Ross F. Goldberg

National trends in resection of the distal pancreas

AIM To investigate national trends in distal pancreatectomy (DP) through query of three national patient care databases. METHODS From the Nationwide Inpatient Sample (NIS, 2003-2009), the National Surgical Quality Improvement Project (NSQIP, 2005-2010), and the Surveillance Epidemiology and End Results (SEER, 2003-2009) databases using appropriate diagnostic and procedural codes we identified all patients with a diagnosis of a benign or malignant lesion of the body and/or tail of the pancreas that had undergone a partial or distal pancreatectomy. Utilization of laparoscopy was defined in NIS by the International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision correspondent procedure code; and in NSQIP by the exploratory laparoscopy or unlisted procedure current procedural terminology codes. In SEER, patients were identified by the International Classification of Diseases for Oncology, Third Edition diagnosis codes and the SEER Program Code Manual, third edition procedure codes. We analyzed the databases with respect to trends of inpatient outcome metrics, oncologic outcomes, and hospital volumes in patients with lesions of the neck and body of the pancreas that underwent operative resection. RESULTS NIS, NSQIP and SEER identified 4242, 2681 and 11,082 DP resections, respectively. Overall, laparoscopy was utilized in 15% (NIS) and 27% (NSQIP). No significant increase was seen over the course of the study. Resection was performed for malignancy in 59% (NIS) and 66% (NSQIP). Neither patient Body mass index nor comorbidities were associated with operative approach (P = 0.95 and P = 0.96, respectively). Mortality (3% vs 2%, P = 0.05) and reoperation (4% vs 4%, P = 1.0) was not different between laparoscopy and open groups. Overall complications (10% vs 15%, P < 0.001), hospital costs [44,741 dollars, interquartile range (IQR) 28 347-74 114 dollars vs 49 792 dollars, IQR 13 299-73 463, P = 0.02] and hospital length of stay (7 d, IQR 4-11 d vs 7 d, IQR 6-10, P < 0.001) were less when laparoscopy was utilized. One and two year survival after resection for malignancy were unchanged over the course of the study (ductal adenocarinoma 1-year 63.6% and 2-year 35.1%, P = 0.53; intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasm and nueroendocrine 1-year 90% and 2-year 84%, P = 0.25). The majority of resections were performed in teaching hospitals (77% NIS and 85% NSQIP), but minimally invasive surgery (MIS) was not more likely to be used in teaching hospitals (15% vs 14%, P = 0.26). Hospitals in the top decile for volume were more likely to be teaching hospitals than lower volume deciles (88% vs 43%, P < 0.001), but were no more likely to utilize MIS at resection. Complication rate in teaching and the top decile hospitals was not significantly decreased when compared to non-teaching (15% vs 14%, P = 0.72) and lower volume hospitals (14% vs 15%, P = 0.99). No difference was seen in the median number of lymph nodes and lymph node ratio in N1 disease when compared by year (P = 0.17 and P = 0.96, respectively). CONCLUSION There appears to be an overall underutilization of laparoscopy for DP. Centralization does not appear to be occurring. Survival and lymph node harvest have not changed.

Comparison of open with laparoscopic distal pancreatectomy: a single institution's transition over a 7-year period

OBJECTIVES Many studies have shown laparoscopic distal pancreatectomy (LDP) to have benefits over open distal pancreatectomy (ODP). This institution made a unique abrupt transition from an exclusively open approach to a preference for the laparoscopic technique. This study aimed to compare outcomes in patients undergoing LDP and ODP, respectively, over the period of transition. METHODS A retrospective review of all patients undergoing LDP (n = 82) or ODP (n = 90) was performed. Surrogate oncologic markers for the subgroup of patients with malignant disease were also studied. RESULTS The ODP and LDP groups were well matched with regard to demographics, comorbidities and tumour characteristics. Significant differences were noted in favour of the LDP group in which decreases were seen in estimated blood loss (<0.001), need for packed red blood cell transfusions (<0.001), length of hospital stay (<0.001) and intensive care unit stay (<0.001). No other significant differences in the occurrence of complications or oncologic outcomes were seen. Rates of Grade B and C fistulae were 10% and 6% in the ODP and LDP groups, respectively. Grade III-V complications occurred in 20% and 13% of the ODP and LDP groups, respectively. CONCLUSIONS Laparoscopic distal pancreatectomy continues to compare favourably with ODP when well-matched patient series are reviewed. The results show a decreased need for blood transfusions and hospital resources in LDP. Additionally, there may be oncologic advantages associated with LDP compared with ODP in pancreatic malignancies.

Laparoscopic partial sleeve duodenectomy (PSD) for nonampullary duodenal neoplasms: avoiding a whipple by separating the duodenum from the pancreatic head.

Objective To learn the clinical outcome of patients undergoing laparoscopic partial sleeve duodenectomy (PSD) for lesions, which require sleeve resection of the duodenum. Traditionally, these lesions require en bloc excision of the head of the pancreas performed in an open fashion. Methods A retrospective review of medical records of patients with nonampullary large or circumferential duodenal lesions, which were not amenable to endoscopic or local resection for complete removal, was performed. Characteristics, complications, and technical details were analyzed. Results Ten patients (5 men and 5 women; mean age, 70 years) with duodenal lesions including adenoma (n = 5), adenocarcinoma (n = 2), lymphangiolipoma (n = 1), leiomyoma (n = 1), and neuroendocrine tumor (n = 1) were included. All patients underwent a laparoscopic approach with either a proximal PSD (n = 3) or distal PSD (n = 7) after separation of the duodenum from the pancreatic head. Reconstruction was carried out by a side-to-side duodenojejunostomy (n = 7), end-to-side duodenojejunostomy (n = 2), or gastrojejunostomy (n = 1). Mean length of stay was 5.6 days, and complications were 20%. Conclusions Laparoscopic PSD seems to be a safe and easily applicable technique for treatment of duodenal lesions not involving the ampulla, which requires separation of the duodenum from the pancreas head with sleeve resection of the duodenum and subsequent reconstruction.

Variability of NSQIP-assessed surgical quality based on age and disease process.

BACKGROUND Recent national attention has focused on improving upon the surgical quality of hospitals across the United States. The American College of Surgeons National Surgical Quality Improvement Program (ACS-NSQIP) database includes expected morbidity probability for each surgical patient. We sought to investigate the accuracy of this probability across the spectrum of general surgical operations and assess the variability based on the age and disease process. MATERIALS AND METHODS Using the 2008 ACS-NSQIP database, we identified 190,929 operations that would be in the scope of practice of a modern general surgeon; the four most common included breast resection (n = 22,175; 11.6%), colon resection (n = 21,363; 11.2%), cholecystectomy (n = 20,889; 10.9%), and inguinal hernia repair (n = 11,709; 6.1%). We calculated the surgical observed versus expected morbidity rates (O/E) of each operation type and compared them by decile of patient age. We then determined the effect of case mix and patient age on theoretical hospitals performing at the NSQIP average. RESULTS There is substantial variability in O/E ratios when comparing these disease processes across deciles of age. For patients undergoing breast resections, 67.2% of morbidities were solely attributed to 30-d reoperations; colon resections had an O/E ratio greater than 1 for all age deciles except over 90 y old. For cholecystectomies and the majority of patients undergoing inguinal hernia repairs, there was a lower morbidity rate than expected. Case mix and patient age were found to independently affect assessment of hospital quality. CONCLUSIONS It is conceivable that general surgery case mix and patient age could independently affect the quality assessment of a hospital. This variability may have implications for overall quality measures.

Needle before the knife: nonoperative management of pneumoperitoneum with image-guided aspiration after gastrointestinal perforation.

This case series documents the management of 3 acute gastrointestinal perforations secondary to upper endoscopic procedures and presents the use of nonoperative management with percutaneous aspiration in lieu of immediate surgical intervention. A growing number of endoscopists are using more advanced resection techniques, further potentiating the risk of gastrointestinal injury, including perforation. When localized perforations occur, endoscopic management has become an effective treatment option. Perforations that cannot be localized, sealed, or successfully treated with endoscopic closure have traditionally required an exploratory laparotomy. However, this series suggests that nonoperative management with percutaneous procedures may be successfully utilized in select patients. In 2 of the cases reported, no closure techniques were used and expectant management resulted in successful outcomes. This study suggests that the use of image-guided aspiration and serial abdominal exams can be utilized successfully in select patients. Image-guided needle aspiration of pneumoperitoneum can decrease patient discomfort and allow reliable serial physical examination, potentially eliminating unnecessary surgery.

Enterotomy During Hernia Repair

There is no standard approach to enterotomy management in the setting of a hernia repair. The factors affecting the treatment path include the severity and nature of the injured bowel, presence of gross spillage, and surgeon’s expertise and comfort level, which results in options for both laparoscopic and open repairs. As demonstrated in the literature, multiple options exist, and all are reasonable choices, as long as they are done safely, minimizing the risk to the patient.