Temporal Assessment of Prognostic Factors in Patients With Pancreatic Ductal Adenocarcinoma Undergoing Neoadjuvant Treatment and Resection.

BACKGROUND: The clinicopathologic factors associated with the survival of patients with pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) during the different phases of neoadjuvant treatment (NT)-at diagnosis, restaging, or postoperatively-remain unclear. METHODS: Data of patients with PDAC who underwent pancreatic resection after NT between 2008 and 2018 were retrospectively collected. Clinicopathologic characteristics and outcomes were compared stratified by resection margin status. Three multivariable regression models (at diagnosis, restaging, and postoperatively) were constructed to assess the temporal impact of different prognostic factors on all-cause survival (ACS) and disease-free survival (DFS). RESULTS: All patients were diagnosed with a nonmetastatic PDAC and were appropriate candidates for NT according to the current National Comprehensive Cancer Network guidelines. From a total of 83 patients, 57 (68.7%) had a negative resection margin >1 mm (R0), whereas 26 patients (31.3%) had a positive resection margin (R1). At diagnosis, planned procedure (P = 0.017) and CA19-9 >100 U/mL (P = 0.047) were independent prognostic factors of decreased ACS. At restaging, planned procedure (P = 0.017), FOLFIRINOX (P = 0.026), and tumor size >30 mm (P = 0.030) were independent prognostic factors for increased and decreased ACS, respectively. Postoperatively, R0 was an independent prognostic factor for improved ACS (P = 0.005) and DFS (P = 0.002), whereas adjuvant therapy (P = 0.006) was associated with increased ACS. Lymph node involvement (P = 0.019) was associated with decreased DFS. CONCLUSIONS: At diagnosis, restaging, and postoperatively, different, relevant clinicopathologic factors significantly impact the survival of patients with nonmetastatic PDAC undergoing NT. An R0 resection remains the most important prognostic factor and therefore should be the primary goal of surgical treatment in the neoadjuvant setting.

Validation of early drain removal after pancreatoduodenectomy based on modified fistula risk score stratification: a population-based assessment.

BACKGROUND: Recent studies on postoperative pancreatic fistula (POPF) prevention following pancreatoduodenectomy (PD) have proposed omission of perioperative drains for negligible/low-risk patients and early drain removal (≤POD3) for intermediate/high-risk patients with POD1 drain amylase levels of ≤5000 U/L, though this has not been validated using a nationwide cohort. METHODS: The ACS-NSQIP targeted pancreatectomy database from 2014 to 2016 was queried to identify patients who underwent PD. Patients with POD1 drain amylase levels of ≤5000 U/L were initially stratified as negligible/low- or intermediate/high-risk based on a previously validated modified fistula risk score (mFRS). Differences in relevant postoperative outcomes were then compared among patients who underwent early (≤POD3) vs. late (≥POD4) drain removal. RESULTS: Among 1825 patients who underwent PD, 1540 (84%) had POD1 drain amylase of ≤5000 U/L: 719 (47%) high-risk and 821 (53%) low-risk. Among high-risk patients, early drain removal (n = 205, 29%) was associated with lower rates of POPF (3% vs. 18%, p < 0.001), clinically relevant (CR)-POPF (2% vs. 15%, p < 0.001), overall morbidity (27% vs. 47%, p < 0.001), serious morbidity (15% vs. 24%, p = 0.007) and hospital length of stay (LOS, 7 vs. 8 days, p < 0.001). Similarly, early drain removal in low-risk patients (n = 273, 33%) was associated with decreased rates of POPF (1% vs. 6%, p = 0.003), CR-POPF (1% vs. 5%, p = 0.014), overall morbidity (28% vs. 41%, p = 0.0003), serious morbidity (8% vs. 14%, p = 0.015) and LOS (6 vs. 8 days, p < 0.001). On multivariate logistic regression analysis, early drain removal remained associated with significantly decreased odds of POPF, CR-POPF, overall and serious morbidity as well as LOS among both high- and low-risk patients (all p < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Among patients with POD1 drain amylase ≤5000 U/L following PD, early drain removal (≤POD3) is associated with improved postoperative outcomes among both high- and low-risk patients. Early drain removal based on POD1 drain amylase is indicated regardless of mFRS.

Hepatocellular Carcinoma in Transplantable Child-Pugh A Cirrhotics: Should Cost Affect Resection vs Transplantation?

BACKGROUND: There is no consensus regarding the optimal surgical treatment for transplantable hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) patients with well-compensated cirrhosis. Our aim was to compare outcomes between Child-Pugh A (CPA) cirrhotics who underwent liver resection or transplantation for HCC. METHODS: Clinicopathologic data were retrospectively collected for all surgically treated HCC patients between 7/1992 and 12/2015. Disease-free survival (DFS) and overall survival (OS) were calculated from the time of operation or diagnosis (intention-to-treat analysis including patients removed from the transplant list). The average overall cost including pre-operative and post-operative procedures was calculated for each group. RESULTS: Of the 513 surgically treated HCC patients, 184 had CPA cirrhosis and fulfilled the Milan criteria (MC). Of those, 95 (52%) were resected and 89 (48%) were transplanted. Twenty-two patients were removed from the transplant list. Transplanted patients were younger (p < 0.001), had a higher MELD score (p < 0.001) and a higher frequency of hepatitis C (p < 0.001). Length of stay and postoperative complication rates were similar between groups. DFS was longer for transplanted patients (3-, 5-, and 10-year DFS rates 48, 44, 31% vs 96, 94, 94%, respectively, p < 0.001). OS was similar between groups (3-, 5-, and 10-year OS rates 76, 62, 41% vs 82, 77, 53%, respectively, p = 0.07). Only size of greatest lesion and T stage were independent predictors of OS. The cost was much higher for the transplant group, even when accounting for the treatment of recurrences ($37,391 vs $137,996). CONCLUSIONS: Since OS is similar between CPA cirrhotics within the MC undergoing resection or transplantation for HCC, but cost is significantly higher for transplantation. Resection should be considered for first-line treatment.

Identifying Hospital Cost Savings Opportunities by Optimizing Surgical Approach for Distal Pancreatectomy.

BACKGROUND: The economic implications of relevant clinicopathologic factors on the surgical approach to distal pancreatectomy (DP) should be clearly defined and understood to potentially allow the implementation of cost reduction strategies. METHODS: Administrative and clinical datasets of patients undergoing a DP between 2012 and 2016 were merged and queried. Univariate and multivariate analyses were used to identify clinicopathologic predictors of cost differentials for minimally invasive DP (MIDP) relative to open DP (ODP). Time trends in cost were also assessed to identify opportunities for cost containment. RESULTS: Among two hundred and twenty five patients, 128 underwent an ODP (57%) and 97 a MIDP (43%). The DP groups were comparable with regard to relevant perioperative and disease characteristics. Total hospitalization and total OR costs for MIDP were significantly lower (- 12%, P = 0.0048) and higher (+ 16%, P < 0.0001) respectively, compared to ODP. On univariate analysis, age > 60 (- 12%, P = 0.0262), BMI > 25 (- 10%, P = 0.0222), ASA class ≥ 3 (- 11%, P = 0.0045), OpTime > 230 min (- 16%, P = 0.0004), and T stage ≥ 3 (- 8%, P = 0.0452) were associated with decreased total costs after MIDP compared to ODP. Linear regression analysis revealed that BMI > 25 (Estimate - 0.31, SE 0.15, P = 0.0482), ASA class ≥ 3 (Estimate - 0.36, SE 0.17, P = 0.0344), and T stage ≥ 3 (Estimate - 0.57, SE 0.26, P = 0.0320) were associated with decreased hospitalization costs after MIDP compared to ODP. Overtime, total hospitalization cost for MIDP increased from - 21 to 1% (P = 0.0197), while OR costs for MIDP decreased from + 41% to - 2% (P = 0.0049), nearly equalizing the cost differences between ODP and MIDP. CONCLUSIONS: Relevant clinicopathologic factors predicted decreased hospitalization costs after MIDP relative to ODP. In equivalent stages of disease, optimizing the surgical approach to DP based on specific clinicopathologic characteristics may afford significant cost-saving opportunities.

Population-Based Assessment of Selective Drain Placement During Pancreatoduodenectomy Using the Modified Fistula Risk Score.

BACKGROUND: Recent studies on postoperative pancreatic fistula (POPF) prevention suggest that omission of perioperative drains is safe for negligible- or low-risk patients undergoing pancreatoduodenectomy (PD). However, this proposed pathway has not been validated in a nationwide cohort. STUDY DESIGN: The ACS-NSQIP-targeted pancreatectomy database from 2014 to 2016 was queried to identify patients who underwent PD. Using a previously validated modified Fistula Risk Score (mFRS), patients were stratified as negligible/low- or intermediate/high-risk. Multivariate regression models were used to analyze the effect of intraoperative drain placement on relevant perioperative outcomes in both high- and low-risk patients. RESULTS: Among 6,730 patients undergoing PD, 3,375 (50%) were high-risk; 3,355 (50%) were low-risk. Among high-risk patients, drain placement (n = 3,093, 92%) was associated with a higher rate of POPF (26% vs 16%, p = 0.0003), clinically relevant (CR) POPF (20% vs 12%, p = 0.0015), and extended hospital length of stay (LOS, 9 vs 7 days, p < 0.0001), but decreased serious morbidity (29% vs 35%, p = 0.0330). Similarly, drain placement in low-risk patients (n = 2,785, 83%) was associated with a higher rate of POPF (11% vs 6%, p = 0.0006) and extended LOS (8 vs 7 days, p < 0.0001), yet lower serious morbidity (18% vs 23%, p = 0.0037). On multivariate logistic regression, drain placement was associated with significantly increased odds of CR-POPF and a significantly reduced incidence of serious morbidity among both high-risk (odds ratio [OR] 0.72, 95% CI 0.55 to 0.94, p = 0.0155) and low-risk patients (OR 0.71, 95% CI 0.57 to 0.89, p = 0.0027). CONCLUSIONS: In this population-based cohort, the mFRS was unable to stratify patients relative to the need for selective drain placement during PD. For both high- and low-risk patients, perioperative drain placement was associated with increased rates of POPF, CR-POPF, and extended LOS, but decreased incidence of serious morbidity.

Specific Medicare Severity-Diagnosis Related Group Codes Increase the Predictability of 30-Day Unplanned Hospital Readmission After Pancreaticoduodenectomy.

BACKGROUND: The Medicare Severity-Diagnosis Related Group coding system (MS-DRG) is routinely used by hospitals for reimbursement purposes following pancreatic surgery. We aimed to determine whether specific pancreatectomy MS-DRG codes, when combined with distinct clinicopathologic and perioperative characteristics, increased the accuracy of predicting 30-day readmission after pancreaticoduodenectomy (PD). METHODS: Demographic, clinicopathologic, and perioperative factors were compared between readmitted and non-readmitted patients at Brigham and Women's Hospital following PD. Different pancreatectomy DRG codes, currently used for reimbursement purposes [407: without complication/co-morbidity (CC), 406: with CC, and 405: with major CC] were combined with clinical factors to assess their predictability of readmission. Univariate and multivariable analyses were performed to evaluate outcomes. RESULTS: Among 354 patients who underwent PD between 2010 and 2017, 69 (19%) were readmitted. The incidence of readmission was 13, 32, and 55% for patients with assigned DRG codes 407, 406, and 405, respectively (P = 0.0395). Readmitted patients were more likely to have had T4 disease (P = 0.0007), a vascular resection (P = 0.0078), and longer operative times (P = 0.012). On multivariable analysis, combining DRG 407 with relevant clinicopathologic factors was unable to predict readmission. In contrast, DRG 406 code among patients with N positive disease (P = 0.0263) and LOS > 10 days (P = 0.0505) was associated with readmission. DRG 405, preoperative obstructive jaundice (OR: 7.5, CI: 1.5-36, P = 0.0130), vascular resection (OR: 7.7, CI: 1.1-51, P = 0.0336), N positive stage of disease (OR: 0.2, CI: 0-0.9, P = 0.0447), and operative time > 410 min (OR: 5.9, CI: 1-32, P = 0.0399) were each strongly associated with 30-day readmission after PD [likelihood ratio (LR) < 0.0001]. CONCLUSIONS: Distinct pancreatectomy MS-DRG classification codes (405), combined with relevant clinicopathologic and perioperative characteristics, strongly predicted 30-day readmission after PD. DRG classification algorithms can be implemented to more accurately identify patients at a higher risk of readmission.