CHEST Guidelines-Big-Data…Small-Conclusion

Big-Data…Small-Conclusion_chest

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In his editorial published in CHEST, Dr. Sudish C. Murthy reflects on the rapid integration of technological innovations in medicine, specifically within the treatment of resectable non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). He evaluates the effectiveness of robotically assisted surgery (RAS) as a surgical technique compared to traditional methods, namely thoracotomy and video-assisted thoracic surgery (VATS). Veluswamy and colleagues conducted a retrospective study examining the comparative effectiveness of RAS, considering outcomes like complications, stay length, staging quality, and survival rates. While RAS showed promising results, its cost was higher than VATS but comparable to thoracotomy.<br /><br />Dr. Murthy raises concerns about the reliability of the data sets used from 2008 to 2013, highlighting issues such as bias from treatment selection, outdated data, and missing outcome metrics like postoperative air leaks and staging accuracy. He critiques the lack of a detailed evaluation and argues that by now, the necessity of random controlled trials is somewhat redundant given the comparable outcomes and faster recovery times associated with RAS and VATS.<br /><br />Despite acknowledging inaccuracies in the study's data due to their age and revolutionized technological landscapes, Dr. Murthy stresses that ongoing evaluations of RAS are critical as technological advancements continue. He points out the emergence of new robotic surgical systems and the importance of efficiently implementing medical technology.<br /><br />Concluding, Dr. Murthy suggests that while current findings indicate a positive direction in surgical technology's evolution, there remains a significant emphasis on adapting swiftly to change, keeping patient safety and outcomes as a primary focus amidst these developments.

Keywords

technological innovations

non-small cell lung cancer

robotically assisted surgery

thoracotomy

video-assisted thoracic surgery

retrospective study

surgical outcomes

data reliability

robotic surgical systems

medical technology