The application of inpatient electronic medical records (EMRs) is a crucial component of modern healthcare informatization, and also a key factor in improving medical quality and safety. Establishing standardized EMRs for thoracic surgery helps to standardize treatment processes, improve medical efficiency, enhance quality of care, and better ensure patient safety. It also facilitates the collection and use of standardized and structured data, promoting clinical decision-making, the application of artificial intelligence, and the development of specialized clinical centers. Considering relevant national policies, information standards, clinical practice challenges and latest research findings in thoracic surgery EMRs, Chinese Association of Thoracic Surgeons, Cross-Strait Medicine Exchange Association’s Thoracic Surgery Professional Committee, WU Jieping Medical Foundation’s Lung Cancer Professional Committee, Zhejiang Provincial Thoracic Surgeons Associations and Fujian Provincial Thoracic Surgeons Associations have explored innovative paths for EMRs development. Through multiple rounds of professional discussions and research, the "Chinese expert consensus on quality control and management of electronic medical records for thoracic surgery (2024 version)" was formulated. It aims to provide a reference for the construction and application of inpatient EMRs for thoracic surgeons and information professionals across China, promoting continuous improvement in the informatization and medical standards of the thoracic surgery field, and contributing to the construction of "healthy China".
The increasing number of pulmonary nodules being detected by computed tomography scans significantly increase the workload of the radiologists for scan interpretation. Limitations of traditional methods for differential diagnosis of pulmonary nodules have been increasingly prominent. Artificial intelligence (AI) has the potential to increase the efficiency of discrimination and invasiveness classification for pulmonary nodules and lead to effective nodule management. Chinese Experts Consensus on Artificial Intelligence Assisted Management for Pulmonary Nodule (2022 Version) has been officially released recently. This article closely follows the context, significance, core implications, and the impact of future AI-assisted management on the diagnosis and treatment of pulmonary nodules. It is hoped that through our joint efforts, we can promote the standardization of management for pulmonary nodules and strive to improve the long-term survival and postoperative life quality of patients with lung cancer.
This consensus aims to introduce the applications of 4K high-definition technology and fluorescence technology in thoracic surgery, summarize and categorize the technical support for pulmonary segment surgery, and innovatively propose technical support for precise sleeve resection of pulmonary segments. It provides a reference for clinical use, points out the direction for the research and innovation of domestically produced high-end endoscopes, promotes the widespread application of excellent domestically produced medical endoscopes, and facilitates the development of domestically produced medical equipment.
Based on the current situation of patients with retinal diseases in China and the clear requirements of the "14th Five-Year Plan for Eye Health (2021-2025)" to strengthen the construction of the prevention and control system for retinal diseases, experts in the field of retinal diseases in China have conducted in-depth and comprehensive thematic discussions, and used the modified Delphi method for collective decision-making and opinion solicitation, ultimately forming consensus and consistent guidance suggestions for the management of chronic diseases of retinal diseases that are in line with China's national conditions. This consensus includes key content such as definitions, treatment plans, and follow-up frequency for the management of chronic diseases of the fundus. It clearly proposes relevant measures to improve the management process of chronic diseases of the fundus, and elaborates on the advantages and feasibility of establishing an online remote platform for the management of chronic diseases of the fundus, in order to assist doctors in formulating personalized treatment plans and ensure that patients receive standardized treatment and follow-up. This consensus will provide guidance and reference for the management of chronic diseases and long-term standardized diagnosis and treatment of major fundus diseases in China.
The incidence of perioperative sleep disorders in patients with cervical spondylosis is high, which affects the physiological and psychological rehabilitation effect of patients after surgery. The expert consensus (preliminary draft) was prepared by summarizing expert experience and recommendations. After expert review and revision, the consensus was formed. The consensus was developed based on existing evidence-based medical evidence and expert clinical experience, which is scientific and practical and can provide a basis for clinical medical personnel to prevent and treat perioperative sleep disorders in patients with cervical spondylosis.
Resection is crucial for treating non-small cell lung cancer. Routine follow-up after surgery is an effective method for early detection and treatment of tumor recurrence and metastasis or the second primary tumor, which can improve the quality of life of patients and their prognosis. This consensus aims to provide a reference for colleagues responsible for postoperative follow-up of non-small cell lung cancer patients in China, and further improve the standardization of lung cancer diagnosis and treatment.
The subtype of lung cancer that presents as subsolid nodules on imaging exhibits unique biological behavior and favorable prognosis. Recently, the American Association for Thoracic Surgery (AATS) issued "The 2023 American Associationfor Thoracic Surgery (AATS) expert consensus document: Management of subsolid lung nodules". This consensus, based on the latest literature and current clinical experience, proposes updated strategies for managing subsolid nodules. It emphasizes the correlation between imaging findings and pathological classification, individualized follow-up and surgical management strategies for subsolid nodules, and multimodal treatment approaches for multiple subsolid pulmonary nodules.
Mediastinal and chest wall tumors contain various benign and malignant tumors. In order to further standardize the whole-course diagnosis and treatment of mediastinal and chest wall tumors, the consensus was formulated through discussion by the expert group. Based on the clinical diagnosis and treatment experience and various prospective and retrospective studies, the consensus was formed.
Surgical resection is the only radical method for the treatment of early-stage non-small cell lung cancer. Intraoperative frozen section (FS) has the advantages of high accuracy, wide applicability, few complications and real-time diagnosis of pulmonary nodules. It is one of the main means to guide surgical strategies for pulmonary nodules. Therefore, we searched PubMed, Web of Science, CNKI, Wanfang and other databases for nearly 30 years of relevant literature and research data, held 3 conferences, and formulated this consensus by using the Delphi method. A total of 6 consensus contents were proposed: (1) Rapid intraoperative FS diagnosis of benign and malignant diseases; (2) Diagnosis of lung cancer types including adenocarcinoma, squamous cell carcinoma, others, etc; (3) Diagnosis of lung adenocarcinoma infiltration degree; (4) Histological subtype diagnosis of invasive adenocarcinoma; (5) The treatment strategy of lung adenocarcinoma with inconsistent diagnosis on degree of invasion between intraoperative FS and postoperative paraffin diagnosis; (6) Intraoperative FS diagnosis of tumor spread through air space, visceral pleural invasion and lymphovascular invasion. Finally, we gave 11 recommendations in the above 6 consensus contents to provide a reference for diagnosis of pulmonary nodules and guiding surgical decision-making for peripheral non-small cell lung cancer using FS, and to further improve the level of individualized and precise diagnosis and treatment of early-stage lung cancer.
In recent years, the detection rate of multiple primary lung cancers has been increasing year by year. However, there existed discrepance in cognition and treatment modalities for multiple primary early lung cancers among different physicians, which affects the standardized treatment for early-stage multiple primary lung cancers. Therefore, based on a thorough review of domestic and foreign literature, our team proposes this expert consensus focusing on the treatment of early-stage multiple primary lung cancers in China, aiming at providing reference for physicians in early-stage multiple primary lung cancers' treatment and further improving the level of standardized diagnosis and therapy of lung cancer in China.