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Background: Pancreatic surgery is complex with the potential for costly hospitalization., Methods: A retrospective review of patients undergoing a pancreatic resection was performed., Results: The median age of the study population was 64 years. Half of the cohort was female (51%), and the majority were white (62%). Most patients underwent a pancreaticoduodenectomy (PD) (69%). The pre-operative age-adjusted Charlson comorbidity index was zero for 36% (n = 50), 1 for 31% (n = 43) and ≥2 for 33% (n = 45). The Clavien-Dindo grading system for post-operative complication was grade I in 17% (n = 24), whereas 45% (n = 62) were higher grades. The medians direct fixed, direct variable, fixed indirect and total costs were $2476, $15,397, $13,207 and $31,631, respectively. There was a positive contribution margin of $7108, whereas the net margin was a loss of $6790. On univariate analyses, age, type of operation and complication grade were associated with total cost (P ≤ 0.05), whereas operation type and complication grade were associated with a net margin (P = 0.01). These findings remained significant on multivariate analysis (P < 0.05)., Conclusions: Increased cost, reimbursement and revenue were associated with type of operation and post-operative complications., (© 2014 International Hepato-Pancreato-Biliary Association.)

Patients undergoing pancreatic resection are at risk for developing postoperative exocrine dysfunction. We sought to determine the incidence of and clinical factors associated with exocrine dysfunction after pancreatectomy. A retrospective review of a prospective database composed of patients undergoing pancreatic resection between 2004 and 2013 was performed. Logistic regression was used to identify preoperative factors that influenced postoperative exocrine insufficiency. One hundred sixty-one patients with complete follow-up were identified. The mean age was 64.1 ± 12.65 years. The majority were: female (51%), white (66%), tobacco users (61%), nondrinkers (68%), nondiabetic (71%), and without preoperative exocrine dysfunction (96%). Average body mass index was 27.8 ± 6.32 kg/m(2). Most underwent a pancreaticoduodenectomy (67.3%) for pancreatic cancer (59.6%). Pancreatic fistula occurred in 6.8 per cent. Seven patients were on enzyme replacement therapy preoperatively. Forty-four patients (27%) had postoperative exocrine dysfunction (five of whom were on enzyme replacement therapy preoperatively). Two of seven (29%) of patients with preoperative exocrine dysfunction had complete resolution of their exocrine dysfunction. On univariate analysis, only the type of operation (Whipple) was significantly associated with exocrine dysfunction (P = 0.04). On multivariate analysis, both female gender and type of operation were independently associated with postoperative exocrine dysfunction (P = 0.05). Pancreatic exocrine dysfunction occurred less frequently in this population than what is commonly reported in the literature. Female patients undergoing resection of the pancreatic head have significantly increased risk of exocrine dysfunction.

Outcomes are superior for pancreatic resection at high-volume centers. To assess the impact of focused high-volume multidisciplinary care, a quality index (QI) was used to review our experience. Data from 1996 to July 2012 were analyzed in three groups: 1) early (1996 to 2007); 2) transition (2008 to 2009); and 3) mature (2010 to July 2012). A total of 239 patients were included with a mean age of 63.4 years and the majority were white (65.7%). The number of patients with Charlson comorbidity index greater than 2 and age older than 80 years increased comparing Group 1 with latter groups. Volume increased over time: Group 1 (n = 93) 7.75/year, Group 2 (n = 51) 25.5/year, and Group 3 (n = 95) 39/year. Overall mortality was 5.9 per cent: Group 1, 4.3 per cent; Group 2, 11.5 per cent; and Group 3, 3.9 per cent (P = 0.0454). The QI score incorporates documentation, chemotherapy, resection for Stage I/II, time to treatment, margins, lymph nodes, mortality, and surgical volume with a maximum possible score 10. The QI increased over time: 3 in Group 1; 4 in Group 2; and 6 in Group 3. An improvement was noted for the quality indicators: surgical resection (P = 0.0125) and use of palliative and adjuvant therapy (P = 0.0144 and < 0.0001). Implementation of a focused multidisciplinary pancreatic surgery program increases quality.