The articles in this issue address psychosocial and quality of life concerns for patients who have undergone thoracic surgery. Topics include changes in quality of life after pulmonary resection; impact of minimally invasive thoracic surgery on quality of life; psychosocial aspects of lung transplantation; and physical, cognitive and emotional dysfunctions resulting from intensive care.

In this issue of Thoracic Surgery Clinics, Guest Editor Cherie Erkmen brings considerable expertise to the topic of social disparities in thoracic surgery. Top experts in the field cover key topics such as social disparities in lung cancer, population health, esophageal cancer, benign lung diseases, and more. Provides in-depth, clinical reviews on social disparities in thoracic surgery, providing actionable insights for clinical practice. Presents the latest information on this timely, focused topic under the leadership of experienced editors in the field; Authors synthesize and distill the latest research and practice guidelines to create these timely topic-based reviews. Contains 12 relevant, practice-oriented topics including Social Disparities Database and Big Data; Health Disparities in Recruitment and Enrollment in Research; Social Disparities in Lung Cancer Risk and Screening; and more.

This issue of Thoracic Surgery Clinics, guest edited by Drs. Virginia R. Litle and Robert J. Canelli, is devoted to Peri-operative Management of the Thoracic Patient. Drs. Litle and Canelli have assembled expert authors to review the following topics: Preoperative Evaluation of Patients Undergoing Thoracic Surgery; Prehab of the Thoracic Patient; Enhanced Recovery after Thoracic Surgery; Surgical Approaches for Esophagectomy: Open, Minimally Invasive, Robotic. What is the Approach Algorithm?; Intraoperative Anesthetic Management of the Thoracic Surgery Patient; Intraoperative Surgical and Anesthetic Concerns for Robotic Approach to the Thoracic Surgery Patient; Prevention of Postoperative Prolonged Air-leak after Pulmonary Resection; Intraoperative Pre-emptive Prevention of Esophagectomy Complications: Role of Feeding Tubes, Pyloric Drainage Procedures, Anastomotic Buttressing; Interventional Pulmonology: A Brave New World; Pain Management in Thoracic Surgery; Management of Complications after Lung Resections; Management of complications after esophagectomy; and more!

This issue of Thoracic Surgery Clinics, guest edited by Dr. Felix Fernandez, is devoted to Quality in Thoracic Surgery. Dr. Fernandez has assembled expert authors to review the following topics: Risk adjustment and performance measurement for lung cancer resection; Risk adjustment and performance measurement for esophageal cancer resection; Oncologic quality indicators in thoracic surgery; National Quality Forum metrics for thoracic surgery; Volume outcome relationships in thoracic surgery; Failure to rescue in thoracic surgery; Quality and cost in thoracic surgery; Patient reported outcomes in thoracic surgery; Database audit in thoracic surgery; European Society of Thoracic Surgeons risk score; International database collaboration in thoracic surgery; Hospital readmissions following thoracic surgery; and more!

In this issue of Thoracic Surgery Clinics, guest editor Dr. Gita Mody brings her considerable expertise to the topic of Global Thoracic Surgery. An all-new topic to Thoracic Surgery Clinics, global thoracic surgery is an essential component of public and global health. In this issue, top experts provide timely insights on training, anesthesia, pathology, radiology, techniques, and surgical management of common thoracic surgeries throughout low-middle income countries (LMICs). Contains 14 relevant, practice-oriented topics including esophageal cancer treatment globally; lung cancer management in LMICs; endoscopy and bronchoscopy in low-resource settings; surgical capacity building for low-resource settings; training general thoracic surgeons in LMICs; and more. Provides in-depth clinical reviews on global thoracic surgery, offering actionable insights for clinical practice. Presents the latest information on this timely, focused topic under the leadership of experienced editors in the field. Authors synthesize and distill the latest research and practice guidelines to create clinically significant, topic-based reviews.

This issue of Thoracic Surgery Clinics of North America, guest edited by Dr. Sharon Ben-Or, is devoted to Thoracic Surgery in the Special Care Patient. Dr. Ben-Or has assembled expert authors to review the following topics: Thoracic surgery in the pregnant patient; Thoracic surgery in early stage small cell lung cancer; Lung cancer in the post transplant / immunosuppressed patient; The postpneumonectomy patient; Thoracic surgery considerations in the obese patient; Thoracic surgery considerations in the pediatric patient; Esophagectomy after weight reduction surgery; Thoracic surgery considerations in the mentally ill or handicapped patient; Lung cancer with concomitant cardiac disease; Malignant pleural effusion and the trapped lung; Empyema from an obstructing lung cancer; Synchronous esophageal and lung cancer; Thoracic surgery considerations in the AIDS patient; and more!

Medical Management of the Thoracic Surgery Patient, by Michael I. Lewis, MD and Robert J. McKenna, Jr., MD, is a comprehensive pulmonary and thoracic reference that takes a practical approach to the diagnosis, workup and care of the thoracic surgery patient. It is geared towards pulmonary and critical care physicians and their trainees as well as all other specialties with whom thoracic surgeons consult and interact. It outlines the principles for understanding the underlying disease entities as well as the clinical implications and complications of surgery, and interprets key surgical concepts such as correlative and functional anatomy for non-surgeons. Contributions from today’s authorities...“at-a-glance detailed key information, as well as summary bullets...and a multidisciplinary perspective, combine to offer essential guidance for confident patient management. As an Expert Consult title it includes convenient online access to the complete contents of the book—fully searchable—along with video clips of thoracic procedures, patient information sheets, all of the images downloadable for your personal use, and references linked to Medline at www.expertconsult.com. Includes access to a companion website at expertconsult.com where you can search the complete contents of the book, watch video clips of thoracic procedures, print out patient information sheets, download all of the images, and review references linked to Medline...providing you with a powerful resource for convenient consultation anytime, anywhere. Features ‘real world’ illustrative cases presented in a brief, bulleted format that facilitates easy access to and retention of the material. Examines every aspect of diagnosis and management for pre-, peri-, and postoperative care for an all-encompassing reference to respond to unique surgical problems. Provides coverage of individual topics supplemented by a brief case-based presentation, where appropriate, that lend a real-life perspective to the material. Contains all of the “need-to-know facts for a complete, thorough consultation in diagnosis and treatment of patients who undergo thoracic surgery. Offers practical information that utilizes the experience of today’s leaders while based on evidence in the literature for coverage you can trust. Examines current clinical controversies, providing you with an arena for discussion of sensitive topics and guidance on preferred approaches when relevant. Presents pearls, pitfalls, key points, and other learning elements in each chapter, to help you locate summaries of essential information “at-a-glance. Features chapters written by specialists of various disciplines, to equip you with a balanced perspective on each condition.