The Landmark Series: Mitigation of the Postoperative Pancreatic Fistula

Predictors of postoperative complications and readmissions in laparoscopic pancreas resection: Results of a cohort 105 consecutive cases. A retrospective study

INTRODUCTION

Laparoscopic resection of the pancreas (LRP) has been implemented to a varying degree because it is technically demanding and requires a long learning curve. In the present study we analyze the risk factors for complications and hospital readmissions in a single center study of 105 consecutive LRPs.

METHODS

We conducted a retrospective study using a prospective database. Data were collected on age, gender, BMI, ASA score, type of surgery, histologic type, operative time, hospital stay, postoperative complications, degree of severity and hospital readmission.

RESULTS

The cohort included 105 patients, 63 females and 42 males with a median age and BMI of 58 (53-70) and 25.5 (22,2-27.9) respectively. Eighteen (17%) central pancreatectomies, 5 (4.8%) enucleations, 81 (77.6%) distal pancreatectomies and one total pancreatectomy were performed. Fifty-six patients (53.3%) experienced some type of complication, of which 13 (12.3%) were severe (Clavien-Dindo > IIIb) and 11 (10.5%) patients were readmitted in the first 30 days after surgery. In the univariate analysis, age, male gender, ASA score, central pancreatectomy and operative time were significantly associated with the development of complications (P <0.05). In the multivariate analysis, male gender (OR 7.97; 95% CI 1.08-58.88)), severe complications (OR 59.40; 95% CI, 7.69-458.99), and the development of intrabdominal collections (OR 8.97; 95% CI, 1.28-63.02)) were associated with hospital readmission.

CONCLUSIONS

Age, male gender, ASA score, operative time and central pancreatectomy are associated with a higher incidence of complications. Male gender, severe complications and intraabdominal collections are associated with more hospital readmissions.

Current Approaches for the Curative-Intent Surgical Treatment of Pancreatic Ductal Adenocarcinoma

Radical resection is the only curative treatment for pancreatic cancer. However, only up to 20% of patients are considered eligible for surgical resection at the time of diagnosis. Although upfront surgery followed by adjuvant chemotherapy has become the gold standard of treatment for resectable pancreatic cancer there are numerous ongoing trials aiming to compare the clinical outcomes of various surgical strategies (e.g., upfront surgery or neoadjuvant treatment with subsequent resection). Neoadjuvant treatment followed by surgery is considered the best approach in borderline resectable pancreatic tumors. Individuals with locally advanced disease are now candidates for palliative chemo- or chemoradiotherapy; however, some patients may become eligible for resection during the course of such treatment. When metastases are found, the cancer is qualified as unresectable. It is possible to perform radical pancreatic resection with metastasectomy in selected cases of oligometastatic disease. The role of multi-visceral resection, which involves reconstruction of major mesenteric veins, is well known. Nonetheless, there are some controversies in terms of arterial resection and reconstruction. Researchers are also trying to introduce personalized treatments. The careful, preliminary selection of patients eligible for surgery and other therapies should be based on tumor biology, among other factors. Such selection may play a key role in improving survival rates in patients with pancreatic cancer.

The usefulness of preoperative exocrine function evaluated by the 13C-trioctanoin breath test as a significant physiological predictor of pancreatic fistula after pancreaticoduodenectomy

Background

The association between pancreatic fistula (PF) after pancreaticoduodenectomy (PD) and preoperative exocrine function is yet to be elucidated. This study aimed to evaluate the association between the preoperative results of the ¹³C-trioctanoin breath test and the occurrence of PF, showing the clinical relevance of the breath test in predicting PF.

Method

A total of 80 patients who underwent ¹³C-trioctanoin breath tests prior to PD from 2006 to 2018 were included in this study. Univariate and multivariate analyses were conducted to reveal the preoperative predictors of PF, showing the association between ¹³C-trioctanoin absorption and PF incidence.

Results

Among 80 patients (age, 68.0 ± 11.9 years, 46 males and 34 females; 30 pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma [PDAC]/50 non-PDAC patients), the incidence of PF was 12.5% (10/80). Logistic regression analysis results revealed that the frequency of PF increased significantly as the ¹³C-trioctanoin breath test value (Aa% dose/h) increased (odd’s ratio: 1.082, 95% confidence interval: 1.007–1.162, p = 0.032). Moreover, the optimal cutoff value of the preoperative fat absorption level to predict PF was 38.0 (sensitivity, 90%; specificity, 74%; area under the curve, 0.78; p = 0.005). Indeed, the incidence of PF was extremely higher in patients whose breath test value was greater than 38.0 (33%, 9/27) compared with that in patients with values less than 38.0 (1.8%, 1/53).

Conclusions

Favorable preoperative fat absorption evaluated using the ¹³C-trioctanoin breath test is a feasible and objective predictor of PF after PD.

A preserved pancreatic exocrine function after pancreatectomy may be a crucial cause of pancreatic fistula: paradoxical results of the 13C-trioctanoin breath test in the perioperative period

PURPOSE

The aim of this study was to elucidate the association between pancreatic fistula (PF) and the sequential changes in the perioperative exocrine function after pancreatectomy.

METHODS

The subjects were 96 patients who underwent a ¹³C-trioctanoin breath test before and 1 month after pancreatectomy, between 2006 and 2018. We retrospectively compared the pre- and postoperative fat absorption levels between patients with PF (PF group; n = 17) and without PF (non-PF group; n = 79) using the breath test.

RESULTS

The preoperative level of ¹³C-trioctanoin absorption (%dose/h) was comparable between the non-PF and PF groups (36.5 vs. 36.9). In the non-PF group, ¹³C-trioctanoin absorption was significantly decreased after surgery in comparison to the preoperative setting (post-operative 28.5; pre-operative 36.5; p < 0.0001), whereas these values were comparable (post-operative 36.9; pre-operative 34.5; p = 0.129) in the PF group. Moreover, postoperative absorption in the PF group was significantly better than that in the non-PF group (34.5 vs. 28.5%, p = 0.0003). The maximum drain amylase level was significantly higher in patients with a ¹³C-trioctanoin absorption level (%dose/h) of ≥ 30 in comparison to patients with levels of < 30 (2502 vs. 398 U/L, p = 0.001).

CONCLUSION

PF did not exacerbate the pancreatic exocrine function in the early postoperative period, and the acceleration or preservation of the exocrine function after surgery may be an important cause of PF.

A risk-adjusted analysis of drain use in pancreaticoduodenectomy: Some is good, but more may not be better

BACKGROUND

Intraperitoneal drain placement decreases morbidity and mortality in patients who develop a clinically relevant postoperative pancreatic fistula (CR-POPF) following pancreaticoduodenectomy (PD). It is unknown whether multiple drains mitigate CR-POPF better than a single drain. We hypothesize that multiple drains decrease the complication burden more than a single drain in cases at greater risk for CR-POPF.

METHODS

The Fistula Risk Score (FRS), mitigation strategies (including number of drains placed), and clinical outcomes were obtained from a multi-institutional database of PDs performed from 2003 to 2020. Outcomes were compared between cases utilizing 0, 1, or 2 intraperitoneal drains. Multivariable regression analysis was used to evaluate the optimal drainage approach.

RESULTS

A total of 4,292 PDs used 0 (7.3%), 1 (45.2%), or 2 (47.5%) drains with an observed CR-POPF rate of 9.6%, which was higher in intermediate/high FRS zone cases compared with negligible/low FRS zone cases (13% vs 2.4%, P < .001). The number of drains placed also correlated with FRS zone (median of 2 in intermediate/high vs 1 in negligible/low risk cases). In intermediate/high risk cases, the use of 2 drains instead of 1 was not associated with a reduced rate of CR-POPF, average complication burden attributed to a CR-POPF, reoperations, or mortality. Obviation of drains was associated with significant increases in complication burden and mortality - regardless of the FRS zone.

CONCLUSION

In intermediate/high risk zone cases, placement of a single drain or multiple drains appears to mitigate the complication burden while use of no drains is associated with inferior outcomes.

Obesity affects outcomes of pancreatoduodenectomy

BACKGROUND

Obesity is a major global health problem, and it has reached epidemic proportions worldwide. Therefore, surgeons will confront an increasingly larger proportion of obese candidates for pancreatoduodenectomy (PD) in the future. Several small retrospective studies have been conducted to evaluate the role of Body Mass Index (BMI) in postoperative surgical complications after PD, with conflicting results. The aim of this study was to use a large multi-institutional database to clarify the impact of different levels of obesity after PD.

METHODS

The American College of Surgeons National Surgical Quality Improvement Program (ACS NSQIP) database was queried for patients who underwent PD from 2014 to 2016. Patients were categorized in the following six BMI groups: <18.5 (Underweight), 18.5-24.9 (Normal Weight), 25-29.9 (Overweight), 30-34.9 (Class I obesity), 35-39.9 (Class II Obesity) and >40 (Class III Obesity). The primary outcomes of interest were 30-day mortality and morbidity after PD among the six BMI groups.

RESULTS

The final population consists of 10,316 patients. Class III is associated with higher risk of 30-day mortality (OR 2.56, 95% CI 1.25-5.25, p = 0.011), major complications (OR 2.23, 95% CI 1.54-3.22, p < 0.001), clinically relevant postoperative pancreatic fistula (OR 2.48, 95% CI 1.89-3.24, p < 0.001), surgical site infections (OR 2.06, 95% CI 1.61-2.65, p < 0.001) and wound dehiscence (OR 3.47, 95% CI 1.7-7.1, p < 0.001) in multivariable analysis.

CONCLUSIONS

In conclusion, our study shows that obesity is significantly associated with higher risk of postoperative complications in patients undergoing PD and patients with BMI≥40 have increased risk of mortality after PD.