A Antila1, R Ahola1, J Sand2, J Laukkarinen3. 1. Department of Gastroenterology and Alimentary Tract Surgery, Tampere University Hospital, Tampere, Finland. 2. Päijät-Häme Central Hospital, Lahti, Finland. 3. Department of Gastroenterology and Alimentary Tract Surgery, Tampere University Hospital, Tampere, Finland; Faculty of Medicine and Life Sciences, University of Tampere, Tampere, Finland. Electronic address: johanna.laukkarinen@fimnet.fi.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Centralization of pancreatic surgery has proceeded in the last few years in many countries. However, information on the effect of hospital volume specifically on distal pancreatic resections (DP) is lacking. AIM: To investigate the effect of hospital volume on postoperative complications in DP patients in Finland. METHODS: All DP performed in Finland during the period 2012-2014 were analyzed, information having been retrieved from the appropriate national registers. Hospital volumes, postoperative pancreatic fistulae (POPF) and overall complications were graded. High volume centre (HVC) was defined as performing > 10 DPs, median volume centre (MVC) 4-9 DPs and low volume centre (LVC) fewer than 4 DP annually. RESULTS: A total of 194 DPs were performed at 18 different hospitals. Of these 42% (81) were performed in HVCs (2 hospitals), 43% (84) in MVCs (6 hospitals) and the remaining 15% (29) in LVCs (10 hospitals). Patient demographics did not differ between the hospital volume groups. The overall rate of clinically relevant POPF, Clavien-Dindo grade 3-5 complications, and 90-day mortality showed no significant differences between the different hospital volumes. Grade C POPF was found more often in LVCs, being 1.2% in HVCs, 0% in MCVs and 6.9% in LVCs, p = 0.030. More reoperations were performed in LVCs (10.3%) than in HVCs (1.2%) or MVCs (1.2%); p = 0.025. CONCLUSIONS: Even though the rate of postoperative complications after DP is not affected by hospital volume, reoperations were performed ten times more often in the low-volume centres. Optimal management of postoperative complications may favour centralization not only of PD, but also of DP.
BACKGROUND: Centralization of pancreatic surgery has proceeded in the last few years in many countries. However, information on the effect of hospital volume specifically on distal pancreatic resections (DP) is lacking. AIM: To investigate the effect of hospital volume on postoperative complications in DPpatients in Finland. METHODS: All DP performed in Finland during the period 2012-2014 were analyzed, information having been retrieved from the appropriate national registers. Hospital volumes, postoperative pancreatic fistulae (POPF) and overall complications were graded. High volume centre (HVC) was defined as performing > 10 DPs, median volume centre (MVC) 4-9 DPs and low volume centre (LVC) fewer than 4 DP annually. RESULTS: A total of 194 DPs were performed at 18 different hospitals. Of these 42% (81) were performed in HVCs (2 hospitals), 43% (84) in MVCs (6 hospitals) and the remaining 15% (29) in LVCs (10 hospitals). Patient demographics did not differ between the hospital volume groups. The overall rate of clinically relevant POPF, Clavien-Dindo grade 3-5 complications, and 90-day mortality showed no significant differences between the different hospital volumes. Grade C POPF was found more often in LVCs, being 1.2% in HVCs, 0% in MCVs and 6.9% in LVCs, p = 0.030. More reoperations were performed in LVCs (10.3%) than in HVCs (1.2%) or MVCs (1.2%); p = 0.025. CONCLUSIONS: Even though the rate of postoperative complications after DP is not affected by hospital volume, reoperations were performed ten times more often in the low-volume centres. Optimal management of postoperative complications may favour centralization not only of PD, but also of DP.
Authors: Elina Peltola; Päivi Hannula; Heini Huhtala; Saara Metso; Juhani Sand; Johanna Laukkarinen; Mirja Tiikkainen; Jukka Sirén; Minna Soinio; Pirjo Nuutila; Leena Moilanen; David E Laaksonen; Tapani Ebeling; Johanna Arola; Camilla Schalin-Jäntti; Pia Jaatinen Journal: Eur J Endocrinol Date: 2021-09-01 Impact factor: 6.664