"Tissue Handling" in Thoracic Surgery - Results of a Delphi Expert Consensus Conference of the German Society for Thoracic Surgery

Abstract

The aim of this working group of the German Society for Thoracic Surgery (DGT) was to develop an expert consensus based on the Delphi method to define "tissue handling" and depict intraoperative handling of specific anatomical structures during thoracic surgery. Invited experts (thoracic surgery specialists; n = 93) completed two consecutive rounds of electronic Delphi questions on four main topics: transection of lung parenchyma, dissection/separation of pulmonary vessels, angioplasty/vascular anastomoses, and bronchus settling closure/plasty/anastomosis. Consensus was set at ≥ 75% agreement. At the subsequent expert conference, the results of the Delphi surveys were discussed and TED voting was used to try to reach consensus. In each case, 66 (71%) answers were given in the first round of questions and 33 (35%) in the second round. Disputed questions were evaluated again by a final vote at the expert conference (54 participants; average participation 55%). The term "tissue handling" includes all procedures for dissection, transection, sealing, and reconstruction of various autologous tissues in the context of thoracic surgery (100% consensus). Similarly, the term "angioplasty expansion" was defined with a 97% consensus. Consensus was reached mainly for the technique of transecting the lung parenchyma using stapling suture devices, the recommendation of covering anastomoses as well as bronchial stump after pretreatment (> 75%). This expert consensus describes for the first time the concept of tissue handling in thoracic surgery. Furthermore, this Delphi process led to a comprehensive current inventory of different intraoperative procedures in German thoracic surgery with derived consensual recommendations for tissue handling of lung parenchyma, vessels and bronchial structures.