Search

OBJECTIVES: The initial settings on an intravenous patient-controlled analgesia (IV-PCA) pump can represent a significant source of postoperative opioid exposure. The primary aim of this study was to evaluate the impact of first day IV-PCA use on total inpatient opioid use after open pancreatectomy, before and after standardization of initial dosing. METHODS: Inpatient oral morphine equivalents (OME) were reviewed for pancreatectomy patients treated with IV-PCA at a single institution before and after (3/2016–8/2017 vs. 3/2019–11/2020) implementation of a standardized initial IV-PCA dosing regimen (initial limit 0.1mg hydromorphone, or 1mg OME, every 10 min as needed). IV-PCA OME in the first 24 hours and total inpatient OME were compared between cohorts. RESULTS: Of 220 total patients, 132 were in the pre-standardization historical cohort. First-24-hour IV-PCA use was different (pre-standardization median 95mg vs. post-standardization 15mg, p

First postoperative day drain fluid amylase (DFA1)5000 U/L is commonly used for early drain removal. We manage patients with risk-stratified pancreatectomy care pathways determined preoperatively by risk for postoperative pancreatic fistula. We hypothesized that preoperative risk stratification would yield unique DFA1/DFA3 cutoffs for safe early drain removal.Patients with DFA1/DFA3 values after pancreaticoduodenectomy or distal pancreatectomy were identified. Patients were risk stratified as "low-risk pancreaticoduodenectomy," "high-risk pancreaticoduodenectomy," or "distal pancreatectomy." Receiver operator characteristic analyses yielded clinically relevant sensitivity thresholds for International Study Group on Pancreatic Surgery grade B/C postoperative pancreatic fistulas.From October 2016 to April 2018, 174 patients were preoperatively stratified as low-risk pancreaticoduodenectomy (n = 78, 45%), high-risk pancreaticoduodenectomy (n = 51, 29%), and distal pancreatectomy (n = 45, 26%). B/C postoperative pancreatic fistulas developed in 3% (n = 2) of low-risk pancreaticoduodenectomies, 37% (n = 19) of high-risk pancreaticoduodenectomies, and 24% (n = 11) of distal pancreatectomies (low- vs high-risk pancreaticoduodenectomy P.001, low-risk pancreaticoduodenectomy versus distal pancreatectomy P = .004, high-risk pancreaticoduodenectomy versus distal pancreatectomy P = .25). B/C postoperative pancreatic fistulas occurred in 16% (n = 21) pancreaticoduodenectomy patients (high- + low-risk pancreaticoduodenectomy), and B/C postoperative pancreatic fistulas were excluded in pancreaticoduodenectomy with 100% sensitivity if DFA1 ≤ 136 or DFA3 ≤ 93. DFA15000 excluded B/C postoperative pancreatic fistulas with only 57% sensitivity after pancreaticoduodenectomy. Exclusion of B/C postoperative pancreatic fistulas occurred with 100% sensitivity if DFA1 ≤ 661 or DFA3 ≤ 141 in low-risk pancreaticoduodenectomy patients, DFA1 ≤ 136 or DFA3 ≤ 93 in high-risk pancreaticoduodenectomy patients, and DFA149 or DFA326 in distal pancreatectomy patients.Preoperative risk stratification results in unique DFA1/DFA3 thresholds to exclude B/C postoperative pancreatic fistulas, thus allowing for safe drain removal and potential for accelerated discharge. Rather than applying generic DFA cutoffs based on national databases, we propose institution-specific DFA1 and DFA3 values tailored to 3 replicable postoperative pancreatic fistula-risk pathways.

This case-control study examines the rates of refills under 2 separate strategies for opioid prescribing after operations in a hepatopancreatobiliary surgery department.

Patients undergoing oncologic surgery are at risk for persistent postoperative opioid use. As a quality improvement initiative, this study sought to characterize provider perceptions regarding opioid-prescribing after oncologic procedures. Surgical oncology attending physicians, clinical fellows, and advanced practice providers (APPs) at a high-volume cancer center were surveyed before and after educational sessions focusing on the opioid epidemic with review of departmental data. The pre-education response rates were 72 (70%) of 103: 22 (65%) of 34 attending physicians, 19 (90%) of 21 fellows, and 31 (65%) of 48 APPs. For five index operations (open abdominal resection, laparoscopic colectomy, wide local excision, thyroidectomy, port), the fellows answered that patients should stop receiving opioids sooner than recommended by the attending surgeons or APPs. For four of five procedures, the APPs recommended higher discharge opioid prescriptions than the attending surgeons or fellows. Almost half of the providers (n = 46, 45%) responded to both the pre- and post-education surveys. After the intervention, the providers recommended lower numbers of opioid pills and indicated that patients should be weaned from opioids sooner for all the procedures. Compared with pre-education, more providers agreed post-education that discharge opioid prescriptions should be based on a patient’s last 24 h of inpatient opioid use (83 vs 91%; p = 0.006). The providers who did not attend a session showed no difference in perceptions or recommendations at the repeat assessment. Variation exists in perioperative opioid-prescribing among provider types, with those most involved in daily care and discharge processes generally recommending more opioids. After education, providers lowered discharge opioid recommendations and thought patients should stop receiving opioids sooner. The next steps include assessing for quantitative changes in opioid-prescribing and implementing standardized opioid prescription algorithms.

The intraoperative air cholangiogram, or “air leak test” (ALT), at the time of hepatectomy can significantly reduce the rates of bile leak and symptomatic fluid collection after high-risk procedures.1,2 Because a bile leak in the setting of an en bloc diaphragm resection and mesh reconstruction would be a particularly dreaded complication, this video shows the technique for resection, reconstruction, and ALT. The video presents the case of a 29-year-old woman who had metastatic teratoma with an 8 × 7-cm liver metastasis in segment 7 and diaphragm invasion to the level of the right hepatic vein. The authors performed a formal right posterior sectionectomy with en bloc diaphragm resection. The 12 × 8-cm diaphragmatic defect was reconstructed using biologic mesh (Surgimend, Integra LifeSciences, Plainsboro, NJ). An intraoperative ALT (air injection into the cystic duct with finger compression of the distal bile duct) identified several areas of bubbles from biliary radicles on the cut surface of the liver, which were ligated with 4-0 polypropylene. The ALT was repeated until no bubbles remained. Because no evidence of bubbles was observed, no surgical drain was needed. The patient did well postoperatively with no complications. In cases of combined liver and diaphragmatic resection, prevention of bile leak, with subsequent contamination of the diaphragm repair and even the thoracic cavity, is particularly vital. An easily replicated intraoperative air leak test can mitigate the risk of bile leak and organ-space infection, as well as associated sequelae on quality of life, return to intended oncologic therapy, and oncologic outcomes.

Postoperative pancreatic fistula is associated with adverse events, increased duration of stay and hospital costs. We developed perioperative care pathways stratified by postoperative pancreatic fistula risk with the aims of minimizing variations in care, improving quality, and decreasing costs.Three unique risk-stratified pancreatectomy clinical pathways-low-risk pancreatoduodenectomy, high-risk pancreatoduodenectomy, and distal pancreatectomy were developed and implemented. Consecutive patients treated after implementation of the risk-stratified pancreatectomy clinical pathways were compared with patients treated immediately prior. Duration of stay, rates of perioperative adverse effects, discharge disposition, and hospital readmission, as well as the associated costs of care, were evaluated.The median hospital stay after pancreatectomy decreased from 10 to 6 days after implementation of the risk-stratified pancreatectomy clinical pathways (P.001), and the median cost of index hospitalization decreased by 22%. Decreased changes in median hospital stay and costs of hospitalization were observed in association with low-risk pancreatoduodenectomy (P.05) and distal pancreatectomy (P.05), but not high-risk pancreatoduodenectomy. The rates of 90-day adverse events, grade B/C postoperative pancreatic fistula, discharge to a facility other than home, or readmission did not change after implementation.Implementation of risk-stratified pancreatectomy clinical pathways decreased median stay and cost of index hospitalization after pancreatectomy without unfavorably affecting rates of perioperative adverse events or readmission, or discharge disposition. Outcomes were most favorably improved for low-risk pancreatoduodenectomy and distal pancreatectomy. Additional work is necessary to decrease the rate of postoperative pancreatic fistula, minimize variability, and improve outcomes after high-risk pancreatoduodenectomy.