Clinically Relevant Postoperative Pancreatic Fistula Research Articles

Ideal outcome post-pancreatoduodenectomy: a comprehensive healthcare system analysis.

Indicators, such as mortality and complications, are commonly used to measure the quality of care. However, a more comprehensive assessment of surgical quality is captured using composite outcome measures such as Textbook Outcome (TO), Optimal Pancreatic Surgery, and a newer 'Ideal Outcome' (IO) measure. We reviewed our institutional experience to assess the impact of demographics, comorbidities, and operative variables on IO after pancreatoduodenectomy (PD). A retrospective study was conducted on PD patients at Northwell Health between 2009 and 2023. IO was determined by the absence of six adverse outcomes, including in-hospital mortality, Clavien-Dindo ≥ III complications, clinically-relevant postoperative pancreatic fistula, reoperation, hospital stay > 75th percentile, and readmission within 30 days. Logistic regression analyzed the effects of various factors on achieving IO. Of the 578 patients who underwent PD, 248 (42.91%) achieved the IO. On multivariable analysis, factors associated with increased odds of achieving IO included neoadjuvant chemotherapy (OR 1.30, 95% CI 1.05-1.62) and the presence of neuroendocrine tumors (OR 3.37, 95% CI 1.35-8.41). Percutaneous transhepatic biliary drainage (PTBD) (OR 0.34, 95% CI 0.14-0.80) and older age (≥ 70 years) (OR 0.48, 95% CI 0.32-0.74) were associated with decreased odds of achieving IO. Patients with IO had significantly improved survival on Kaplan-Meier log-rank test (p = 0.001) as well as adjusted Cox analysis (HR 0.62 95% CI: 0.39-0.97). IO may offer a comprehensive metric for assessing PD outcomes, highlighting the impact of age, chemotherapy, biliary drainage, and tumor types. These findings suggest targeted interventions and quality improvements could enhance PD outcomes by addressing modifiable factors and refining clinical strategies.

Insulinoma detection and surgery planning: a comparative study of 5.0T MRI versus 3.0T MRI and MDCT.

To compare the ability among 5.0T MRI, 3.0T MRI and MDCT in identifying insulinomas and determining the tumor-to-duct relationship. A consecutive series of patients highly suspected of insulinomas were enrolled between October 2021 and February 2024, who underwent 5.0T MRI preoperatively, as well as 3.0T MRI or MDCT. The subjective and objective image quality, lesion-to-pancreas contrast, clarity of main pancreatic duct (MPD) and tumor-to-duct relationship at 5.0T, 3.0T MRI and MDCT were evaluated by three observers. The correlation between tumor-duct distance and clinically relevant postoperative pancreatic fistula (CR-POPF) risk was analyzed. Forty patients (14 men; mean age, 46.4 ± 16.5 years) with insulinomas were included in this study. 21 of them underwent both 5.0T and 3.0T MRI; and 38 of them underwent 5.0T MRI and MDCT. The intra- and inter-observer agreement of 5.0T MRI were good to excellent. 5.0T showed significantly higher subjective and objective image quality on T1WI and DWI compared to 3.0T (p < 0.05). Lesion-to-pancreas contrast was superior across all sequences at 5.0T compared to 3.0T(p < 0.05). A head-to-head comparison of patients who received both 5.0T and 3.0T MRI demonstrated that tumor detection was superior with 5.0T MRI (5.0T: 100%; 3.0 T: 92.0%, p < 0.05). Feasibility of tumor-to-duct relationship assessment was superior at 5.0T, compared to 3.0T and MDCT (93.2%, 64.0% and 52.3%, respectively, p < 0.05). Tumor-duct distance could predict CR-POPF after enucleation surgery (areas under the ROC curve 0.79, p = 0.01). 5.0T MRI exhibits certain superiority in detecting insulinomas and assessing tumor-to-duct relationship compared to 3.0T MRI and MDCT.

Prediction of Clinically-Relevant Postoperative Pancreatic Fistula after pancreatoduodenectomy based on Multi-frequency Magnetic Resonance Elastography.

Clinically relevant postoperative pancreatic fistula (CR-POPF) is the major complication of pancreatoduodenectomy, and the pancreatic texture is one of the potential affecting factors. Multi-frequency Magnetic Resonance Elastography (MRE) is a novel technique for measuring stiffness of tissue, while its value in predicting CR-POPF preoperatively has not been well-documented. Seventy patients who underwent multi-frequency MRE before pancreatoduodenectomy between July 2021 and April 2024 were retrospectively recruited into the study. The parameter of MRE, shear wave speed (c) and phase angle (φ), and clinical data were collected. Logistic regression and the receiver operating characteristic curve (ROC) analyses were used to assess the performance of multi-frequency MRE in predicting CR-POPF. CR-POPF was developed in 14 out of 70 patients (20%), all categorized as Grade B. CR-POPF group had significantly lower c (1.339±0.210m/s) and longer hospital stays (21±22days) than no CR-POPF group. The MRE parameters, c and φ were moderately correlated with pancreas stiffness (eta2 for φ =0.189, eta2 for c =0.106). Dilated major pancreatic duct (MPD) (≥3mm) and higher c were independently associated with lower risk of CR-POPF in univariant and multivariant analysis (odds ratio for c = 0.041, 95%CI: 0.002~0.879, odds ratio for dilated MPD: 0.129, 95%CI: 0.022~0.768). The AUC of the predictive model based on c and MPD diameter was 0.786, which was better than Fistula Risk Score (FRS) (AUC=0.587) and alternative Fistula Risk Score (a-FRS) (AUC=0.556) in our center, with DeLong's test p= 0.028 and p=0.002 respectively. The MRE parameters were associated with pancreatic stiffness, and c was an independent predictor for CR-POPF after pancreatoduodenectomy.

Italian survey about intraperitoneal drain use in distal pancreatectomy.

Intraperitoneal prophylactic drain (IPD) use in distal pancreatectomy (DP) is still controversial. A survey was carried out through the Italian community of pancreatic surgeons using institutional emails, Twitter, and Facebook accounts of the Italian Association for the Study of the Pancreas (AISP) and the Italian Association of Hepato-biliary-pancreatic Surgery (AICEP). The survey was structured to learn surgeons' practice in using IPD through questions and one clinical vignette. Respondents were asked to report their regrets for omission and commission regarding the IPD use for the clinical scenario, eliciting a scale between 0 (no regret) and 100 (maximum regret). The threshold model and a multilevel mixed regression were built to identify respondents' attitudes. One hundred six surgeons completed the survey. Sixty-three (59.4%) respondents confirmed using at least 1 drain, while 43 (40.6%) placed 2 IPDs. Only 13 respondents (12.3%) declared a change in IPD strategy in patients at high risk of clinically relevant postoperative pancreatic fistula (CR-POPF), while 9 (9.4%) respondents changed their strategy in low-risk POPF situations. Thirty-five (35.5%) respondents declared they would remove the IPD within the third postoperative day (POD) in the absence of CR-POPF suspicion. The median omission regret, which proved to be the wrong decision, was 80 (50-100, IQR). The median regret due to the commission of IPD, which turned out to be useless, was 2.5 (1-20, IQR). The CR-POPF probability threshold at which drainage omission was the less regrettable choice was 7% (1-35, IQR). The threshold to perceive drain omission as the least regrettable choice was higher in female surgeons (P < 0.001), in surgeons who modulated the strategies based on the risk of CR-POPF, and in high volume centers (p = 0.039). The threshold was lower in surgeons who performed minimally invasive distal pancreatectomy (P < 0.001), adopted a closed system (P < 0.001), placed two IPDs (P < 0.001), or perceived the IPD as important to prevent reintervention (p = 0.047). Drain management after DP remains very heterogeneous among surgeons. The regret model suggested that IPD omission could be performed in low-risk patients (7% of CR-POPF), leading to low regret in the case of the wrong decision, making it an acceptable clinical decision.

Preoperative risk-stratified analysis: External versus internal pancreatic stents in pancreatoduodenectomy

BackgroundSeveral risk-stratified studies have compared the outcomes of external and internal pancreatic stents in pancreatoduodenectomy (PD), but no resolute standard for a fistula-mitigation strategy exists. The study investigated the efficacy of these stents in a preoperative risk-stratified setting. MethodsData from 285 patients who underwent PD with pancreaticojejunostomy using an external or internal stent from 2015 to 2023 were analyzed. The preoperative pancreatic fistula score (preFRS) was used to classify patients into low-risk (preFRS: 0–5) and high-risk (preFRS: 6–8) groups. ResultsPreFRS accurately predicted the risk of clinically relevant postoperative pancreatic fistula (CR-POPF) as 0% and >40% in patients with preFRS ≤1 and ≥7, respectively. Although no significant difference was observed in postoperative outcomes in low-risk patients, the external stent significantly reduced CR-POPF (21% vs 44%, P = .024) and postpancreatectomy hemorrhage (PPH, 0% vs 19%, P = .02) in high-risk patients, leading to the superiority of the external stent in the entire cohort in terms of CR-POPF (12% vs 24%, P = .033) and PPH (1% vs 11%, P = .013). There were no significant differences in stent-related complications or pancreatic dysfunction. External stent malfunction occurred in 14% and significantly affected CR-POPF development in both low- (20% vs 0%, P < .01) and high-risk groups (60% vs 14%, P = .021). ConclusionThe external pancreatic stent showed a more beneficial effect on CR-POPF and PPH, especially in high-risk patients, without increasing other complications. Risk-stratified strategy and improving stent management might enhance postoperative outcomes.

Construction and verification of pancreatic fistula risk prediction model after pancreaticoduodenectomy based on ensemble machine learning

Objective: To construct an ensemble machine learning model for predicting the occurrence of clinically relevant postoperative pancreatic fistula (CR-POPF) after pancreaticoduodenectomy and evaluate its application value. Methods: This is a research on predictive model. Clinical data of 421 patients undergoing pancreaticoduodenectomy in the Department of Pancreatic Surgery,Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College,Huazhong University of Science and Technology from June 2020 to May 2023 were retrospectively collected. There were 241 males (57.2%) and 180 females (42.8%) with an age of (59.7±11.0)years (range: 12 to 85 years).The research objects were divided into training set (315 cases) and test set (106 cases) by stratified random sampling in the ratio of 3∶1. Recursive feature elimination is used to screen features,nine machine learning algorithms are used to model,three groups of models with better fitting ability are selected,and the ensemble model was constructed by Stacking algorithm for model fusion. The model performance was evaluated by various indexes,and the interpretability of the optimal model was analyzed by Shapley Additive Explanations(SHAP) method. The patients in the test set were divided into different risk groups according to the prediction probability (P) of the alternative pancreatic fistula risk score system (a-FRS). The a-FRS score was validated and the predictive efficacy of the model was compared. Results: Among 421 patients,CR-POPF occurred in 84 cases (20.0%). In the test set,the Stacking ensemble model performs best,with the area under the curve (AUC) of the subject's work characteristic curve being 0.823,the accuracy being 0.83,the F1 score being 0.63,and the Brier score being 0.097. SHAP summary map showed that the top 9 factors affecting CR-POPF after pancreaticoduodenectomy were pancreatic duct diameter,CT value ratio,postoperative serum amylase,IL-6,body mass index,operative time,albumin difference before and after surgery,procalcitonin and IL-10. The effects of each feature on the occurrence of CR-POPF after pancreaticoduodenectomy showed a complex nonlinear relationship. The risk of CR-POPF increased when pancreatic duct diameter<3.5 mm,CT value ratio<0.95,postoperative serum amylase concentration>150 U/L,IL-6 level>280 ng/L,operative time>350 minutes,and albumin decreased by more than 10 g/L. The AUC of a-FRS in the test set was 0.668,and the prediction performance of a-FRS was lower than that of the Stacking ensemble machine learning model. Conclusion: The ensemble machine learning model constructed in this study can predict the occurrence of CR-POPF after pancreaticoduodenectomy,and has the potential to be a tool for personalized diagnosis and treatment after pancreaticoduodenectomy.

Prophylactic intra-abdominal drainage during pancreaticoduodenectomy: A systematic review and meta-analysis

Background: Prophylactic abdominal drainage during pancreaticoduodenectomy (PD) is a common treatment strategy for pancreatic fistula. However, its benefits and safety have been the subject of debate. The objective of this meta-analysis and system review is to assess the effects of prophylactic drainage, various types of drainage (active and passive), and the timing of drainage removal (early and late) on the postoperative outcomes of PD. Methods: A systematic literature search was conducted in the PubMed, Web of Science, and Cochrane Library databases as of April 28, 2024. Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) comparing prophylactic abdominal drainage, different drainage patterns, and the timing of drainage removal after PD were included, and the postoperative outcomes were evaluated. Odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (95% CIs) were calculated to aggregate dichotomous outcomes. Meta-analysis was performed using the Mantel-Haenszel fixed- and random-effects models. Results: Nine RCTs, including a total of 1638 patients, were incorporated in our study. The meta-analysis showed no statistically significant differences in postoperative outcomes between the closed-suction drain (CSD) group and the passive drain to gravity (PDG) group. Compared to the late drain removal (LDR) group, the early drain removal (EDR) group had a significant reduction in the incidence of Clinically relevant postoperative pancreatic fistula (CR-POPF) (OR=0.39, 95% CI=0.20 to 0.79; P=0.009), morbidity (OR=0.41, 95% CI=0.20 to 0.84; P=0.01) and intra-abdominal infection (OR=0.40, 95% CI=0.22 to 0.75; P=0.004). For the group of present of drainage and the group of absent of drainage, the patient inclusion criteria of the included studies were too heterogeneous, making meta-analysis inappropriate. Conclusion: The existing evidence is insufficient to negate the necessity of prophylactic drainage after PD. The meta-analysis did not show superiority of any specific approaches of drainage tube. But this review did indicate that patients benefit from EDR in terms of CR-POPF, morbidity and intra-abdominal infection. EDR was recommended for low/intermediate risk patients.

Robotic versus open pancreaticoduodenectomy in octogenarians: a comparative propensity score analysis of perioperative outcomes

IntroductionCompared to open pancreaticoduodenectomies (OPD), the robotic (RPD) approach improves the rate of complication and the length of stay. However, it remains unknown if these benefits persist in octogenarians, who are at higher risk for perioperative morbidity and mortality. MethodsA retrospective analysis of the ACS-NSQIP database was performed to identify patients aged 80 years or older who underwent PD for pancreatic adenocarcinoma between 2015 and 2021. Patients who underwent RPD or OPD were compared using inversed probability weighting of the propensity score to control for known confounding variables. Outcomes assessed include operative time, length of stay (LOS), non-home discharge, major complications, unplanned readmission, return to the operating room (OR), mortality, and clinically relevant postoperative pancreatic fistula (CRPOPF). ResultsOf 30,751 patients undergoing PD, 1720 were 80 or older. One thousand six hundred twenty-five patients (94 %) underwent OPD, and 95 (6 %) underwent RPD. RPD was significantly associated with a reduced incidence of major complications (32.6 % vs. 45.6 % in OPD; p < 0.01) and a lower rate of non-home discharge (24.7 % vs. 34.3 % in OPD; p < 0.05). However, RPD was associated with a longer operative time (438 min vs. 342 min for OPD; p < 0.0001). There was no difference in other assessed outcomes between the two groups. ConclusionRPD may reduce major postoperative complications and non-home discharges compared to the open approach for octogenarians.

Indocyanine green fluorescence imaging: Assessment of perfusion at pancreatic resection margin during pancreatoduodenectomy: A cross sectional study.

Clinically relevant-postoperative pancreatic fistula (CR-POPF) is one of the dreaded complications of pancreatoduodenectomy. Vascularity of the stump of the pancreas during pancreatico-enteric anastomosis is considered one of the major determinants of POPF. Indocyanine green (ICG) is one of the modality for vascular assessment; hence, we aimed to evaluate the role of ICG fluorescence imaging to assess the vascularity of the pancreatic stump during pancreatoduodenectomy. The study was conducted at Kathmandu Medical College, Kathmandu, Nepal, during the period of 1 year (June 01, 2022-July 31, 2023). All of the patients who were undergoing pancreatoduodenectomy were included in the study. In all cases, intraoperatively, ICG fluorescence detection at the pancreatic stump margin was evaluated using near-infrared light. A total of 28 patients underwent PD during this period. The ICG fluorescence imaging was positive at the pancreatic stump margin in 25 out of the 28 patients (89%), and in three cases, the florescence was negative. In patients who had negative fluorescence, revision of the stump margin was performed. Clinically relevant POPF was noted in 2 out of 28 cases, which had a soft pancreas with a small duct, although the pancreatic stump margin had good ICG florescence per-operatively. ICG is inexpensive and a safe dye to use in clinical practice. We can objectively assess the pancreatic stump vascularity using intraoperative ICG fluorescence imaging, thereby potentially decreasing postoperative pancreatic fistula.

Computed tomography-based radiomics and body composition analysis for predicting clinically relevant postoperative pancreatic fistula after pancreaticoduodenectomy.

Preoperative risk assessment of clinically relevant postoperative pancreatic fistula (CR-POPF) is still lacking. This study aimed to develop and validate a combined model based on radiomics, pancreatic duct diameter, and body composition analysis for the prediction of CR-POPF in patients undergoing pancreaticoduodenectomy (PD). Multivariable logistic regression was used to construct a combined model in conjunction with radiomics score (Rad-score), pancreatic duct diameter, and visceral fat area/total abdominal muscle area index (VFA/TAMAI). The models were internally validated using 1,000 bootstrap resamples. The predictive performance of these models was assessed using receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves, calibration curves, and decision curve analysis (DCA). The preoperative combined model was validated by 1,000 bootstrap resampling with the area under the ROC curve (AUC) of 0.839 (95% confidence interval: 0.757-0.907). The calibration curves and DCA showed that the combined model outperformed the clinical model and radiomics model. The combined model was presented as a web-based calculator (https://whyyjyljz.shinyapps.io/DynNomapp/). We explored a method of combining radiomics features, pancreatic duct diameter, and body composition analysis predictors in preoperative assessment for risk of CR-POPF and developed a combined model that showed relatively good performance, but future studies with a larger sample size are needed to verify the stability and generalizability of this model.

Whether T-tube biliary drainage is necessary after pancreaticoduodenectomy: a single-center retrospective study

BackgroundPostoperative complications of pancreaticoduodenectomy (PD) are still a thorny problem. This study aims to verify the preventative impact of T-tube on them.MethodsThe electronic medical records and follow-up data of patients who received pancreaticoduodenectomy in our center from July 2016 to June 2020 were reviewed. According to whether T tube was placed during the operation, the patients were divided into T-tube group and not-T-tube group. Propensity score matching analysis was performed to minimize selection bias.ResultsA total of 330 patients underwent PD (Not-T-tube group =226, T-tube group=104). Propensity score matching resulted in 222 patients for further analysis (Not-T-tube group =134, T-tube group=88). Patients' demographics were comparable in the matched cohorts. Significantly higher incidences of clinically relevant postoperative pancreatic fistula (CR-POPF) ((14 (10.45%) VS 20 (22.73%)), P=0.013) were observed in the T-tube group. The total incidence of biliary anastomotic stricture (BAS) was 3.15%. The incidence was slightly lower in the T-tube group, but there was no statistically significant differentiation (6 (4.48%) VS 1 (1.14%), P=0.317).ConclusionsIt is not feasible to prevent postoperative complications with the application of a T-tube in PD.

Hospital charge and resource use analysis of extended-spectrum penicillin antibiotic therapy after pancreatoduodenectomy in intermediate- and high-risk patients

BackgroundWe previously reported that an extended antibiotic mitigation pathway following pancreatoduodenectomy in patients with intermediate-/high-risk glands is associated with 83 % lower odds of clinically relevant postoperative pancreatic fistula (CR-POPF). We now describe associations between the pathway, resource utilization, and hospital charges. MethodsWe performed a retrospective cohort study of patients who underwent elective pancreatoduodenectomy with soft gland texture and fistula risk score (FRS) ≥3 who received standard or extended antibiotics. Hospital charges and resource utilization within 90 days of surgery were compared by CR-POPF status and antibiotic pathway. ResultsA total of 34 patients received extended antibiotics and 53 received standard antibiotics. In patients with CR-POPF, patients who received extended antibiotics had lower likelihood of surgical or percutaneous reintervention (75.0 % vs. 100.0 %, p = 0.022). Ninety-day postoperative charges associated with CR-POPF were higher than no CR-POPF ($60,527 vs. $25,631, p = 0.028). Our risk-based model predicted a $15,825 decrease in hospital charges per patient receiving extended antibiotics. ConclusionsCR-POPF is associated with higher 90-day hospital charges. Extended antibiotic therapy following pancreatoduodenectomy in patients with soft gland texture and FRS ≥3 is associated with fewer reinterventions in patients who develop CR-POPF. These outcomes will be formally tested in a randomized controlled trial (NCT05753735).

Shorter Drainage Tube to the Pancreatic Stump Reduces Pancreatic Fistula After Distal Pancreatectomy.

We investigated the relationship between the length of a prophylactic closed-suction drainage tube and clinically relevant postoperative pancreatic fistula (CR-POPF) in distal pancreatectomy (DP). The clinical data of 76 patients who underwent DP using a reinforced stapler for the division of the pancreas at Ehime University Hospital between December 2017 and May 2023 were retrospectively analyzed. Laparoscopic DP was performed in 41 patients (53.9%). Closed-suction drainage was performed using a 19Fr ExuFlow Round Drain with a vacuum bulb. The drainage tube length was defined as the distance between the peripancreatic stump site and the abdominal wall insertion site using abdominal radiography. CR-POPF was observed in 12 patients (15.8%). Univariate analyses demonstrated that male sex (P=0.020), American Society of Anesthesiologists Physical Status (P=0.017), current smoking (P=0.005), and drainage tube length (P<0.001) were significantly associated with CR-POPF. The optimal cut-off value of drainage tube length for CR-POPF was 220mm (area under the receiver operating characteristic curve=0.80). In multivariate analyses, drainage tube length (≥220mm) was the sole independent predictor for CR-POPF (odds ratio, 6.59; P=0.023). According to computed tomography performed ∼1 week after surgery, the median volume of peripancreatic fluid collection was significantly higher in the long drainage tube group than in the short drainage tube group (P<0.001). A drainage tube inserted at a shorter distance to the pancreatic stump may reduce the incidence of CR-POPF after DP.

Dynamic Assessment of Drain Fluid Amylase Estimates the Risk of CR-POPF Following Pancreatoduodenectomy.

To evaluate whether drain fluid amylase levels on day-1 (DFA1) and day-3 (DFA3) can reliably estimate the risk of clinically relevant-postoperative pancreatic fistula (CR-POPF) following pancreatoduodenectomy (PD) compared to either value alone or in combination with clinicopathologic variables. CR-POPF is a major source of morbidity and mortality following PD. Current drain management algorithms are variable and are mostly dependent on DFA1, while the DFA3 is seldom utilized to guide clinical decision making. Between 2015-2020, patients who underwent PD at two high-volume pancreas centers and had intraoperative drain placement with measurement of DFA1 and DFA3 were retrospectively reviewed. Models to predict CR-POPF were constructed using DFA1, DFA3, fistula risk score (FRS) and other patient or treatment-related parameters. The fittest and more parsimonious model was used to construct a CR-POPF risk calculator. Nine-hundred-twenty-three patients were included in the analysis. The FRS was high in 100(10.9%), intermediate in 524(57.3%), low in 211(23.1%) and negligible in 79(8.6%) patients. The overall rate of CR-POPF was 9.2%. Five logistic regression models were constructed using variables known to be implicated in CR-POPF. A model based solely on DFA1 and DFA3 with a cross-validated area under the curve of 0.846 was selected. A calculator using DFA1 and DFA3 was created based on this model to estimate the risk of CR-POPF. Risk of CR-POPF following pancreatoduodenectomy can be accurately estimated based on measurement of DFA1 and DFA3. Our CR-POPF kinetics calculator can facilitate postoperative risk stratification and guide drain management algorithms.

Comparisons of laparoscopic and robotic pancreaticoduodenectomy using barbed and conventional sutures for pancreaticojejunostomy: a propensity score matching study.

There are limited data on the effect of different sutures and surgical approaches on the quality of pancreaticojejunostomy in minimally invasive pancreaticoduodenectomy (MIPD). This study compares the incidence of clinically relevant postoperative pancreatic fistula (CR-POPF) between the use of barbed sutures (BSs) and conventional sutures (CSs). A retrospective cohort study was conducted on 253 consecutive patients who had undergone MIPD from July 2016 to April 2023. Patients were excluded if conversion to open surgery or open anastomosis was necessary. 220 patients were enrolled and divided into BS (n = 148) and CS (n = 72) groups. After 1:1 propensity score matching (PSM), 67 cases remained in each group. Univariate and multivariate analyses identified factors associated with CR-POPF. Comparisons were also made between laparoscopic (LPD) and robotic (RPD) pancreaticoduodenectomy. After PSM, BSs were associated with significantly lower rates of CR-POPF (7.5 vs. 22.4%, P = 0.015) and severe complications (Clavien-Dindo ≥ III) (7.5vs. 19.4%, P = 0.043). No significant differences were found in operative time, length of postoperative hospital stay, or other major morbidities. Multivariate analyses revealed BMI 22kg/m2 (OR = 5.048, 95% CI: 1.256-20.287, P = 0.023) and the use of BSs (OR = 0.196, 95% CI: 0.059-0.653, P = 0.008) as the independent predictors of CR-POPF. There were no significant differences in postoperative outcomes between the LPD and RPD groups, but RPD was associated with significantly shorter operative time (402.8min vs. 429.4min, P = 0.015). In conclusion, using BSs for PJ during MIPD is feasible and has the potential to reduce CR-POPF and severe complications.

Validation and Optimisation of the ISGPS Risk Classification for Postoperative Pancreatic Fistula after Pancreatoduodenectomy for Periampullary Tumours.

To externally validate the International Study Group of Pancreatic Surgery (ISGPS) classification and test its performance for predicting clinically relevant pancreatic fistula (CRPF) for periampullary tumours (P-amps). The ISGPS is a simple two-factor, four-tier classification of pancreas-related risk for CRPF after a pancreatoduodenectomy (PD). External validation and performance of the classification specific to P-amps are lacking. P-amps have different disease biology, lesser need for neoadjuvant therapy, softer pancreas, and a higher rate of CRPF, underscoring the importance of site-specific prediction. Validation was performed in a cohort of 1422 patients, with CRPF as the primary outcome. Model performance was tested by plotting the receiver operating curve and calibration plots. After analysing the factors predicting CRPF, the model was optimised for P-amps. CRPF rate was 22.2% (315/1422), for P-amps being 25.8%. The ISGPS model performed moderately (AUC=0.632, 95% CI 0.598-0.666, P<0.001), with worse performance for P-amps (AUC=0.605, 95% CI 0.566-0.645, P<0.001). On multivariate analysis, soft pancreas (OR 1.689, 95% CI 1.136-2.512, P=0.010), body mass index ≥23kg/m2 (OR 2.112, 95% CI 1.464-3.046, P<0.001) and pancreatic duct ≤3mm (OR 2.113 95% CI 1.457-3.064, P<0.001), emerged as independent predictors and the model was optimised. The adjusted ISGPS for P-amps showed improved discrimination (AUC=0.672, P<0.001, 95% CI 0.637-0.707), with adequate performance on internal validation. The adjusted ISPGS performs better than the original ISGPS in predicting CRPF for P-amps. Large-scale multicenter data is needed to generate and validate site-specific predictive models.

Early postoperative fever as a predictor of pancreatic fistula after pancreaticoduodenectomy: a single-center retrospective observational study

BackgroundThe connection between early postoperative fever and clinically relevant postoperative pancreatic fistula (CR-POPF) after pancreaticoduodenectomy remains unclear. This study aimed to investigate this association and assess the predictive value of early postoperative fever for CR-POPF.MethodsThis retrospective observational study included adult patients who underwent pancreaticoduodenectomy at a tertiary teaching hospital between 2007 and 2019. Patients were categorized into those with early postoperative fever (≥ 38 °C in the first 48 h after surgery) and those without early postoperative fever groups. Weighted logistic regression analysis using stabilized inverse probability of treatment weighting (sIPTW) and multivariable logistic analysis were performed. The c-statistics of the receiver operating characteristic curves were calculated to evaluate the impact on the predictive power of adding early postoperative fever to previously identified predictors of CR-POPF.ResultsOf the 1997 patients analyzed, 909 (45.1%) developed early postoperative fever. The overall incidence of CR-POPF among all the patients was 14.3%, with an incidence of 19.5% in the early postoperative fever group and 9.9% in the group without early postoperative fever. Early postoperative fever was significantly associated with a higher risk of CR-POPF after sIPTW (adjusted odds ratio [OR], 1.73; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.34–2.22; P < 0.001) and multivariable logistic regression analysis (adjusted OR, 1.88; 95% CI, 1.42–2.49; P < 0.001). The c-statistics for the models with and without early postoperative fever were 0.76 (95% CI, 0.73–0.79) and 0.75 (95% CI, 0.72–0.78), respectively, showing a significant difference between the two (difference, 0.02; 95% CI, 0.00–0.03; DeLong’s test, P = 0.005).ConclusionsEarly postoperative fever is a significant but not highly discriminative predictor of CR-POPF after pancreaticoduodenectomy. However, its widespread occurrence limits its applicability as a predictive marker.

Updating the paradigm of prophylactic abdominal drainage following Pancreatoduodenectomy (review article).

Prophylactic abdominal drainage (PAD) is considered a routine procedure after pancreatoduodenectomy (PD) to prevent and detect severe complications at an early stage. However, the drainage itself may cause adverse consequences. Thus, the optimal strategy of PAD after PD remains controversial. The present paper summarizes the latest research on the strategies of PAD following PD, mainly focusing on 1) the selective placement of PAD, 2) the optimal drainage types, 3) the early removal of drainage (EDR), and 4) novel strategies for PAD management. Accurate stratifications based on the potential risk factors of clinically relevant-postoperative pancreatic fistula (CR-POPF) facilitates the selective placement of PAD and the implementation of EDR, with postoperative outcomes superior or similar to routine PAD placement. Both active and passive drainage methods are feasible in most patients after PD, with similar prognostic outcomes. Novel predictive models with accurate, dynamic, and individualized performance further guide the management of PAD and afford a better prognosis. Evidence-based risk stratification of CR-POPF aids in the management of PAD in patients undergoing PD. Novel dynamic and individualized PAD strategies might be the next hotspot in drain-relevant explorations.

Intraoperative fluid management is not predictive of AKI in major pancreatic surgery: a retrospective cohort study

BackgroundPancreatic surgery is associated with a significant risk for acute kidney injury (AKI) and clinically relevant postoperative pancreatic fistula (CR-POPF). This investigation evaluated the impact of intraoperative volume administration, vasopressor therapy, and blood pressure management on the primary outcome of AKI and the secondary outcome of a CR-POPF after pancreatic surgery.MethodsThis retrospective single-center cohort investigated 200 consecutive pancreatic surgeries (January 2018–December 2021). Patients were categorized for the presence/absence of AKI (Kidney Disease Improving Global Outcomes) and CR-POPF. After univariate analysis, multivariable models were constructed to control for the univariate cofactor differences in the primary and secondary outcomes.ResultsAKI was identified in 20 patients (10%) with significant univariate differences in demographics (body mass index and gender), comorbidities, indices of chronic renal insufficiency, and an increased AKI Risk score. Surgical characteristics, intraoperative fluid, vasopressor, and blood pressure management were similar in patients with and without AKI. Patients with AKI had increased blood loss, lower urine output, and packed red blood cell administration. After multivariate analysis, male gender (OR = 7.9, 95% C.I. 1.8–35.1) and the AKI Risk score (OR = 6.3, 95% C.I. 2.4–16.4) were associated with the development of AKI (p < 0.001). Intraoperative and postoperative volume, vasopressor administration, and intraoperative hypotension had no significant impact in the multivariate analysis. CR-POPF occurred in 23 patients (11.9%) with no significant contributing factors in the multivariate analysis. Patients who developed AKI or a CR-POPF had an increase in surgical complications, length of stay, discharge to a skilled nursing facility, and mortality.ConclusionIn this analysis, intraoperative volume administration, vasopressor therapy, and a blood pressure < 55 mmHg for more than 10 min were not associated with an increased risk of AKI. After multivariate analysis, male gender and an elevated AKI Risk score were associated with an increased likelihood of AKI.

Association of preoperative CT-scan features and clinically relevant postoperative pancreatic fistula after pancreaticoduodenectomy: a meta-analysis.

Clinically relevant postoperative pancreatic fistula (CR-POPF) is a significant complication after pancreaticoduodenectomy. CR-POPF is associated with various adverse outcomes, including high mortality rates. Identifying complication predictors for CR-POPF, such as preoperative CT scan features, including pancreatic attenuation index (PAI) and pancreatic duct diameter (PDD), is critical. This systematic review and meta-analysis consolidate existing literature to assess the impact of these variables on CR-POPF risk. Our comprehensive search, conducted in May 2023, covered PubMed, Scopus, Embase, and Web of Science databases. Inclusion criteria encompassed peer-reviewed cohort studies on pancreaticoduodenectomy, focusing on preoperative CT scan data. Case reports, case series, and studies reporting distal pancreatectomy were excluded. The quality assessment of included articles was done using New-Castle Ottawa Scale for cohort studies. Statistical analysis was carried out using Review Manager 5. This study was registered at the International Prospective Register of Systematic Reviews database (PROSPERO) on 12 May 2023 (registration number: CRD42023414139). We conducted a detailed analysis of 38 studies with 7393 participants. The overall incidence of CR-POPF was 24%. Multiple linear regression analyses revealed that PDD and pancreatic parenchymal thickness were significantly associated with CR-POPF. Our systematic review and meta-analysis shed light on CT scan findings for predicting CR-POPF after Whipple surgery. Age, PDD, and pancreatic parenchymal thickness significantly correlate with CR-POPF.