Diss. (sammanfattning) Uppsala : Uppsala universitet, 2009.

Methods of non-invasive vascular imaging of thoracic vessels are briefly introducted in the first part of the thesis. Benefits and limitations of CT angiography and MR angiography of the thoracic aorta, pulmonary vessels, great thoracic veins and cardiac vessels are discussed. The main part of the thesis is concerning to pulmonary veins imaging in cohort of patients with atrial fibrilation, who underwent radiofrequency ablation of the pulmonary veins. Aim of the study was to confirm the CT angiography as suitable method of pulmonary veins imaging, to find out frequency of atypical pulmonary veins anatomic arrangement and to measure pulmonary veins diameter in our cohort, including comparison between both sexes. The main purpose of the study was to compare the diameter of pumonary veins before and after the radiofrequency ablation and discover frequency and severity of iatrogenic pulmonary vein stenoses after the procedure. The group of patients planned for biventricular stimulation implantation is presented finally. CT angiography of coronary sinus and his branches was performed before the procedure. Aim of this work was to evaluate whether the CT angiography is proper method for cardiac venous system visualisation and wheather is it possible to choose patients suitable for implantation of left ventricle...

Orientadores: Ivan Felizardo Contrera Toro, Alfio Jose Tincani / Dissertação (mestrado) - Universidade Estadual de Campinas, Faculdade de Ciencias Medicas / Made available in DSpace on 2018-08-06T13:36:41Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Lima_AlexandreGarciade_M.pdf: 2087183 bytes, checksum: 6fd6e6333b62539a3a77fcbbb6cd91a8 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2006 / Resumo: O Atendimento Médico Pré-hospitalar tem ganho atenção e estímulo no Brasil nos últimos anos, e com o crescimento desta nova área de atuação médica, surgiram novos problemas a serem resolvidos. Um desses problemas é a drenagem pleural tubular fechada, pois o mecanismo de fluxo unidirecional mais comumente usado, o selo de água, é inseguro e pouco prático para o atendimento pré-hospitalar. Objetivos: Testar a eficiência e a segurança do DVU - Dispositivo de Válvula Unidirecional, para a substituição do selo de água na drenagem pleural tubular fechada em ambiente pré-hospitalar, através de parâmetros clínicos. Material e método: Foram utilizados 22 DVU em 21 doentes no período de tempo compreendido entre maio de 2002 e maio de 2004. Todos doentes foram atendidos pelo autor e por ele submetidos à colocação do DVU, vítimas de traumatismo torácico, penetrante ou fechado, ou com pneumotórax espontâneo com repercussão clínica. Resultados: Dezesseis (72,7%) ferimentos penetrantes da caixa torácica, três (13,6%) ferimentos torácicos fechados e três (13,6%) pneumotórax espontâneos foram incluidos no estudo. Houve melhora dos parâmetros aferidos como pressão arterial, freqüências cardíaca e respiratória e da propedêutica pleuro-pulmonar (ausculta e percussão torácicas); o débito de líquidos através da válvula foi em média de 700 ± 87,4 ml (variando de zero a 1500 ml). Houve duas falhas mecânicas, sendo em um caso possível a substituição do mecanismo defeituoso por outro funcionante e em outro caso a substituição do DVU pelo selo de água. Discussão: A drenagem pleural no ambiente pré-hospitalar é fator de discussão quanto às indicações, técnicas e dispositivos de fluxo unidirecional. A literatura internacional tem dado grande importância à drenagem pré-hospitalar, como fator de estabilização de doentes instáveis, além de outras medidas de suporte, com melhora da sobrevida, diminuição de morbidade e de tempo de internação. A divulgação de dispositivos de substituição do selo de água no Brasil faz-se necessária, devido à baixa disponibilidade de similares no mercado nacional. Conclusão: concluiu-se que o DVU é útil, seguro e bem aceito pelas equipes de atendimento hospitalar e pré-hospitalar, além de ser uma alternativa nacional, menos dispendiosa e mais acessível dos que os similares importados / Abstract: Prehospital medical service in Brazil has been attracting attention in the past years. With the expansion of this new field of medical service new problems have arisen to be solved. One of these problems is the closed pleural drainage. This is because the unidirectional flux mechanism commonly used, the underwater seal, is unsafe and not user friendly in the prehospital set. Objectives: test the efficiency and safety of the DVU (unidirectional valve) to replace the water seal for closed pleural drainage in the prehospital environment, through clinical parameters. Material and method: 22 DVU were used in 21 patients from may 2002 and may 2004. All patients were attended by the author who undertake the pleural drainage with the valve, victims of thoracic traumatism, closed or penetrating, or with spontaneous pneumothorax with clinical repercussion. Results: Sixteen (72,7%) penetrating injuries of the chest, three (13,6%) closed thoracic injuries and three (13,6%) spontaneous pneumothorax were included in this study. An improvement in the observed parameters was registered, such as arterial blood pressure, cardiac and respiratory frequency, as well as the pulmonary propedeutics (auscultation and thoracic percussion); the liquid outflow of the valve was 700 ± 87,4 ml (ranging from zero to 1500 ml). Two mechanical failures were registered one of which the drainage system was replaced by a new one and the other the DVU was replaced by a underwater seal. Discussion: The prehospital pleural drainage is a matter of debate in regard to indications, techniques and unidirectional flux systems. The international literature given great importance to the prehospital drainage, as a factor of stabilizing patients, besides other support measures, increasing overall survival, decreasing morbidity and hospital stay. The divulgation of means that replace the underwater seal in Brazil is of extreme importance, due to the low availability of similar systems in the national market. Conclusions: It was concluded that the DVU is useful, safe and well accepted by the prehospital set, in addition, it is a national alternative, less costly and more accessible that its international similar systems / Mestrado / Cirurgia / Mestre em Cirurgia

Sabe-se que o sistema imune, através de um fenômeno denominado imunossenescência, gradativamente diminui a sua capacidade de resposta durante a vida. Este fato pode tornar o indivíduo mais suscetível a infecções e outras patologias. Neste contexto, seria útil procurar por fatores que alterassem esta evolução natural, principalmente os capazes de acelerar este processo. Por esta razão, nós procuramos por diferenças nos parâmetros imunológicos entre o antes e o depois da cirurgia de valva cardíaca em idosos com mais de 65 anos. Nossos resultados não apontaram, no pós-operatório, para uma diminuição da capacidade imune, uma vez que os testes cutâneos de hipersensibilidade para o PPD, tricofitina e candidina não se alteraram. Quando a resposta linfoproliferativa foi avaliada in vitro, também não apresentou diferença. Por outro lado, nós observamos um aumento na porcentagem de células T CD3 +, T CD4 + e monócitos no sangue periférico, quando comparamos os períodos. Sendo que os marcadores de ativação cellular CD25 +, CD69 + e o CD95 também se apresentaram elevados. Quanto a secreção de citocinas, nossos resultados apontam para um amento de IL-4 e IL-8. Inversamente, concentrações reduzidas de IL-2, IL-12 e IFN- foram detectadas no sobrenadante de PBMCs quando estimuladas in vitro. Em suma, nossos dados demonstram que a cirurgia de valva cardiaca é capaz de alterar vários parâmetros da resposta immune, com um aumenrto da porcentagem de células, quanto da expressão de marcadores de ativação celular e secreção de citocinas / It is known that the immune system, through a phenomenon called immunosenescence, undergoes functional changes during life which may culminate in a diminished capacity of response, turning the subject more susceptible to infections and other pathologies. In this context, it is useful to search for factors that alter this natural evolution, mainly able to delay this process. For this reason, we assessed different immunologic parameters before and after cardiac valve surgery in 65 year-old patients. Our results did not point to a postoperative immunedeficiency-like state, once that the cutaneous tests to PPD, candidin and tricophytin remained positive for most of the subjects. When the proliferative response was assessed in vitro, there were also no differences. On the other hand, we observed a post-surgical increase in the percentage of T CD3 +, T CD4 + cells and in monocytes from peripheral blood when we compare both periods. Moreover, it is important to highlight that activation markers, such as CD25, CD69 and CD95 were also presented in higher levels. According to the cytokine secretion, our results appointed to a greater secretion of IL-4 and IL-8 postoperative. Conversely, reduced concentrations of IL-2, IL-12 and IFN- were detected in supernatant of PBMCs when stimulated in vitro. In summary, our data reveal that the cardiac valve surgery with extra corporeal procedure and anesthesia is able to alter several parameters of the immune response, with an increased percentage of the major assessed cells, as well as in the expression of activation markers and cytokine secretion

A cirurgia de revascularização do miocárdio (CRVM) é um procedimento indicado para pacientes com angina pectoris não controlada com o tratamento clínico e para pacientes com elevado grau de obstrução das artérias principais. A cirurgia visa a melhorar a qualidade de vida relacionada à saúde (QVRS) dos pacientes, aliviar os sintomas da angina e aumentar a sobrevida, sobretudo dos pacientes de maior risco. No contexto do paciente coronariopata, a depressão tem sido relacionada como um preditor de pior QVRS, enquanto o senso de coerência (SC) tem sido associado a melhor QVRS e menor depressão. Objetivos: Avaliar a QVRS, depressão e SC, antes e seis meses após a CRVM e investigar as associações entre essas variáveis. Casuística e método: Estudo observacional e prospectivo, realizado em um hospital-escola no interior do Estado de São Paulo, desenvolvido entre os meses de setembro de 2006 e abril de 2008. A amostra foi constituída por 54 pacientes que fizeram parte das duas avaliações. Foram utilizados três instrumentos de medida: para avaliação da QVRS, o Medical Outcomes Study 36 - item Short-Form (SF-36), para a depressão, o Inventário de Depressão de Beck (IDB) e para o SC, o Questionário de Senso de Coerência de Antonovsky de 29 itens (QSCA). Os dados foram coletados por meio de entrevistas. Posteriormente, foram sumarizados por meio de estatística descritiva e analisados pelo teste de correlação de Pearson e teste t. A análise de regressão hierárquica foi realizada para verificar as associações entre a depressão, seis meses após a cirurgia, o sexo, idade, depressão préoperatória e SC, as quais se mostraram estatisticamente significantes nas análises bivariadas. O nível de significância adotado foi 0,05. Resultados: Os participantes eram, predominantemente, do sexo masculino, casados e com baixo nível de escolaridade. As médias obtidas, nos oito domínios do SF-36, foram maiores na segunda avaliação, quando comparadas ao pré-operatório, sendo as diferenças estatisticamente significantes. A medida de depressão foi maior antes do que após cirurgia (p=0,01) e não houve alteração na medida do SC (p=0,51). No préoperatório, as mulheres apresentaram menor avaliação da QVRS nos componentes do SF-36, exceto para Aspectos emocionais (p=0,68). A idade apresentou correlação moderada e positiva com o Estado geral de saúde (r=0,342, p=0,01) e com o SC (r=314, p=0,02), enquanto que moderada e negativa com a medida de depressão (r= -0,307, p=0,02). Após seis meses, os homens apresentaram melhor avaliação em todos os componentes do SF-36, sendo essa diferença estatisticamente significativa para Aspectos físicos (p=0,04), Dor (p=0,02), Estado geral de saúde (p=0,01) e Vitalidade (p=0,04). A idade demonstrou correlação positiva e forte com Estado geral de saúde (r=570, p=0,00) e moderada com Saúde mental (r=0,388, p=0,00). Para testar se a presença de depressão, seis meses após a cirurgia, associava-se com a depressão existente no pré-operatório, bem como com as variáveis sexo e idade, foi realizada regressão linear hierárquica cujo resultado mostrou que 49% da variância da medida de depressão, seis meses após a cirurgia, era explicada por essas variáveis. Com a inclusão da medida de SC no modelo constatou-se que essa variável explicou sozinha 18,7% da variância da medida de depressão, após o ajuste das demais variáveis. Conclusão: A QVRS melhora seis meses após a CRVM, assim como há diminuição da depressão, enquanto o SC não apresentou alteração, confirmando a estabilidade do constructo. Após o ajuste no modelo de regressão para as variáveis: sexo, idade e depressão no pré-operatório, o SC explica 18,7% da depressão pós-operatória, resultado importante em se tratando de uma variável psicossocial. / The myocardial revascularization surgery (MRS) is a recommended procedure for patients who suffer from angina pectoris which is not controlled under clinical treatment and for patients who have an elevated degree of obstruction of the main coronary arteries. The surgery aims at improving patients health-related quality of life, alleviating the symptoms of the angina and increasing their survival period, particularly of those at greater risk. As to the coronaropathy in patients, depression has been related to a predictor for worse HRQL, whereas the sense of coherence (SC) has been associated with a better HRQL and lower depression. Objectives: To evaluate the HRQL, depression and SC before MRS and six months after it and to investigate the associations among these variables. Casuistics and method: A prospective and observational study, which was carried out at a hospital school in the countryside of the State of São Paulo and developed between September 2006 and April 2008. The sample was constituted of 54 patients who took part in the two evaluations. Three instruments of measurement were utilized: to evaluate HRQL, the Medical Outcomes Study 36 - item Short-Form (SF-36), towards depression, the Beck Depression Inventary (BDI) and regarding SC, the Questionnaire of Sense of Coherence by Antonovsky of 29 items (QSCA). The data were collected by means of interviews. Later, they were summarized through descriptive statistics and analysed by our using the test of correlation by Peterson and the t test. The analysis of hierarchical regression was carried out to verify the associations among the depression, six months after the surgery, sex, age, pre-operatory depression and SC, which were shown to be statistically significant in the bivariate analyses. The adopted level of significance was 0,05. Results: The participants were predominantly male, married and had a low level of instruction. The averages obtained, in the eight domains of SF-36, were higher in the second evaluation when compared to the preoperatory period, being such differences statistically significant. The measurement of depression was higher before than after the surgery (p=0,01) and there was no alteration in the measurement of SC (p=0,51). In the pre-operatory period, women presented a lower evaluation of HRQL in the components of SF-36, except towards Emotional aspects (p=0,68). Age presented moderate and positive correlation towards the General state of health (r=0,342, p=0,01) and with the SC (r=314, p=0,02), whereas a moderate and negative one regarding the measurement of depression (r= -0,307, p=0,02). After six months, men showed a better evaluation in all the components of SF-36, being such a difference statistically significant towards Physical aspects (p=0,04), Pain (p=0,02), General state of health (p=0,01) and Vitality (p=0,04). Age demonstrated to have a strong and positive correlation with the General state of health (r=570, p=0,00) and a moderate one with Mental health (r=0,388, p=0,00). To test if the presence of depression, six months after the surgery, was associated with the existent pre-operatory depression, as well as with the variables sex and age, hierarchical linear regression was carried out whose result revealed that 49% of the variance of the measurement of depression, six months after the surgery, was explained by such variables. With the inclusion of SC measurement in the model, it was stated that this variable explained 18,7% of the variance of the measurement of depression by itself, after the adjustment of the other variables. Conclusion: The HRQL improves after six months of the MRS, depression diminishes, whereas the SC did not show any alteration, confirming the stability of the construct. After the adjustment in the model of regression towards the variables: sex, age and depression in the pre-operatory period, SC explains 18,7% of postoperatory depression, an important result regarding it is a psychosocial variable.

O objetivo deste estudo foi investigar os efeitos do hipotiroidismo experimental sobre o leito vascular da aorta torácica. Para a análise histológica foram realizadas colorações de hematoxilina-eosina, picrosirius e Weigert. Na análise de expressão proteica, foram realizadas as quantificações para colágeno I e III, elastina, MMP-9 e MMP-2, TIMP-1 e TIMP-2. As análises histológicas demonstraram uma diminuição da AST das aortas dos animais hipo e juntamente a esta alteração, foi constatada a diminuição da expressão proteica de colágeno do tipo I. Em relação à elastina, foi possível observar aumento da expressão deste elemento nas aortas dos animais hipotiroideos. Na avaliação da expressão proteica para MMP-9, foi possível verificar uma redução desta proteína no grupo hipotiroideo, assim como um aumento da expressão de TIMP-2. Frente aos presentes resultados, é possível sugerir que o estado hipometabólico desencadeado pelo hipotiroidismo afeta as CMLVs comprometendo mecanismos de síntese/degradação, alterando o importante arranjo da MEC presente na aorta torácica. / The aim of this study was to investigate hypothyroidism effects on thoracic aorta wall. For histological analyses were performed stains like hematoxilin-eosin, picrosirius and Weigert. In the protein expression assays were performed quantification for collagen I and III, elastin, MMP-9, MMP-2, TIMP-1 and TIMP-2. The histological analyses showed a decrease in aortas CSA and also a decrease in protein expression of collagen I in the hypo group. As regards to elastin, was possible to see an increase of this protein expression in hypo animals. In the evaluation for MMP-9 expression, was found a decrease in this protein and for TIMP-2 an increase in hypothyroidism group. Facing to these results, is possible to suggest that the hypometabolic state triggered by hypothyroidism, affects the VSMCs compromising mechanisms of synthesis/degradation and changing the important constitution of thoracic aorta ECM.

M.Tech. / Purpose: Posterior mechanical neck pain is considered a debilitating musculoskeletal problem and is one of the most common reasons for visiting an emergency sector (Murphy, 2000). This study aims to compare the effects of Chiropractic manipulative therapy directed at the thoracic spine to that directed at the cervical spine for the treatment of chronic neck pain with regards to pain, disability and cervical range of motion. Method: This study was a comparative study and consisted of two groups of fifteen. The participants were between the ages of eighteen and forty-five, with a half male to female ratio. The potential participants were examined and accepted according to the inclusion and exclusion criteria. The method of treatment administered to each participant was determined by group allocation. Group 1 received chiropractic spinal manipulative therapy to restriction(s) of the upper thoracic region only. Group 2 received chiropractic spinal manipulative therapy to restriction(s) of the cervical spine only. Objective and subjective findings were based on the above treatment protocols. Procedure: Treatment consisted of six treatment consultations with an additional follow up consultation over a three week period, with two consultations being performed per week interval. Objective and subjective readings were taken at the beginning of the first, fourth and seventh consultations. Subjective readings were taken from the Vernon-Mior Neck Pain and Disability Index as well as from the Numerical Pain Rating Scale (NPRS). Objective readings were taken from measurements taken from the Cervical Range of Motion device (CROM). Analysis of collected data was performed by a statistician. The Chiropractic manipulative techniques used were based on restrictions identified during motion palpation and were applied at the first six consultations, with the seventh consultation consisting of data gathering only. Results: Clinically significant improvements in both Group 1 and Group 2 were seen over the course of the study with regards to cervical spine range of motion, pain and disability. However group 1 showed greater statistically significant improvements in their mean cervical range of motion whereas group 2 showed a greater statistically significant improvement in their subjective readings of pain and disability.

Thoracic duct (TD) ligation has long been the treatment of choice for canine idiopathic chylothorax. Clear identification of all the TD branches at the surgical site is critical to facilitate complete ligation, and this can be difficult due to the highly variable nature of the TD system in number, location and patency of TD branches. Failure to ligate all of the TD branches may result in persistent flow of chyle into the pleural cavity through any missed ducts, and this is the single most common cause of failure with TD ligation. Performing direct positive contrast lymphography with a water soluble contrast medium, administered through a surgically implanted mesenteric lymphatic vessel catheter has been the conventional method used to identify TD branches. This procedure involves invasive surgery to both implant and remove the mesenteric lymphatic catheter, which increases patient risk and discomfort, as well as the diagnostic time and cost. Ultrasound (US) guided percutaneous administration of contrast medium into either a popliteal or mesenteric lymph node (LN) have been proposed as alternatives to mesenteric lymphatic vessel catheterisation, however their comparability with the conventional approach has not been assessed. Computed tomographic (CT) lymphography of the caudal canine TD was performed in seven beagles with contrast medium administered through a mesenteric lymphatic catheter, and by US guided percutaneous injection into a popliteal LN. Images of the TD system were collected using both helical and sequential CT modalities for each contrast medium administration technique. It was found that percutaneous popliteal lymphography had a total diagnostic procedure time just 46% of that found with mesenteric lymphatic vessel administration, and resulted in a time saving of 52 minutes. It also incurred only 29% of the total costs, and patients were assessed to have significantly less discomfort compared to mesenteric lymphatic vessel lymphography. There was no significant difference in the number of TD branches identified by the two contrast medium administration techniques (P = 0.256). However administration of contrast medium into a mesenteric lymphatic vessel did result in the largest TD branch having a significantly greater widest diameter (P < 0.001), cross-sectional area (P < 0.001) and mean Hounsfield unit (HU) value (P < 0.001) than popliteal administration. The significant difference in TD size and contrast medium concentration may help to explain the trend for popliteal administration of contrast medium to detect slightly fewer TD branches (CR = 0.830), however this study could not confirm this trend nor its possible causes. There was no significant difference in the number of TD branches identified by the two CT modalities (P = 0.417). However helical CT did result in the largest TD branch having a significantly greater widest diameter (P < 0.001), cross-sectional area (P < 0.001) and higher mean HU value (P < 0.001). It should be noted however that in this study sequential CT was consistently performed after the helical CT was completed, which could explain the differences seen between the two CT modalities in TD branch size and contrast medium concentration. Despite helical CT having the apparent advantage of a larger TD branch which contained a higher concentration of contrast medium, it was actually found that there was a trend for helical CT to detect slightly fewer TD branches (CR = 0.876). This is possibly due to the positive pressure breath hold that was used to minimise thoracic respiratory movement for the helical CT; while the sequential CT was performed during normal respiration and was therefore not subject to abnormally elevated intrapleural pressure. This study could not confirm the slight superiority of sequential CT in detecting TD branches nor the possible reasons for this apparent difference. / Dissertation (MMedVet)--University of Pretoria, 2010. / Companion Animal Clinical Studies / unrestricted

Objective: Evaluation of surgical quality ensures consistency of care and facilitates improvements in the quality of care delivered. Methods: An overview of surgical quality measurement is presented. A system for monitoring thoracic morbidity and mortality (TM&M) at the Ottawa Hospital is introduced and evaluated. Results of a needs assessment survey on the involvement in thoracic surgical research and quality improvement initiatives are presented. Results: Structure, process, and outcomes reflect different viewpoints on how to evaluate surgical quality. The feasibility of the TM&M system is evaluated using descriptive and univariate statistics, while its inter-rater reliability is assessed amongst the Canadian Association of Thoracic Surgeons. Conclusions: Outcomes have been fundamental in the evaluation of surgical quality. TM&M classification system advocates for a practice of continuous quality improvement and provides standardized and reliable feedback on surgical outcomes. Results of the needs assessment have built a strong foundation of knowledge on prospective ways to enhance the monitoring of surgical quality.

Evaluation of quality of surgical care begins with the Donabedian triad focusing on structure, process, and outcomes. Outcomes, which are inherently patient-centered, are most easily and commonly measured, and are indeed fundamental to evaluating the quality of surgical care. Specifically, post-operative adverse events (AEs) remain the most frequently measured and reported outcomes, as they represent harm to the patient; and thus, are often used as a means for comparing institutional, as well as, individual surgeon performance. The importance of rigorous recording of clearly defined AEs, although widely recognized, is poorly performed in practice. In previous work, created in accordance to the Clavien-Dindo classification, we developed and integrated a classification of Thoracic Morbidity & Mortality (TM&M) within The Ottawa Hospital’s Division of Thoracic Surgery allowing objective and standardized assessment of all post-operative AEs following all surgeries. In this thesis, the complementary studies that were conducted surrounding the continued clinical application and critical appraisal of the TM&M classification system as a means toward quality improvement are described. Using standardized reporting of both incidence and severity of post-operative complications, we first provide an overview of the burden and distribution that the two most pervasive post-operative AEs have on the thoracic surgical patient population, including prolonged alveolar air leak and atrial fibrillation (Chapter I and II). Next, we explore the inter-system reliability of reported AEs following thoracic surgery from the American College of Surgeons-National Surgical Quality Improvement Program (ACS-NSQIP), which is widely considered the most prominent surgical quality improvement effort, and the TM&M classification system in order to better understand to what extent the methods used to collect data may be impacting results (Chapter III). The disparity between the two systems and the duplicate participation indicates distinct value to the two quality reporting systems. An absence of evidence in the literature regarding individual surgeon outcome reporting and its impact on the quality of care prompted us to create risk-adjusted, surgeon-specific outcome reports to enable individualized performance measurement and feedback (Chapter IV). A priority for the division has been to ensure such measurement translates into reproducible improvements in surgical performance. To do so, we implemented complementary continuous quality improvement seminars to provide an additional forum for discussion regarding collective results, utilizing positive deviance, to unmask best performers as a catalyst for discussing practice measures to improve specific AEs. Lastly, an evolutionary understanding of the heterogeneity of TM&M data was considered as a critical next step to following improvements in care (Chapter V). Recognizing that software was necessary to efficiently record and review TM&M data, iterative development led to an evolution of a real-time, web-based, point-of-care Thoracic Surgery Quality monitoring, Information management, and Clinical documentation (TSQIC) software system. The TSQIC system has enabled bedside data recording and storage, and automated dynamic analysis and reporting of surgical volume and quality. We observe that measurement of TM&M data alone, while necessary, is not sufficient for quality improvement. We suggest that in addition to implementing a complementary point-of-care, interactive, web-based quality monitoring system, key factors for improving quality and patient safety include a combination of temporal analyses of AEs, effective surgeon-specific feedback mechanisms, actionable information based on best practice measures, standardization of case reviews, and a unit-based approach conducive of team-work and safety culture, led by open and collegial dialogue.