Active Research

Projects and Research

From rapid consensus guidelines to large multicenter registries, ThORN drives high-impact collaborative science across general thoracic surgery.

Consensus guidelinesMulticenter registriesResident-led research

ThORN Special Issues - Journal of Thoracic Disease

Vol 11, Supplement 4March 15, 2019
Vol 11, Supplement 12August 19, 2019
Vol 15, No 2February 28, 2023

Active Projects

Current collaborative work spanning registries, consensus guidelines, and investigator-led studies.

Active

Rapid Consensus: Wedge Resection

Active

Defining best practice guidelines for wedge resection in lung cancer - when it is indicated and what constitutes a quality resection.

30

Participating Sites

  • Formal Delphi consensus process for element development
  • Identifies best practices and quality standards in wedge resection

Completed

COVID-19 Triage Guidelines

Completed

When the pandemic struck, ThORN rapidly mobilized to create evidence-based triage guidelines for thoracic oncology patients, ensuring critical surgeries continued safely across North America.

Published: Annals of Thoracic Surgery and JTCVS, 2020
  • Demonstrated ThORN's capacity to rapidly adapt
  • Protected access to essential oncologic surgeries

Resident Led

Multi-Institution Low Volume Cases

Resident Led

A multi-institutional database built on existing STS GTDB and NCDB infrastructure, enhanced with local EHR data across 4 ThORN hospitals, resident-led to grow collaboration and skills.

STS GTDBNCDBLocal EHR Data

New Investigator-Led Projects

Emerging studies driven by ThORN investigators.

Reach out directly to the leads below to learn more or get involved.

Pneumomediastinum Management

Best practice development and outcomes analysis for pneumomediastinum management.

Clinton.Morgan@uky.edu

Robotic Intraoperative Emergencies

Defining protocols and outcomes for managing emergencies during robotic thoracic procedures.

Feiran.Lou@umassmemorial.org

Implementation of ePROs into Practice

Electronic patient-reported outcomes integration into thoracic surgery clinical workflows.

Gita_Mody@med.unc.edu

Advocating for Our Specialty

ThORN leads sessions at major surgical meetings.

Influencing quality measurement, policy, and specialty direction.

2023 STS

Reaching for the Stars

  • Focus on quality measurement and ratings systems
  • How ratings are constructed and what stakeholders value
  • Using data to influence meaningful change
  • Positive engagement with ratings agencies
2025 STS

Extent of Resection and Quality Metrics in Lung Cancer Care

  • Latest evidence and perspectives on resection extent
  • Quality metrics and implications for patient outcomes
  • Featured ThORN member presentations

About ThORN

Advancing surgical outcomes through rigorous evidence and collaboration.

The Thoracic Surgery Outcomes Research Network (ThORN) is a cooperative dedicated to advancing surgical outcomes through rigorous evidence.

Contact

Chicago, IL 60611, USA

ThORNsurgery@gmail.com

(c) 2025 Thoracic Surgery Outcomes Research Network. All rights reserved.

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