how many open lung surgeries are done in the US each year?

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Request for Question Clarification by welte-ga on 18 Jan 2006 15:43 PST

Hi jon1024, Are you primarily interested in lobectomies and
pneumonectomies?  I can give you numbers for these, broken down by
region, etc., if you like.  I can also give you some data for "Other
OR pulmonary procedures," which would include other open pulmonary
surgeries.

        -welte-ga

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Clarification of Question by jon1024-ga on 18 Jan 2006 23:08 PST

hi welta-ga , i am intereted in the number of open lung procedures
related to cancer, from open biopsy to lobectomies and
pneumonectomies.  
jon1024

Hi again jon1024-ga, Sorry for the delay... Tracking down this
information took longer than I thought.

Using the HCUP database, I was able to find the principal procedures
performed for the diagnosis "cancer, bronchus / lung."  One can also
glean a wealth of other data from this database, including regional
distributions, aggregate charges (the so-called "national bill"),
in-hospital deaths, age distributions, and so forth.  I have run one
such query with the following results:

For 2003: 
Lobectomy or pneumonectomy:  37,121 (8,328 in the Northeast; 8,596 in
the Midwest; 14,580 in the South; 5,616 in the West)
Incision on pleura, thoracentesis, chest drainage: 5,928
Diagnostic bronchosopy and biopsy of bronchus: 33,352 (this isn't an
open procedure, but I include it for comparison)
Other OR procedures on respiratory system: 1,552

The total national cost for all combined procedures relating to lung
cancer in 2003 was $5,290,629,083. The in-hospital death rate was
15.2%.

You can see the table with the overall statistics for 2003 here:
http://img530.imageshack.us/img530/1258/snapshot200601291515470lc.jpg

For 2002, there were 25,747 lobectomies or pneumonectomies.  Here's
the complete table for 2002:
http://img496.imageshack.us/img496/5696/snapshot200601291548048ik.jpg

For 2001, there were 38,615 lobectomies or pneumonectomies. Here's the table:
http://img496.imageshack.us/img496/7262/snapshot200601291552529yv.jpg

Data is available back to 1997 if you need it.

__________

Also, as a separate category, the HCUP database lists "Other
respiratory or intrathoracic," which excludes "lung cancer."  This is
a relatively small subset of the patients. If you're interested, here
is the data for 2003:
http://img21.imageshack.us/img21/1939/snapshot200601291559434lh.jpg

==========

Here are some additional tables from the broken down data...

_____________

Ages 18-44:
http://img461.imageshack.us/img461/583/snapshot200601291521492st.jpg

Ages 45-64:
http://img461.imageshack.us/img461/3301/snapshot200601291523541iy.jpg

Ages 65-84:
http://img461.imageshack.us/img461/6600/snapshot200601291528332ul.jpg

Ages 85+:
http://img461.imageshack.us/img461/5854/snapshot200601291529426wq.jpg

_____________

Northeast:
http://img461.imageshack.us/img461/6811/snapshot200601291532519br.jpg

Midwest:
http://img461.imageshack.us/img461/5665/snapshot200601291535125rp.jpg

South:
http://img461.imageshack.us/img461/8366/snapshot200601291537097nm.jpg

West:
http://img461.imageshack.us/img461/3753/snapshot200601291538225nz.jpg

========================

Here's the HCUP main site:
http://hcup.ahrq.gov/HCUPnet.asp

To run this type of search, do the following:

National and Regional Statistics from the NIS

Researcher, medical professional

Statistics on specific diagnoses or procedures

2003  [or other year]

Related conditions and procedures?

List associated principal procedures by Clinical Classifications Software (CCS)

Clinical Classifications Software (CCS)?

Type in "lung" and hit "Search"

Select "19 Cancer of lung, bronchus"

Select your statistics [e.g., discharges]

Select how you would like the data broken down (totals, i.e., all
patients in all hospitals, or more detailed)

Hit "Next," and you will get tables with the results you have specified.


========================


I hope this information is useful.  Please feel free to request any
clarification prior to rating.

      -welte-ga

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Request for Answer Clarification by jon1024-ga on 30 Jan 2006 01:13 PST

Thank you welte-ga, the numbers looks too small. is it possible that
additional factor should be used in order to get the full picture? is
it because the outpatient cases are not included?

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Clarification of Answer by welte-ga on 30 Jan 2006 14:24 PST

Hi Jon,

You are correct that the HCUP data only includes inpatient data, but I
don't know of any outpatient open lung procedures... With very rare
exception, every patient spends at least the night in the hospital for
observation.

The numbers I gave are limited to patients with a diagnosis of lung
cancer, so there are more open lung procedures performed for other
purposes (e.g., open lung biopsies to determine if someone has
interstitial lung disease, etc.).  The total number of pneumonectomies
or lobectomies performed in the US in 2003 was 71,502.  This is nearly
double the number performed specifically for lung cancer.

     -welte-ga