The effect of performing two pancreatoduodenectomies by a single surgical team in one day on surgeons and patient outcomes

Abstract

BackgroundThe centralization of pancreatoduodenectomy (PD) has been shown to improve patient outcomes. The scheduling of two PDs in one day is one option to shorten the waiting time for patients referred to high volume centers. The effect on the surgical team or patient outcomes of such an approach have not previously been explored. This study aimed to investigate the effect of scheduling two PDs in one day on the surgeon's workload and patient outcomes. MethodsA retrospective review of patients undergoing PD by a single surgeon between 2007 and 2018 was performed. Patients were allocated into: first PD (FIRSTPD group) or second PD (SECONDPD group) according to the position on the surgical operating list. The intraoperative, postoperative outcomes, and workload (the Surgery Task Load Index; SURG-TLX) were assessed between two groups. ResultsA total of 967 (91%) and 101 (9%) patients were included in the FIRSTPD and SECONDPD group, respectively. There were no differences in the duration of surgery (coefficient = −9.65; 95% confidence interval: −29.26 to 9.94; P = 0.334), incidence of major complications (odds ratio = 1.08; 95% confidence interval: 0.67–1.73; P = 0.739), or 90-day mortality (odds ratio = 1.03; 95% confidence interval: 0.12–8.53; P = 0.978) for those patients in the SECONDPD group as compared to the FIRSTPD group. The mean scores of two (physical and temporal demand) of the six SURG-TLX subscales of surgical workload were recorded as significantly higher by surgeons following two PD's as compared to one PD. ConclusionsAlthough scheduling a second PD in one day shows no association with adverse patient outcomes, there is an increase in the physical and temporal subscales of surgical workload and consideration should be given to how this could be minimized.