Next-generation, mobile-friendly tools can help surgeons assess risk in real-time.
The Society of Thoracic Surgeons (STS) has unveiled two new risk calculators that can optimise preoperative planning and patient discussions in thoracic surgery.
They are designed to guide surgeons with clinical decision-making and patient communications on surgical risk.
The tools draw on the latest data from the STS General Thoracic Surgery Database, offering surgeons real-time, personalised risk estimates for outcomes related to esophagectomy for cancer and pulmonary resection for lung cancer.
The risk calculators, which incorporate patient-specific variables such as comorbidities, tumour attributes, and surgical details, are engineered for ease of use and mobile compatibility.
As inputs are adjusted, surgeons receive dynamic risk estimations, including morbidity and mortality rates accompanied by 95% confidence intervals.
These functionalities aim to support evidence-based decision-making and enhance patient care.
The esophagectomy for cancer risk calculator represents a significant advancement. It is powered by data from 18,503 patients across 254 hospitals from January 2015 to December 2022.
This fourfold increase in sample size compared to prior models yields more nuanced and applicable risk projections.
The calculator now includes critical new factors, such as preoperative cancer staging and body surface area, enhancing its clinical precision.
STS President Jennifer C Romano said: ‘By leveraging a broader and more diverse patient cohort, this calculator elevates the precision of preoperative assessments. Surgeons can now offer patients a clearer picture of potential outcomes, fostering more informed shared decision-making.’
Similarly, the pulmonary resection for lung cancer risk calculator integrates updated data from 140,927 patients at 337 hospitals, reflecting the surgical trends and technologies adopted between 2015 and 2022.
These include the expanded use of minimally invasive and robotic approaches, ensuring relevance to current practice.
Dr Romano said: ‘The pulmonary resection risk calculator stands out for its ability to provide reliable estimates, particularly for patients considered at higher risk. It’s an essential resource for refining clinical strategies and improving postoperative results.
‘These new calculators are part of the STS National Database’s ongoing enhancements, designed to serve the practical needs of surgeons and multidisciplinary care teams.’
Future updates include risk calculators focused on long-term postoperative outcomes, which are planned for release in 2025.
The STS National Database, encompassing almost 10 million cardiothoracic procedures, remains a cornerstone for clinical data and quality improvement.
Surgeons can access the full suite of STS risk calculators for comprehensive planning and superior patient care.
The new online tools are part of a suite of risk calculators for adult cardiac and thoracic surgery.
Access the risk calculators here.
