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The safety of minimally invasive procedures during COVID pandemic remains hotly debated, especially in a country, like Italy, where minimally invasive techniques have progressively and pervasively entered clinical practice, in both the hepatobiliary and pancreatic community. A nationwide snapshot of the management of HPB minimally invasive surgery activity during COVID-19 pandemic is provided: a survey was developed and conducted within AICEP (Italian Association of HepatoBilioPancreatic Surgeons) with the final aim of conveying the experience, knowledge, and opinions into a unitary report enabling more efficient crisis management. Results from the survey (81 respondents) show that, in Italian hospitals, minimally invasive surgery maintains its role despite the COVID-19 pandemic, with the registered reduction of cases being proportional to the overall reduction of the HPB surgical activity. Respondents agree that the switch from minimally invasive to open technique can be considered as a valid option for cases with a high technical complexity. Several issues merit specific attention: screening for virus positivity should be universally performed; only expert surgical teams should operate on positive patients and specific technical measures to lower the biological risk of contamination during surgery must be followed. Future studies specifically designed to establish the true risks in minimally invasive surgery are suggested. Furthermore, a standard and univocal process of prioritization of patients from Regional Healthcare Systems is advisable.

Objectives: Development of a simple preoperative risk score to predict morbidity related to pancreatic surgery., Background: Pancreatic surgery is standardized with little technical diversity among institutions and unchanging morbidity and mortality rates in recent years. Preoperative identification of high-risk patients is potentially one of the rare avenues for improving the clinical course of patients undergoing pancreatic surgery., Methods: Using a prospectively collected multicenter database of patients undergoing pancreatic surgery (n=703), surgical complications were classified according to the Clavien-Dindo classification. A new scoring system for preoperative identification of high-risk patients that included only objective preoperatively assessable variables was developed using a multivariate regression model. Subsequently, this scoring system was prospectively validated from 2011 to 2013 (n=429) in a multicenter setting., Results: Eight independent preoperatively assessable variables were identified and included in the scoring system: systolic blood pressure, heart rate, hemoglobin level, albumin level, ASA (American Society of Anesthesiologists) score, surgical procedure, elective surgery or not, and disease of pancreatic origin or not. On the basis of 3 subgroups (low risk, intermediate risk, high risk), the proposed scoring system reached an accuracy of 75% for correctly predicting occurrence or nonoccurrence of major surgical complications in 80% of all analyzed patients within the validation cohort (c-statistic index=0.709, P<0.001, 95% confidence interval=0.657-0.760)., Conclusions: We present an easily applied scoring system with convincing accuracy for identifying low-risk and high-risk patients. In contrast to other systems, the score is exclusively based on objective preoperatively assessable characteristics and can be rapidly and easily calculated.

Objective: To optimize the results of low-volume (LV) centers for hepatopancreaticobiliary (HPB) surgery., Background: High-volume (HV) centers for HPB surgery have lower mortality than LV. Strategies for collaboration between HV and LV centers are not well investigated., Methods: Postoperative outcomes of patients undergoing curative HPB resection were evaluated at an LV hospital before (2006-2008) and during the collaboration (2009-2012) and at 2 hospitals with HV for either liver or pancreatic resection (2009-2012). Itinerant tutor surgeons from the HV centers were involved in the pre-, intra- and postoperative course of HPB patients at the LV hospital., Results: HPB cases at the LV center increased from 18 to 40 patients per year from 2006 to 2012, whereas 6-month postoperative mortality decreased from 17.8% (2006-2008) to 6% (2009-2012), P<0.05 (liver: 10.3% vs 4.7% and pancreas: 29.4% vs 7.9%). During the collaborative study period, outcomes for hepatectomy were similar for LV and HV (85 vs 507 cases): postoperative Clavien-Dindo scores 4 and 5 were 2% and 0.2% for HV versus 2.4% and 1.2% for LV, respectively. Outcomes for pancreatic procedures (LV 63 vs HV 269 cases) showed better postoperative Clavien-Dindo scores 4 and 5 in the HV (0.7% score 4 and 1.5% score 5 for HV vs 3.2% and 6.3%, respectively, for LV) but the difference disappeared in the last 2 years (2011-2012) and matching the cases., Conclusions: Our partnership model helped improve postoperative outcomes at the LV center. Results at the LV hospital were comparable with the HV centers, although 2 years of partnership were required to achieve this in pancreatic surgery.

Background/aims: The aim of the present study is the analysis of risk factors of postoperative pancreatic fistula (POPF) and of clinical outcome after pancreatoduodenectomy (PD) in a retrospective multicentric review of the patient cohort., Methodology: From January 2003 to July 2013 143 patients underwent PD: 138 cases were included and 3 groups were identified according to the different types of anastomosis: Group 1 invaginating end-to-end pancreatojejunostomy, Group 2 end-to-side pancreatojejunostomy with duct-to-mucosa anastomosis, Group 3 end-to-side pancreatogastrostomy., Results: Twenty-one % of patients developed POPF, 16% in Group 1, 27% in Group 2, 12% in Group 3. Forty % grade A, 13% grade B and 47% grade C total POPF. It results that POPF occurred in 16% of hard and in 40% of soft pancreatic texture; in 11.4% of dilated Wirsung versus 30.8% of non dilated (p = 0.007). Overall actuarial 1 and 3 year survival after PD is 69% and 48% respectively. Perioperative mortality is 5.8% overall, 17.85% for grade C., Conclusions: No differences have been found among surgical anastomosis techniques. Soft tissues seem to increase, while dilated Wirsung seems to decrease POPF rate. The development of POPF increase morbidity but it doesn't affect overall survival, more strictly related to tumour histopathology.

Laparoscopic distal pancreatectomy (LDP) for benign and borderline pancreatic lesions is recently becoming the treatment of choice in experienced centres. No data have been published on learning curve so far. The purpose of this study was to identify the learning curve period for performing LDP. Between March 2009 and August 2010 all patients with lesions of pancreatic body or tail were assessed for eligibility for LDP. Exclusion criteria were: major vessels contact in cancer patients, severe organ dysfunction, BMI > 35, and refusing laparoscopic approach. All laparoscopic procedures were carried out by the same surgical team with large experience in open pancreatic surgery. All patients were treated according to an early recovery after surgery protocol. Primary endpoint was conversion rate. Secondary endpoints were operative time, operative blood loss, postoperative morbidity, and length of stay (LOS). Sixty patients were assessed for eligibility. Thirty (50.0 %) patients met the exclusion criteria, while the other 30 patients underwent LDP. Spleen-preserving procedure was planned in the 17 patients with benign lesion and successfully performed in 15 (82.3 %). Overall conversion rate was 23.3 %, but it dropped significantly after the first ten patients (p = 0.01). Mean operative time progressively declined from 254 min in the first subgroup of ten patients to 206 min in the second (p = 0.09 vs. first), and 183 min in the third subgroup (p = 0.006 vs. first). No significant difference was found for operative blood loss, postoperative morbidity rate, and LOS in the different subgroups. Both conversion rate and operative time dropped after the first ten patients who underwent LDP. Strict selection criteria, high-volume hospital, and experienced team in open pancreatic surgery may have played a role in shortening the learning curve.

Aim: Operative mortality rates after pancreaticoduodenectomy (PD) have decreased dramatically over the past 3 decades and recent series have reported no mortality. Nevertheless pancreatic leakage remains the major cause of morbidity with incidences varying between 6-16%. The aim of the study is to analyze the main etiopatogenetic factors and the treatment of this complication in the literature and, retrospectively, in own experience., Methods: At the Clinical Surgery of the University of Genoa, from 1991 to 1995, and then at the General Surgery Department of the Hospitals of Bordighera and Imperia, between 1995 and 2003, 30 PD were completed; there were 20 males (66.6%) and 10 females (33.3%), the average age being 64.6 years (range 50-81). Indications for surgery were pancreatic head adenocarcinoma (70%), ampullary adenocarcinoma (16.6%), duodenal adenocarcinoma (6.6%) and chronic pancreatitis (6.6%).The personal method of reconstruction after PD consisting of a double Roux-en-Y on the same jejunal loop without interruption of the mesentery and a third anatomical Roux-en-Y to reconstitute the alimentary tract. The gastric stump was anastomosed with the jejunum as a Billroth II-type reconstruction in older patients., Results: The mean hospital stay was 15 days (range 10-40), the operative time 397 min (range 295-500) and transfusion of red blood cells 0.2 (range 0-3). The incidence of perioperative mortality was 0; pancreaticojejunostomy leakage occurred in 3 patients (10%); one of this died 48 days after surgery for bleeding., Conclusions: the level of pancreatic fibrosis and diameter of main pancreatic duct are the more important risk factors for complications after PD. Nowadays pancreaticojejunostomy remains the standard technique; pancreaticogastrostomy, occlusion of the pancreatic duct and two-stage pancreaticojejunostomy must be reserved to selected cases. The majority of pancreatic fistulas are uncomplicated and heal with conservative treatment. The skills of the interventional radiology team provide expert management of these complications, speeding recovery times and minimizing morbidity. If surgical re-exploration is necessary, an early completion pancreatectomy may maximize survival.

Aim: Personal experience in 50 patients who underwent combined pancreas-kidney transplantation (PKT), with particular reference to mortality and surgical complications is reported., Methods: Between October 1993 and December 2001, 50 adult patients (36 males and 14 females), mean age 37 years (range 25-60), with chronic renal failure, and Insulin Dependent Diabetes Mellitus (IDDM), underwent 54 pancreas transplantation (4 patients retransplanted) and 52 kidney transplantation (2 patients retransplanted). Different surgical procedures have been employed during the period of 9 years. All patients underwent the same immunosuppressive regimen; the mean length of follow-up was 49 months. During the follow-up, 30 out of 43 patients who maintained a good graft function fulfilled a questionnaire about their quality of life following the criteria of the Medical Outcome Study (MOS)., Results: All patients became euglycemic immediately after the surgical procedure. One patient died post-operatively due to pulmorary thromboembolism after pancreas retransplantation for acute venous thrombosis; 1 other patient died 9 months after the procedure for acute myocardial infarction. Four patients developed acute venous thrombosis. All these patients underwent pancreas retransplantation, but 3 of these patients who survived the procedure lose the graft function for chronic rejection within 1 year. Fourteen patients showed acute rejection, 7 patients CMV infection. Three patients showed hyperchloremic acidosis, 12 patients bronchopulmonar infection and 7 patients urinary infection. Among surgical complications anastomotic fistula in 6 patients was also recorded. Five patients out of 50 lose the pancreatic graft function. After 1 from PKT, 83% of patients who fulfilled a questionnaire were strongly satisfied about their quality of life. No patients developed de novo tumors following chronic immunosuppression. The 5-year survival for patient, kidney and pancreas was 95.6%, 93.4% and 84.7% respectively., Conclusions: Our experience in 50 patients submitted to PKT shows no graft loss due to acute rejection. Surgical complications (acute venous thrombosis) and chronic rejection are the most important factors leading to graft loss. A graft in "head-up" position, a short portal vein of the graft, a "no-touch technique" during pancreas retrieval can be some of the most important factors which can reduce the rate of surgical complications. Combined kidney-pancreas transplantation showed in our experience a low mortality rate and a moderate incidence of morbidity and should be considered, at the moment, the treatment of choice for patients with renal failure and IDDM.

This is a report on 108 cases collected from 1970 to 1987, in the same department, of surgically-detected pancreatic abscesses or pus-harboring collections. The purulent areas were either of a spreading pattern or represented a clearly localized mass. To the spreading pattern belong 47 cases of necrotizing pancreatitis, without discontinuity in the clinical course from the early toxic to the late septic phase, 4 cases of acute pancreatitis, initially in remission and later complicated by septic collections, and 4 cases which developed after an acute attack of chronic pancreatitis. The abscess pattern was made up of 19 each of pseudocysts and predisposing pancreatitis, 10 cases of chronic pancreatitis, and only 5 necrotizing "nonstop" pancreatitis. The surgical treatment in all cases consisted of multiple drainages and postoperative irrigation. We exclude 3 cases of associated open packing. The etiological, clinical, and biochemical features of each group of patients are reported and discussed. Computed tomography availability seems to be the most important improvement reported as regards diagnosis and surgical tactics. The overall mortality rate was 15.7% with a significant difference between the 2 patterns (23.6% for the spreading pattern versus 7.5% for the abscess pattern). On the basis of this experience, it is possible to establish a relationship between the gross appearance of the collection and the underlying pancreatic disease with differences in terms of prognosis, morbidity, and mortality. Finally, a simple nomenclature can be chosen which is capable of distinguishing between the diverse pancreatic purulent collections. While the presence of pus may characterize the course of severe acute pancreatitis in many cases, the low incidence of "true" pancreatic abscess is emphasized.