Association of cephalosporin resistance in intraoperative biliary cultures with surgical site infections in patients undergoing pancreaticoduodenectomy. A retrospective cohort study.

BACKGROUND: The aim of this study was to assess the incidence of bacterobilia at the time of a pancreaticoduodenectomy (PD) and the association of resistant bacteria in bile to surgical site infections (SSI). METHODS: This was a retrospective cohort study including patients undergoing PD in a single center between May 2016 and October 2020. Data of preoperative biliary drainage (PBD), intraoperative biliary cultures (IBC) and postoperative complications were analysed to assess the risk factors for resistant bacteria in IBC and SSIs. RESULTS: Of 361 patients included, 254 (70%) had undergone PBD. Second-generation cephalosporin resistant bacteria were found in IBC of 183 (64%) of all the patients. PBD was the only risk factor for second-generation cephalosporin resistance. The risk for second-generation cephalosporin resistance was more than 20-fold in patients with PBD [n = 170/254 (67%) (OR 22.58 (95% CI, 9.61-53.01), p < 0.001)] compared to patients who did not have PBD (n = 13/107 (12%)). Also, if the time between PBD and surgery was 2 months or more the second-generation cephalosporin resistance in IBC increased the risk for SSIs (OR 4.14 (95% CI, 1.18-14.51), p = 0.027). CONCLUSION: The second-generation cephalosporin resistance in IBC is common in patients who have undergone PBD. Broad-spectrum antibiotics in prophylaxis may be beneficial for these patients.

The first 10 years of simultaneous pancreas-kidney transplantation in Finland.

INTRODUCTION: Simultaneous pancreas-kidney transplantation (SPK) is an option for patients with type 1 diabetes (T1D) and kidney failure but can be associated with a high complication rate. Here we describe our 10-year experience since the launch of the SPK program. METHODS: This retrospective study included consecutive patients with T1D receiving SPK from March 14, 2010 to March 14, 2020 at Helsinki University Hospital. Portocaval anastomosis (i.e., systemic venous drainage) and enteric exocrine drainage were used. A specific team was trained for both pancreas retrieval and transplantation, postoperative care was standardized to include somatostatin analogues, antimicrobial treatment, and preoperatively initiated chemothrombopropylaxis. During program maturation donor criteria were expanded and logistical processes improved to minimize cold ischemia time. Clinical data were collected from a nationwide transplantation registry and patient records. RESULTS: A total of 166 SPKs were performed (median 2 per year in the first 3 years, 17.5 per year for the following 4 years, and 23 per year for the past 3 years). Seven patients (4.1%) died with a functioning graft with a median 43 months follow-up. One-year pancreas graft survival was 97.0%, 3-year pancreas graft survival was 96.1% and 5-year was 96.1%. Mean HbA1c was 36 mmol/mol (SD 5.57) and creatinine was 107 µmol/L (SD 34.69) at 1-year after transplantation. All kidney grafts were functioning at the end of follow-up. Complications required re-laparotomy in 39 (23%) patients, mostly due to a pancreas graft related problem (N = 28). No pancreas or kidney graft failure from thrombosis occurred. CONCLUSION: A planned, step-wise development of an SPK program offers a safe and effective treatment for patients with T1D and kidney failure.

Pasireotide Versus Octreotide in Preventing Complications After Simultaneous Pancreas-Kidney Transplantation.

In elective pancreatic surgery, somatostatin-analogues pasireotide and octreotide are variably used to reduce postoperative complications, but knowledge on their role in pancreas transplantation is limited. This study compared pasireotide and octreotide for their association with complications after simultaneous pancreas-kidney transplantation (SPK). This retrospective study included consecutive patients undergoing SPK's from July 2013 to July 2022. Between July 2013 and April 2020, octreotide was administered 0.1 mg s.c. once daily and between May 2020 and July 2022 pasireotide was administered 0.9 mg twice daily, both until third postoperative day. Complications within 90 days postoperatively were collected, and reoperation rate and Comprehensive Complication index (CCI) ≥ 33.7 (morbidity equal to one reoperation) were used as primary outcomes. Of the 213 patients undergoing SPK, 150 patients received octreotide and 63 pasireotide. Baseline characteristics were comparable. Reoperation rate was 25.3% (n = 38) and 17.5% (n = 11) (p = 0.213) and rate of CCI ≥ 33.7 was 40.7% (n = 61) and 30.2% (n = 19) (p = 0.148) in octreotide and pasireotide groups, respectively. When adjusted with donor BMI, pancreas donor risk index, and donor sex, receiving pasireotide translated into OR 0.49 (95% CI: 0.25-0.96 p = 0.037) for CCI ≥ 33.7. Pasireotide was independently associated with lower postoperative morbidity within 90 days of SPK compared to octreotide.

Development and external validation of DISPAIR fistula risk score for clinically relevant postoperative pancreatic fistula risk after distal pancreatectomy.

BACKGROUND: Highly utilized risk scores for clinically relevant postoperative pancreatic fistula (CR-POPF) have guided clinical decision-making in pancreatoduodenectomy. However, none has been successfully developed for distal pancreatectomy. This study aimed to develop and validate a new fistula risk score for distal pancreatectomy. METHODS: Patients undergoing distal pancreatectomy at Helsinki University Hospital, Finland from 2013 to 2021, and at Karolinska University Hospital, Sweden, from 2010 to 2020, were included retrospectively. The outcome was CR-POPF, according to the 2016 International Study Group of Pancreatic Surgery definition. Preoperative clinical demographics and radiological parameters such as pancreatic thickness and duct diameter were measured. A logistic regression model was developed, internally validated with bootstrapping, and the performance assessed in an external validation cohort. RESULTS: Of 668 patients from Helsinki (266) and Stockholm (402), 173 (25.9 per cent) developed CR-POPF. The final model consisted of three variables assessed before surgery: transection site (neck versus body/tail), pancreatic thickness at transection site, and diabetes. The model had an area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUROC) of 0.904 (95 per cent c.i. 0.855 to 0.949) after internal validation, and 0.798 (0.748 to 0.848) after external validation. The calibration slope and intercept on external validation were 0.719 and 0.192 respectively. Four risk groups were defined in the validation cohort for clinical applicability: low (below 5 per cent), moderate (at least 5 but below 30 per cent), high (at least 30 but below 75 per cent), and extreme (75 per cent or more). The incidences in these groups were 8.7 per cent (11 of 126), 22.0 per cent (36 of 164), 63 per cent (57 of 91), and 81 per cent (17 of 21) respectively. CONCLUSION: The DISPAIR score after distal pancreatectomy may guide decision-making and allow a risk-adjusted outcome comparison for CR-POPF.

First-day plasma amylase detects patients at risk of complications after simultaneous pancreas-kidney transplantation.

BACKGROUND: Simultaneous pancreas-kidney transplantation (SPK) carries a high risk of major postoperative complications, but knowledge on early warning signs and surrogate markers for postoperative complications is scarce. AIMS: Our aim was to analyze the complication-predictive value of different laboratory tests in pancreas transplantation. MATERIALS & METHODS: All SPKs in Finland between January 2010 and February 2020 were retrospectively analyzed. Levels of first three-day plasma amylase, drain fluid amylase, C-reactive protein, C-peptide, plasma trypsinogen, and white blood cell count were assessed for their performance predicting cumulative postoperative complications (assessed using the Comprehensive Complication Index) within 90 days from transplantation by using ROC analyses. RESULTS: Of the 164 SPK patients included, 39 suffered at least one complication requiring laparotomy. First-day plasma amylase had the best value in predicting complications based on its high AUC value and easy clinical applicability, with an optimum cutoff of six times the upper normal limit. Negative predictive values (NPVs) and positive predictive values of this cutoff were 0.81 and 0.71 for any relaparotomy, and 0.91 and 0.71 for the Comprehensive Complication Index >47.7 (which equals the morbidity of two relaparotomies), respectively. CONCLUSION: In conclusion, first-day plasma amylase could be able to detect patients at risk of complications after SPK.

Prediction of postoperative pancreatic fistula and pancreatitis after pancreatoduodenectomy or distal pancreatectomy: A review.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: Postoperative pancreatic fistula (POPF) is the leading cause of morbidity and early mortality in patients undergoing pancreatic resection. In addition, recent studies have identified postoperative acute pancreatitis (POAP) as an independent contributor to morbidity. Most perioperative mitigation strategies experimented for POPF have been shown to be in vain with no consensus on the best perioperative management. Clinical prediction models have been developed with the hope of identifying high POPF risk patients with the leading idea of finding subpopulations possibly benefiting from pre-existing or novel mitigation strategies. The aim of this review was to map out the existing prediction modeling studies to better understand the current stage of POPF prediction modeling, and the methodology behind them. METHODS: A narrative review of the existing POPF prediction model studies was performed. Studies published before September 2022 were included. RESULTS: While the number of POPF prediction models for pancreatoduodenectomy has increased, none of the currently existing models stand out from the crowd. For distal pancreatectomy, two unique POPF prediction models exist, but due to their freshness, no further external validation or adoption in clinics or research has been reported. There seems to be a lack of adherence to correct methodology or reporting guidelines in most of the studies, which has rendered external validity-if assessed-low. Few of the most recent studies have demonstrated preoperative assessment of pancreatic aspects from computed tomography (CT) scans to provide relatively strong predictors of POPF. CONCLUSIONS: Main goal for the future would be to reach a consensus on the most important POPF predictors and prediction model. At their current state, few models have demonstrated adequate transportability and generalizability to be up to the task. Better understanding of POPF pathophysiology and the possible driving force of acute inflammation and POAP might be required before such a prediction model can be accessed.

Prediction and consequences of postoperative pancreatitis after pancreaticoduodenectomy.

BACKGROUND: Recent studies have suggested postoperative acute pancreatitis (POAP) as a serious complication after pancreaticoduodenectomy (PD) and have speculated on its possible role in the pathogenesis of postoperative pancreatic fistula (POPF). This study aimed to assess the impact of POAP on post-PD outcomes and fistula risk score (FRS) performance in predicting POAP. METHODS: All PDs at Helsinki University Hospital between 2013 and 2020 were analysed. POAP was defined as a plasma amylase activity greater than the normal upper limit on postoperative day (POD) 1 and stratified as clinically relevant (CR)-POAP once C-reactive protein (CRP) reached or exceeded 180 mg/l, and non-CR-POAP once CRP was less than 180 mg/l on POD 2. The Comprehensive Complication Index (CCI) was used to assess total postoperative morbidity. Different FRSs were assessed using receiver operating characteristic curves. RESULTS: Of the 508 patients included, POAP occurred in 202 (39.8 per cent) patients, of whom 91 (17.9 per cent) had CR-POAP. The incidence of CR-POPF was 12.6 per cent (64 patients). Patients with non-CR-POAP had a similar morbidity to patients with no POAP (median CCI score 24.2 versus 22.6; P = 0.142), while CCI score was significantly higher (37.2) in patients with CR-POAP (P < 0.001). CR-POAP was associated with increased rates of CR-POPF, delayed gastric emptying, haemorrhage, and bile leak, while non-CR-POAP was associated only with CR-POPF. Ninety-day mortality was 1.6 per cent, 0.9 per cent, and 3.3 per cent in patients with no-POAP, non-CR-POAP, and CR-POAP, respectively. Updated alternative FRS showed the best performance in predicting CR-POAP (area under the curve 0.834). CONCLUSION: CR-POAP was associated with a higher CCI score, suggesting CR-POAP as a distinct entity from non-CR-POAP. FRSs can be used to assess the risk of CR-POAP.