Benchmark Outcomes for Distal Pancreatectomy: A Multicenter Prospective Snapshot Study (SPANDISPAN).

BACKGROUND: Improving the quality of care is a priority for health systems to obtain better care and reduce costs. One of the tools for measuring quality is benchmarking (BM). We presented a one-country prospective study of distal pancreatectomies (DP) and determined BM. STUDY DESIGN: Prospective, multicenter, observational snapshot study of DP carried out at Spanish HPB centers for a year (February 22-January 23). HPB centers were defined as high-volume if they performed > 10 DP per year. Inclusion criteria: any scheduled DP for any diagnosis and age > 18 years. The low-risk group was defined following the Durin et al. criteria and major complications as Clavien-Dindo ≥ III. RESULTS: 313 patients from 42 centers and 46.6% from high-volume centers were included. Median DP by center was 7 (IQR: 5-10), median age was 65 years (IQR: 55-74), and 53.4% were female. The surgical approach was minimally invasive (MIS) in 69.3%. Major complications were 21.1%. Postoperative pancreatic fistula (POPF) grade B/C rate was 20.1%, and 90-day mortality was 1.6%. One hundred and forty-three were low-risk group patients (43.8%). Compared with previous BM data, an increasing MIS rate and fewer hospital stay was obtained. CONCLUSION: We present the first determination of DP-BM in a prospective series, obtaining similar results to the previous ones, but our BM values include a shorter hospital stay and a higher percentage of MIS probably related to ERAS protocols and prospective data collection. BM is a multiparameter valuable tool for reporting outcomes, comparing centers, and identifying the points to improve surgical care.

Intraductal papillary neoplasms of the bile ducts: a comparative study of a rare disease in Europe and Nagoya, Japan.

BACKGROUND: Intraductal papillary neoplasm of the bile ducts (IPNB) is a rare disease in Western countries. The aim of this study was to compare tumor characteristics, management strategies, and outcomes between Western and Eastern patients who underwent surgical resection for IPNB. METHODS: A multi-institutional retrospective series of patients with IPNB undergoing surgery between January 2010 and December 2020 was gathered under the auspices of the European-African Hepato-Pancreato-Biliary Association (E-AHPBA), and at Nagoya University Hospital, Japan. RESULTS: A total of 85 patients (51% male; median age 66 years) from 28 E-AHPBA centers were compared to 91 patients (64% male; median age 71 years) from Nagoya. Patients in Europe had more multiple lesions (23% vs 2%, P < .001), less invasive carcinoma (42% vs 85%, P < .001), and more intrahepatic tumors (52% vs 24%, P < .001) than in Nagoya. Patients in Europe experienced less 90-day grade >3 Clavien-Dindo complications (33% vs 68%, P < .001), but higher 90-day mortality rate (7.0% vs 0%, P = .03). R0 resections (81% vs 82%) were similar. Overall survival, excluding 90-day postoperative deaths, was similar in both regions. DISCUSSION: Despite performing more extensive resections, the low perioperative mortality rate observed in Nagoya was probably influenced by a combination of patient-, tumor-, and surgery-related factors.

Intraductal papillary neoplasms of the bile duct: a European retrospective multicenter observational study (EUR-IPNB study).

BACKGROUND/PURPOSE: Intraductal papillary neoplasm of the bile duct (IPNB) is a rare disease in Western countries. The main aim of this study was to characterize current surgical strategies and outcomes in the mainly European participating centers. METHODS: A multi-institutional retrospective series of patients with a diagnosis of IPNB undergoing surgery between 1 January 2010 and 31 December 2020 was gathered under the auspices of the European-African Hepato-Pancreato-Biliary Association. The textbook outcome (TO) was defined as a non-prolonged length of hospital stay plus the absence of any Clavien-Dindo grade at least III complications, readmission, or mortality within 90 postoperative days. RESULTS: A total of 28 centers contributed 85 patients who underwent surgery for IPNB. The median age was 66 years (55-72), 49.4% were women, and 87.1% were Caucasian. Open surgery was performed in 72 patients (84.7%) and laparoscopic in 13 (15.3%). TO was achieved in 54.1% of patients, reaching 63.8% after liver resection and 32.0% after pancreas resection. Median overall survival was 5.72 years, with 5-year overall survival of 63% (95% CI: 50-82). Overall survival was better in patients with Charlson comorbidity score 4 or less versus more than 4 ( P =0.016), intrahepatic versus extrahepatic tumor ( P =0.027), single versus multiple tumors ( P =0.007), those who underwent hepatic versus pancreatic resection ( P =0.017), or achieved versus failed TO ( P =0.029). Multivariable Cox regression analysis showed that not achieving TO (HR: 4.20; 95% CI: 1.11-15.94; P =0.03) was an independent prognostic factor of poor overall survival. CONCLUSIONS: Patients undergoing liver resection for IPNB were more likely to achieve a TO outcome than those requiring a pancreatic resection. Comorbidity, tumor location, and tumor multiplicity influenced overall survival. TO was an independent prognostic factor of overall survival.

Fast-Track Liver Transplantation: Six-year Prospective Cohort Study with an Enhanced Recovery After Surgery (ERAS) Protocol.

INTRODUCTION: Enhanced recovery after surgery (ERAS) has been shown to facilitate discharge, decrease length of stay, improve outcomes and reduce costs. We used this concept to design a comprehensive fast-track pathway (OR-to-discharge) before starting our liver transplant activity and then applied this protocol prospectively to every patient undergoing liver transplantation at our institution, monitoring the results periodically. We now report our first six years results. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Prospective cohort study of all the liver transplants performed at our institution for the first six years. Balanced general anesthesia, fluid restriction, thromboelastometry, inferior vena cava preservation and temporary portocaval shunt were strategies common to all cases. Standard immunosuppression administered included steroids, tacrolimus (delayed in the setting of renal impairment, with basiliximab induction added) and mycophenolate mofetil. Tacrolimus dosing was adjusted using a Bayesian estimation methodology. Oral intake and ambulation were started early. RESULTS: A total of 240 transplants were performed in 236 patients (191♂/45♀) over 74 months, mean age 56.3±9.6 years, raw MELD score 15.5±7.7. Predominant etiologies were alcohol (n = 136) and HCV (n = 82), with hepatocellular carcinoma present in 129 (54.7%). Nine patients received combined liver and kidney transplants. The mean operating time was 315±64 min with cold ischemia times of 279±88 min. Thirty-one patients (13.1%) were transfused in the OR (2.4±1.2 units of PRBC). Extubation was immediate (< 30 min) in all but four patients. Median ICU length of stay was 12.7 hours, and median post-transplant hospital stay was 4 days (2-76) with 30 patients (13.8%) going home by day 2, 87 (39.9%) by day 3, and 133 (61%) by day 4, defining our fast-track group. Thirty-day-readmission rate (34.9%) was significantly lower (28.6% vs. 44.7% p=0.015) in the fast-track group. Patient survival was 86.8% at 1 year and 78.6% at five years. CONCLUSION: Fast-Tracking of Liver Transplant patients is feasible and can be applied as the standard of care.