Identification of Inequalities in the Selection of Liver Surgery for Colorectal Liver Metastases in Sweden.

BACKGROUND:: Liver resection for colorectal liver metastases offers a 5-year survival rate of 25%-58%. This study aimed to analyze whether patients with colorectal liver metastases undergo resection to an equal extent and whether selection factors play a role in the selection process. MATERIAL AND METHODS:: Data were retrieved from the Swedish Colorectal Cancer Registry (2007-2011) for colorectal cancer and colorectal liver metastases. The patients identified were linked to the Swedish Registry of Liver and Bile surgery and the National Patient Registry to identify whether liver surgery or ablative treatment was performed. Analyses for age, sex, type of primary tumor and treating hospital (university, county, or district), American Society of Anesthesiologists class, and radiology for detection of metastatic disease were performed. RESULTS:: Of 28,355 patients with colorectal cancer, 21.6% (6127/28,355) presented with liver metastases. Of the patients with liver metastases, 18.5% (1134/6127) underwent liver resection or ablation. The cumulative proportion of liver resection/ablation was 4% (1134/28,355) of all colorectal cancer. If "not bowel resected" were excluded, the proportion slightly increased to 4.7% (1134/24,262). Around 15% of the patients with metastases were registered as referrals for liver surgery. In a multivariable analysis patients treated at a university hospital for primary tumor were more frequently surgically treated for liver metastases (p < 0.0001). Patients with liver metastases from rectal cancer (p < 0.0001) and men more often underwent liver resection (p = 0.006). A difference was found between health-care regions for the frequency of liver surgery (p < 0.0001). Patients >70 years and those with American Society of Anesthesiologists class >2 underwent liver resection less frequently. Magnetic resonance imaging of the liver was more often used in diagnostic work-up in men. CONCLUSION:: Patients with colorectal liver metastases are unequally treated in Sweden, as indicated by the low referral rate. The proximity to a hepatobiliary unit seems important to enhance the patient's chances of being offered liver surgery.

Hemorrhage after Major Pancreatic Resection: Incidence, Risk Factors, Management, and Outcome.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Hemorrhage is a rare but dreaded complication after pancreatic surgery. The aim of this study was to examine the incidence, risk factors, management, and outcome of postpancreatectomy hemorrhage in a tertiary care center. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A retrospective observational study was conducted on 500 consecutive patients undergoing major pancreatic resections at our institution. Postpancreatectomy hemorrhage was defined according to the International Study Group of Pancreatic Surgery criteria. RESULTS: A total of 68 patients (13.6%) developed postpancreatectomy hemorrhage. Thirty-four patients (6.8%) had a type A, 15 patients (3.0%) had a type B, and the remaining 19 patients (3.8%) had a type C bleed. Postoperative pancreatic fistula Grades B and C and bile leakage were significantly associated with severe postpancreatectomy hemorrhage on multivariable logistic regression. For patients with postpancreatectomy hemorrhage Grade C, the onset of bleeding was in median 13 days after the index operation, ranging from 1 to 85 days. Twelve patients (63.2%) had sentinel bleeds. Surgery lead to definitive hemostatic control in six of eight patients (75.0%). Angiography was able to localize the bleeding source in 8/10 (80.0%) cases. The success rate of angiographic hemostasis was 8/8. (100.0%). The mortality rate among patients with postpancreatectomy hemorrhage Grade C was 2/19 (10.5%), and both fatalities occurred late as a consequence of eroded vessels in association with pancreaticogastrostomy. CONCLUSION: Delayed hemorrhage is a serious complication after major pancreatic surgery.Sentinel bleed is an early warning sign. Postoperative pancreatic fistula and bile leakage are important risk factors for severe postpancreatectomy hemorrhage.

Impact of a fast-track surgery programme for pancreaticoduodenectomy.

BACKGROUND: Fast-track (FT) programmes are multimodal, evidence-based approaches to optimize patient outcome after surgery. The aim of this study was to evaluate the safety, clinical outcome and patients' experience of a FT programme after pancreaticoduodenectomy (PD) in a high-volume institution in Sweden. METHODS: Consecutive patients undergoing PD were studied before and after implementation of the FT programme. FT changes included earlier mobilization, standardized removal of the nasogastric tube and drain, and earlier start of oral intake. Patient experience was evaluated with European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer QLQ-C30 and QLQ-PAN26 questionnaires 2 weeks before and 4 weeks after surgery. RESULTS: Between 2011 and 2014, 100 consecutive patients undergoing PD were studied, of whom 50 received standard care (controls), followed by 50 patients treated after implementation of the FT programme. The nasogastric tube was removed significantly earlier in the FT group, and these patients were able fully to tolerate fluids and solid food sooner after PD. Delayed gastric emptying was significantly reduced in the FT group (26 versus 48 per cent; P = 0.030). Overall morbidity remained unchanged and there were no deaths in either group. Postoperative length of hospital stay was reduced from 14 to 10 days and hospital costs were decreased significantly. Health-related quality-of-life questionnaires showed similar patterns of change, with no significant difference between groups before or after surgery. CONCLUSION: The FT programme after PD was safe. Delayed gastric emptying, hospital stay and hospital costs were all reduced significantly. Although patients were discharged 4 days earlier in the FT group, this did not influence health-related quality of life compared with standard care.

A financial analysis of laparoscopic and open cholecystectomy.

Laparoscopic cholecystectomy (LC) is now the method of choice in treatment of symptomatic gallstone disease. Despite its rapidly growing popularity, comparative costs of this new method and open cholecystectomy (OC) remain unclear. The most outstanding feature of laparoscopic cholecystectomy is the period of short recovery. In Sweden the social insurance office documents sick leave period, sickness allowance, as well as diagnosis and therefore provides a reliable basis for an economic analysis. The purpose of this study was to estimate the hospital cost and costs due to sick leave in a series of patients operated on with elective cholecystectomy using the two methods. In each group 50 consecutive patients were studied retrospectively. The total hospital cost was 10% lower in the laparoscopy group--$1,864 as compared to $2,030 per patient in the OC group. Median number of days off work was 14 after LC and 35 days after open surgery, which corresponds to a median sickness allowance of $516 per patient (LC) compared to $1,424 (OC). Laparoscopic cholecystectomy is more cost-effective than open cholecystectomy mainly due to a reduced sick leave period.