Pericardial Effusion: Surgical or Percutaneous Drainage?.- Bronchogenic and Pericardial Cysts: Resect or Observe.- Patient Selection and Optimal Extent of Surgery for Hyperhidrosis .- Pectus Excavatum in the Adult: Current Treatment Modalities.- Traumatic Rib Fracture: Conservative Therapy or Surgical Fixation?.