The Impact of a Centralised Pancreatic Cancer Service: a Case Study of Wales, UK.

INTRODUCTION: The centralisation of pancreatic cancer (PC) services still varies worldwide. This study aimed to assess the impact that a centralisation has had on patients in South Wales, UK. METHODS: A retrospective cohort analysis of patients in South Wales, UK, with PC prior to (2004-2009), and after (2010-2014) the formation of a specialist centre. Patients were identified using record linkage of electronic health records. RESULTS: The overall survival (OS) of all 3413 patients with PC increased from a median (IQR) 10 weeks (3-31) to 11 weeks (4-35), p = 0.038, after centralisation. The OS of patients undergoing surgical resection or chemotherapy alone did not improve (93 weeks (39-203) vs. 90 weeks (50-95), p = 0.764 and 33 weeks (20-57) vs. 33 weeks (19-58), p = 0.793). Surgical resection and chemotherapy rates increased (6.1% vs. 9.2%, p < 0.001 and 19.7% vs. 27.0%, p < 0.001). The 30-day mortality rate trended downwards (7.2% vs. 3.6%, p = 0.186). The percentage of patients who received no treatment reduced (75.2% vs. 69.6%, p < 0.001). CONCLUSION: The centralisation of PC services in South Wales is associated with a small increase in OS and a larger increase in PC treatment utilisation. It is concerning that many patients still fail to receive any treatments.

The microbiology of infected pancreatic necrosis.

BACKGROUND: Acute pancreatitis (AP) continues to cause significant morbidity and mortality, especially when it leads to infected pancreatic necrosis (IPN). Modern treatment of IPN frequently involves prolonged courses of antibiotics in combination with minimally invasive therapies. This study aimed to update the existing evidence base by identifying the pathogens causing IPN and therefore aid future selection of empirical antibiotics. METHODS: Clinical data, including microbiology results, of consecutive patients with IPN undergoing minimally invasive necrosectomy at our institution between January 2009 and July 2016 were retrospectively reviewed. RESULTS: The results of 40 patients (22 males and 18 females, median age 60 years) with IPN were reviewed. The etiology of AP was gallstones, alcohol, dyslipidemia and unknown in 31, 2, 2 and 5 patients, respectively. The most frequently identified microbes in microbiology cultures were Enterococcus faecalis and faecium (22.5% and 20.0%) and Escherichia coli (20.0%). In 19 cases the cultures grew multiple organisms. The antibiotics with the least resistance amongst the microbiota were teicoplanin (5.0%), linezolid (5.6%), ertapenem (6.5%), and meropenem (7.4%). CONCLUSION: The carbapenem antibiotics, ertapenem and meropenem provide good antimicrobial cover against the common, mainly enteral, microorganisms causing IPN. Culture and sensitivity results of acquired samples should be regularly reviewed to adjust prescribing and monitor for emergence of resistance.

Can infected pancreatic necrosis really be managed conservatively?

OBJECTIVES: Guidelines advocate minimally invasive drainage rather than open surgery for infected pancreatic necrosis (IPN) after acute pancreatitis. We hypothesized that the conservative approach could be extended even further by treating patients using an antibiotics-only protocol. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Between June 2009 and July 2017, patients with IPN were selectively managed with carbapenem antibiotics for a minimum of 6 weeks. We compared these patients with patients who underwent minimal access retroperitoneal pancreatic necrosectomy (MARPN) for IPN to identify characteristics of this patient group. RESULTS: Of 33 patients with radiologically proven IPN, 13 patients received antibiotics without any surgical or radiological intervention and resulted in no disease-specific mortality and one case of pancreatic insufficiency. In comparison, 44 patients underwent MARPN with a mortality of 20%, and 81.8% developed pancreatic insufficiency. The modified Glasgow score and computed tomography severity score was less in the antibiotic-only group (P<0.001 and P=0.014, respectively). Patients who underwent MARPN had lower serum haemoglobin and albumin levels (P=0.030 and 0.001, respectively), and a higher C-reactive protein (P=0.027). CONCLUSION: Conservative treatment of IPN with antibiotics is a valid management option for haemodynamically stable patients experiencing less severe disease, requiring careful selection by experienced clinicians.

A meta-analysis of the utility of the neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio in predicting survival after pancreatic cancer resection.

BACKGROUND: The neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) is thought to reflect cancer disease burden. To assess the prognostic ability of the NLR on overall survival in patients with resectable, pancreatic cancer a meta-analysis of published literature was undertaken. METHOD: A systematic review was performed independently by two authors using PubMed, Ovid MEDLINE and Embase databases. Included studies detailed the pre-operative NLR and overall survival of pancreatic cancer patients. RESULTS: Of the 214 studies retrieved using the search strategy, 8 studies involving 1519 patients were included in the meta-analysis. Only one study did not find a statistically significant association between a high NLR and OS. The pooled Hazard Ratio was 1.77 (95% CI [1.45-2.15]; p < 0.01). The NLR cut-off values ranged from 2 to 5. There was low to moderate inter-study heterogeneity (I2 = 31%; p = 0.17), a low risk of intra-study bias, and potentially 3 unpublished (negative) studies. CONCLUSIONS: A high pre-operative NLR indicates a worse prognosis than in patients with a low NLR. There is potential to use the NLR to direct therapies. A specific cut-off value has not been established from this study and so further research is required.

Surgical outcomes for duodenal adenoma and adenocarcinoma: a multicentre study in Australia and the United Kingdom.

BACKGROUND: Pancreaticoduodenectomy is often required in patients with duodenal adenoma and adenocarcinoma and these patients generally have soft pancreatic texture and small pancreatic ducts, the two most significant factors associated with post-operative pancreatic fistula (POPF). The aims of the study were to evaluate the rate of POPF and long-term outcomes for patients with duodenal adenoma and adenocarcinoma who underwent curative resection. METHODS: This retrospective study (2004-2014) examined patients treated surgically with non-ampullary duodenal tumours (NADTs) in two hepatopancreaticobiliary units in Victoria, Australia, and Swansea, UK. RESULTS: There were 49 resections performed including 33 pancreaticoduodenectomies, five pancreas-preserving total duodenectomies and 11 segmental duodenal resections. Median length of follow-up was 23.5 months. Final histopathology revealed 18 duodenal adenomas and 31 adenocarcinomas. POPF rate for NADTs was 28.9% (of which 54.5% were grade C) compared to 14.5% for all other pathologies. Grade C POPF was associated with poorer survival outcomes (hazard ratio = 6.73; P = 0.005). The 5-year overall survival for patients with duodenal adenocarcinoma was 66.5%. CONCLUSION: Due to the soft pancreatic texture and small pancreatic duct, pancreatic resection for NADTs is associated with a high rate of POPF which contributes to reduced survival. Nevertheless, surgery is associated with favourable 5-year survival compared to pancreatic resection for pancreatic adenocarcinoma.