Position statement on the definition, incidence, diagnosis and outcome of acute on chronic pancreatitis

BACKGROUND

Acute on chronic pancreatitis (ACP) is a relatively common condition, but there are significant gaps in our knowledge on the definition, incidence, diagnosis, treatment and prognosis.

METHODS

A systematic review that followed PICO (Population; Intervention; Comparator; Outcome) recommendation for quantitative questions and PICo (Population, Phenomenon of Interest, Context) for qualitative research was done to answer 10 of the most relevant questions about ACP. Quality of evidence was judged by the GRADE criteria (Grades of Recommendation, Assessment, Development and Evaluation). The manuscript was sent for review to 12 international experts from various disciplines and continents using a Delphi process.

RESULTS

The quality of evidence, for most statements, was low to very low, which means that the recommendations in general are only conditional. Despite that, it was possible to reach strong levels of agreement by the expert panel for all 10 questions. A new consensus definition of ACP was reached. Although common, the real incidence of ACP is not known, with alcohol as a major risk factor. Although pain dominates, other non-specific symptoms and signs can be present. Serum levels of pancreatic enzymes may be less than 3 times the upper limit of normal and cross-sectional imaging is considered more accurate for the diagnosis in many cases. It appears that it is less severe and with a lower mortality risk than acute pancreatitis.

CONCLUSIONS

Although the evidence base is poor, this position statement provides a foundation from which to advance management of ACP.

Social deprivation does not impact on acute pancreatitis severity and mortality: a single-centre study

BACKGROUND AND AIMS

The incidence of acute pancreatitis (AP) is increasing in the UK. Patients with severe AP require a significant amount of resources to support them during their admission. The ability to predict which patients will develop multiorgan dysfunction remains poor leading to a delay in the identification of these patients and a window of opportunity for early intervention is missed. Social deprivation has been linked with increased mortality across surgical specialties. Its role in predicting mortality in patients with AP remains unclear but would allow high-risk patients to be identified early and to focus resources on high-risk populations.

METHODS

A prospectively collected single-centre database was analysed. English Index of Multiple Deprivation (IMD) was calculated based on postcode. Patients were grouped according to their English IMD quintile. Outcomes measured included all-cause mortality, Intestive care unit (ITU) admission, overall length of stay (LOS) and local pancreatitis-specific complications.

RESULTS

398 patients with AP between 2018 and 2021 were identified. There were significantly more patients with AP in Q1 (IMD 1-2) compared with Q5 (IMD 9-10) (156 vs 38, p<0.001). Patients who were resident in the most deprived areas were significantly younger (52.4 in Q1 vs 65.2 in Q5, p<0.001), and more often smokers (39.1% in Q1 vs 23.7% in Q5, p=0.044) with IHD (95.0% vs 92.1% in Q5, p<0.001). In multivariate modelling, there was no significance difference in pancreatitis-related complications, number of ITU visits, number of organs supported and overall, LOS by IMD quintile.

CONCLUSIONS

Although there was a significantly higher number of patients admitted to our unit with AP from the most socially deprived quintiles, there was no correlation between social economic deprivation and mortality following AP.

The safety and efficacy of epidural anaesthesia in acute pancreatitis: a systematic review and meta-analysis

BACKGROUND

Acute pancreatitis (AP) has variable clinical courses. This systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to determine the safety, efficacy, and impact of epidural anaesthesia (EA) use in AP.

METHODS

The PubMed, EMBASE, SCOPUS and Cochrane library databases were systematically searched between 1980 and 2022 using the PRISMA guidelines, to identify observational and comparative studies reporting on EA in AP. The meta-analysis was performed in R Foundation for Statistical Computing using the meta R Package for Meta-Analysis.

RESULTS

A total of 9 studies with 2006 patients of which 726 (36%) patients had EA were included. All studies demonstrated high safety and feasibility of EA in AP with no reported major local or neurological complications. One randomised controlled trial demonstrated an improvement in pain severity using a 0-10 visual analogue scale (VAS) at the outset (1.6 in EA vs 3.5 in non-EA, P = 0.02) and on day 10 (0.2 in EA vs 2.33 in non-EA, P = 0.034). There was also improvement in pancreatic perfusion with EA measured with computerised tomography 13 (43%) in EA vs 2 (7%) in non-EA, P = 0.003. The need for ventilatory support and overall mortality was lower in EA patients 40 (19%) vs 285 (24%) P = 0.025 (OR: 0.49, 95% CI: 0.28-0.84) and 16 (7%) vs 214 (20%), P = 0.050 (OR: 0.39, 95% CI: 0.15-1.00), respectively.

CONCLUSION

EA is infrequently used for pain management in AP and yet the available evidence suggests that it is safe and effective in reducing pain severity, improving pancreatic perfusion, and decreasing mortality.

Delayed Gastric Emptying and Gastric Remnant Function After Pancreaticoduodenectomy: A Systematic Review of Objective Assessment Modalities

BACKGROUND

Delayed gastric emptying (DGE) is a frequent complication after pancreaticoduodenectomy (PD). The diagnosis of DGE is based on International Study Group for Pancreatic Surgery (ISGPS) clinical criteria and objective assessments of DGE are infrequently used. The present literature review aimed to identify objective measures of DGE following PD and determine whether these measures correlate with the clinical definition of DGE.

METHODS

A systematic search was performed using the MEDLINE Ovid, EMBASE, Google Scholar and CINAHL databases for studies including pancreatic surgery, delayed gastric emptying and gastric motility until June 2022. The primary outcome was modalities undertaken for the objective measurement of DGE following PD and correlation between objective measurements and clinical diagnosis of DGE. Relevant risk of bias analysis was performed.

RESULTS

The search revealed 4881 records, of which 46 studies were included in the final analysis. There were four objective modalities of DGE assessment including gastric scintigraphy (n = 28), acetaminophen/paracetamol absorption test (n = 10), fluoroscopy (n = 6) and the ¹³C-acetate breath test (n = 3). Protocols were inconsistent, and reported correlations between clinical and objective measures of DGE were variable; however, amongst these measures, at least one study directly or indirectly inferred a correlation, with the greatest evidence accumulated for gastric scintigraphy.

CONCLUSION

Several objective modalities to assess DGE following PD have been identified and evaluated, however are infrequently used. Substantial variability exists in the literature regarding indications and interpretation of these tests, and there is a need for a real-time objective modality which correlates with ISGPS DGE definition after PD.

Systematic review of caregiver burden, unmet needs and quality-of-life among informal caregivers of patients with pancreatic cancer

PURPOSE

Informal caregivers play an important supportive care role for patients with cancer. This may be especially true for pancreatic cancer which is often diagnosed late, has a poor prognosis and is associated with a significant symptom burden. We systematically reviewed the evidence on caregiver burden, unmet needs and quality-of-life of informal caregivers to patients with pancreatic cancer.

METHOD

PubMed, Medline, CINAHL and Embase databases were systematically searched on 31 August 2021. Qualitative and quantitative data on informal caregivers' experiences were extracted and coded into themes of burden, unmet needs or quality-of-life with narrative synthesis of the data undertaken.

RESULTS

Nine studies (five qualitative, four quantitative), including 6023 informal caregivers, were included in the review. We categorised data into three key themes: caregiver burden, unmet needs and quality-of-life. Data on caregiver burden was organised into a single subtheme relating to symptom management as a source of burden. Data on unmet needs was organised into three subthemes need for: better clinical communication; support and briefings for caregivers; and help with navigating the health care system. Data on quality-of-life indicate large proportions of informal caregivers experience clinical levels of anxiety (33%) or depression (12%-32%). All five qualitative studies were graded as good quality; three quantitative studies were poor quality, and one was fair quality.

CONCLUSION

High-quality pancreatic cancer care should consider the impacts of informal caregiving. Prospective longitudinal studies examining multiple dimensions of caregiver burden, needs, and quality-of-life would be valuable at informing supportive care cancer delivery to pancreatic cancer informal caregivers.

HPB P27 Stereotactic Ablative Radiotherapy in Colorectal Liver Metastases: A Systematic Review and Descriptive Summary of Practice

Background

Treatment options for unresectable Colorectal Liver Metastases (CRLM) have, until recently, been mostly limited to radiofrequency or microwave ablation though there are some limitations. Stereotactic Ablative Radiotherapy (SABR) is being used increasingly to overcome these limitations with control rates and survival outcomes, reported to be comparable to ablation. However, there are several unknown factors regarding the use of SABR in CRLM, including the criteria for patient selection, optimal dose delivery and target volumes. This systematic review aims to summarise and describe the patient selection, indications, treatment regimens and survival outcomes for SABR in CRLM.

Methods

The literature was searched systematically to identify all articles reporting on SABR for CRLM, from inception until 1st January 2021. Primary research studies were included if they described the patient inclusion criteria, treatment regimens and outcomes from inoperable CRLM. Studies with extra-hepatic colorectal metastases were included if the metastases were deemed treatable with local therapies. Recommendations from the UK SABR consortium was used to categorise radiation dosage and fractionation. Data were collected on patient demographics, selection criteria, radiotherapy delivery and dosage and survival outcomes.

Results

Fifteen studies were included with a total of 522 patients and 770 liver metastases.

Most studies (9/15) included patients with three or fewer metastases, however the tumour size varied from 4–15cm. Eleven studies stipulated that CRLM must be unresectable, with only one study defining unresectability according to patient or disease characteristics. Three quoted inoperability after multidisciplinary or tumour board decision, the remainder did not justify inoperability. Of these eleven, six studies stipulated that they must also be unsuitable for ablation. Patients with extra-hepatic metastases were included in ten studies, but the justification was inconsistent across all studies.

Total radiation dose and fractionation varied across all studies, ranging from 16–75Gy and 3–8 fractions respectively. No studies pre-determined a target dosage for any cohort. Approximately half (149/301) of all patients received regimens in accordance with the UK SABR Consortium recommendations. Immobilisation methods were reported in eleven studies with nine different permutations including moulds, frames, abdominal compressions or breath control techniques.

One year local control was reported at 48–96%, 2 years: 36–91% and 3 years: 26–85%. Overall survival at 1 year ranged from 53–100%, 2 years: 26–81% and 3 years: 21–65%.

Conclusions

There are significant variations in practice for delivering SABR for CRLM. There is no absolute consensus determining patient selection or treatment regimens. Although outcomes may seem promising in a selection of studies, the wide range of results and heterogeneity of studies means that truly reliable conclusions cannot be synthesised. Consensus statements to inform high-quality prospective studies are urgently needed to optimise treatment and improve patient outcomes.

Body surface gastric mapping to determine gastric motility patterns associated with delayed gastric emptying after pancreaticoduodenectomy. Gastric Electric Mapping after Pancreatoduodenectomy study protocol

INTRODUCTION

Delayed gastric emptying (DGE) is frequent after pancreaticoduodenectomy (PD). Although often associated with postoperative pancreatic fistula, the precise pathogenesis in patients with no underlying complications remains unclear. There is evidence to suggest that, after surgery, aberrant electrical pathways are formed in the stomach which could contribute to the development of DGE.Gastric Alimetry is a novel technology which measures the electrical activity of the stomach non-invasively using an array of electrodes applied to the skin of the abdomen. This technique, termed body surface gastric mapping (BSGM), has been validated in normal controls and in patients with functional dyspepsia syndromes. This study will investigate the efficacy and feasibility of using BSGM to assess gastric motility in patients who undergo PD.

METHODS AND ANALYSIS

This prospective cohort study will be conducted at a single large volume hepatobiliary unit in the UK. 50 patients who are planned to undergo PD will be included. BSGM measurement will be performed at four timepoints viz: preoperatively, day 4 postoperatively, at discharge and 6 months postoperatively. Key parameters of BSGM measurement, including wave amplitude, frequency and directional vector, will be measured at each timepoint and compared between different patient subgroups. Symptoms will be self-reported by patients during the recording using an iPad application designed for this purpose. Quality of life and patient experience will be assessed using standardised questionnaires at the end of the follow-up period.

ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION

The protocol has been approved by the research ethics committees of Newcastle University and the Health Research Authority (HRA) of the UK (ethical approval IRAS ID 305302). Findings will be published in peer-reviewed journals and presented at national and international conferences.

TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER

This study will automatically be registered with the ISRCTN registry by the HRA as part of the ethics approval process.

Portal vein embolization versus dual vein embolization for management of the future liver remnant in patients undergoing major hepatectomy: meta-analysis

Background

This meta-analysis aimed to compare progression to surgery, extent of liver hypertrophy, and postoperative outcomes in patients planned for major hepatectomy following either portal vein embolization (PVE) or dual vein embolization (DVE) for management of an inadequate future liver remnant (FLR).

Methods

An electronic search was performed of MEDLINE, Embase, and PubMed databases using both medical subject headings (MeSH) and truncated word searches. Articles comparing PVE with DVE up to January 2022 were included. Articles comparing sequential DVE were excluded. ORs, risk ratios, and mean difference (MD) were calculated using fixed and random-effects models for meta-analysis.

Results

Eight retrospective studies including 523 patients were included in the study. Baseline characteristics between the groups, specifically, age, sex, BMI, indication for resection, and baseline FLR (ml and per cent) were comparable. The percentage increase in hypertrophy was larger in the DVE group, 66 per cent in the DVE group versus 27 per cent in the PVE group, MD 39.07 (9.09, 69.05) (P = 0.010). Significantly fewer patients failed to progress to surgery in the DVE group than the PVE group, 13 per cent versus 25 per cent respectively OR 0.53 (0.31, 0.90) (P = 0.020). Rates of post-hepatectomy liver failure 13 per cent versus 22 per cent (P = 0.130) and major complications 20 per cent versus 28 per cent (Clavien–Dindo more than IIIa) (P = 0.280) were lower. Perioperative mortality was lower with DVE, 1 per cent versus 10 per cent (P = 0.010)

Conclusion

DVE seems to produce a greater degree of hypertrophy of the FLR than PVE alone which translates into more patients progressing to surgery. Higher quality studies are needed to confirm these results.

Heterogeneity of management practices surrounding operable gallbladder cancer - results of the OMEGA-S international HPB surgical survey

BACKGROUND

Gallbladder cancer (GBC) is an aggressive, uncommon malignancy, with variation in operative approaches adopted across centres and few large-scale studies to guide practice. We aimed to identify the extent of heterogeneity in GBC internationally to better inform the need for future multicentre studies.

METHODS

A 34-question online survey was disseminated to members of the European-African Hepatopancreatobiliary Association (EAHPBA), American Hepatopancreatobiliary Association (AHPBA) and Asia-Pacific Hepatopancreatobiliary Association (A-PHPBA) regarding practices around diagnostic workup, operative approach, utilization of neoadjuvant and adjuvant therapies and surveillance strategies.

RESULTS

Two hundred and three surgeons responded from 51 countries. High liver resection volume units (>50 resections/year) organised HPB multidisciplinary team discussion of GBCs more commonly than those with low volumes (p < 0.0001). Management practices exhibited areas of heterogeneity, particularly around operative extent. Contrary to consensus guidelines, anatomical liver resections were favoured over non-anatomical resections for T3 tumours and above, lymphadenectomy extent was lower than recommended, and a minority of respondents still routinely excised the common bile duct or port sites.

CONCLUSION

Our findings suggest some similarities in the management of GBC internationally, but also specific areas of practice which differed from published guidelines. Transcontinental collaborative studies on GBC are necessary to establish evidence-based practice to minimise variation and optimise outcomes.

A scoring system for predicting malignancy in intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasms of the pancreas: a multicenter EUROPEAN validation

PURPOSE

A preoperative estimate of the risk of malignancy for intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasms (IPMN) is important. The present study carries out an external validation of the Shin score in a European multicenter cohort.

METHODS

An observational multicenter European study from 2010 to 2015. All consecutive patients undergoing surgery for IPMN at 35 hospitals with histological-confirmed IPMN were included.

RESULTS

A total of 567 patients were included. The score was significantly associated with the presence of malignancy (p < 0.001). In all, 64% of the patients with benign IPMN had a Shin score < 3 and 57% of those with a diagnosis of malignancy had a score ≥ 3. The relative risk (RR) with a Shin score of 3 was 1.37 (95% CI: 1.07-1.77), with a sensitivity of 57.1% and specificity of 64.4%.

CONCLUSION

Patients with a Shin score ≤ 1 should undergo surveillance, while patients with a score ≥ 4 should undergo surgery. Treatment of patients with Shin scores of 2 or 3 should be individualized because these scores cannot accurately predict malignancy of IPMNs. This score should not be the only criterion and should be applied in accordance with agreed clinical guidelines.

Management of Splanchnic Vein Thrombosis in Patients With Acute Pancreatitis: An International Survey of Current Practice

OBJECTIVES

Splanchnic venous thrombosis (SpVT) is a complication of acute pancreatitis (AP). There is scarce literature on the prevalence and treatment of SpVT in AP. The aim of this international survey was to document current approaches to the management of SpVT in patients with AP.

METHODS

An online survey was designed by a group of international experts in the management of AP. Twenty-eight questions covered the level of experience of the respondents, disease demographics, and management of SpVT.

RESULTS

There were 224 respondents from 25 countries. Most respondents (92.4%, n = 207) were from tertiary hospitals and predominantly consultants (attendings, 86.6%, n = 194). More than half of the respondents (57.2%, n = 106) "routinely" prescribed prophylactic anticoagulation for AP. Less than half of the respondents (44.3%, n = 82) "routinely" prescribed therapeutic anticoagulation for SpVT. A clinical trial was considered justified by most respondents (85.4%, n = 157) and 73.2% (n = 134) would be willing to enroll their patients.

CONCLUSIONS

The approach to anticoagulation in the treatment of patients with SpVT complicating AP was highly variable. Respondents indicate that a position of equipoise exists to justify randomized evaluation.

Early oral feeding after pancreatoduodenectomy: a systematic review and meta-analysis

BACKGROUND

The effect of early oral feeding (EOF) after pancreatoduodenectomy (PD) upon perioperative complications and outcomes is unknown, therefore the aim of this systematic review and meta-analysis was to investigate the effect of EOF on clinical outcomes after PD, such as postoperative pancreatic fistula (POPF), delayed gastric emptying (DGE) and length of stay (LOS).

METHODS

A systematic review and meta-analysis was performed in line with the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidance and assimilated evidence from studies reporting outcomes for patients who received EOF after PD compared to enteral tube feeding (EN) or parenteral nutrition (PN).

RESULTS

Four studies reported outcomes after EOF compared to EN/PN after PD and included 553 patients. Meta-analyses showed no difference in rates of CR-POPF (OR 0.74; 95%CI 0.44-1.24; p = 0.25) or DGE (Grade B/C) (OR 0.83; 95%CI 0.31-2.21; p = 0.70). LOS was significantly shorter in the EOF group compared to the EN/PN group (Mean Difference -3.40 days; 95% -6.11-0.70 days; p = 0.01).

CONCLUSION

Current available evidence suggests that EOF after PD is not associated with increased risk of DGE, does not exacerbate POPF and appears to reduce length of stay.

Are older patients less likely to be treated for pancreatic cancer? A systematic review and meta-analysis

Pancreatic cancer is the seventh commonest cause of cancer-related death worldwide. Although prognosis is poor, both surgery and adjuvant chemotherapy improve survival. However, it has been suggested that not all pancreatic cancer patients who may benefit from treatment receive it. This systematic review and meta-analysis investigated the existence of age-related inequalities in receipt of first-line pancreatic cancer treatment. Medline, Embase, Cochrane Library and grey literature were searched for population-based studies investigating treatment receipt, reported by age, for patients with primary pancreatic cancer from inception until 4th June 2020, and updated 5th August 2021. Studies from countries with universal healthcare were included, to minimise influence of health system-related economic factors. A modified version of the Newcastle-Ottawa Scale was used to assess risk of bias. Random-effects meta-analysis was undertaken comparing likelihood of treatment receipt in older versus younger patients. Sensitivity and subgroup analyses were conducted. Eighteen papers were included; 12 independent populations were eligible for meta-analysis. In most studies, < 10% of older patients were treated. Older age (generally ≥65) was significantly associated with reduced receipt of any treatment (OR=0.14, 95% CI 0.10-0.21, n = 12 studies), surgery (OR=0.15, 95% CI 0.09-0.24, n = 9 studies) and chemotherapy as a primary treatment (OR=0.13, 95% CI 0.07-0.24, n = 5 studies). The effect of age was independent of methodological quality, patient population or time-period of patient diagnosis and remained in studies with confounder adjustment. The mean quality score of included studies was 6/8. Inequalities in receipt of healthcare interventions across social groups is a recognised concern internationally. This review shows that older age is significantly, and consistently, associated with non-receipt of treatment in pancreatic cancer. However, there are risks and side-effects associated with pancreatic cancer treatment. Further research on what influences patient and professional treatment decision-making is required to better understand these apparent inequalities.

O001 SARS-CoV-2 pandemic has impacted on patterns of aetiology for acute pancreatitis and management of gallstone pancreatitis in the United Kingdom

Introduction

The impact of the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic on patterns of aetiology of acute pancreatitis (AP) and management of AP in the UK is unknown.

Methods

A prospective multicentre cohort study of consecutive patients admitted with AP between 01/03/2020 and 23/07/2020 was undertaken. Patients were followed up for 12 months.

Results

1628 patients presenting with AP were included in the analysis. Gallstones (GSP) were the predominant aetiology (43.6%), followed by alcohol associated (25.8) and idiopathic (21.5%) AP. After completing aetiological investigations, 14.4% of the idiopathic cohort remained to have an idiopathic aetiology. 113/187 patients were readmitted during the ‘second wave’ of SARS-CoV-2 pandemic (after September 2020) with predominantly alcohol-related AP aetiology (49, 43.3%). Patients readmitted during the ‘second wave’, more commonly had alcoholic AP compared to the index cohort (43.4% vs 23.5% respectively; p<0.001); however, there were no significant differences in AP severity (p=0.268). Of the 1358 patients with complete follow-up data, 620 (45.7%) presented with GSP of which only 66 (10.6%) underwent index cholecystectomy and 108 (17.4%) had an interval cholecystectomy with median waiting time of 32 days (IQR 16–56). Accounting for 44/456 patients with previous cholecystectomies, and 24 patients deemed unfit for cholecystectomy, the remaining 388 (77.3%) were still awaiting cholecystectomy at the end of 12 months.

Conclusion

The patterns of aetiology for AP changed during the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic with an increase in alcohol associated AP. Most significantly, access to cholecystectomy was restricted during the pandemic and readmission to hospital may have been driven by the need for cholecystectomy.

Take-home message

The patterns of aetiology for AP changed during the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic with an increase in alcohol associated AP. Most significantly, access to cholecystectomy was restricted during the pandemic and readmission to hospital may have been driven by the need for cholecystectomy.

Quality of life after surgical and endoscopic management of severe acute pancreatitis: A systematic review

BACKGROUND

Treatment for severe acute severe pancreatitis (SAP) can significantly affect Health-related quality of life (HR-QoL). The effects of different treatment strategies such as endoscopic and surgical necrosectomy on HR-QoL in patients with SAP remain poorly investigated.

AIM

To critically appraise the available evidence on HR-QoL following surgical or endoscopic necrosectomy in patient with SAP.

METHODS

A literature search was performed on PubMed, Google™ Scholar, the Cochrane Library, MEDLINE and Reference Citation Analysis databases for studies that investigated HR-QoL following surgical or endoscopic necrosectomy in patients with SAP. Data collected included patient characteristics, outcomes of interventions and HR-QoL-related details.

RESULTS

Eleven studies were found to have evaluated HR-QoL following treatment for severe acute pancreatitis including 756 patients. Three studies were randomized trials, four were prospective cohort studies and four were retrospective cohort studies with prospective follow-up. Four studies compared HR-QoL following surgical and endoscopic necrosectomy. Several metrics of HR-QoL were used including Short Form (SF)-36 and EuroQol. One randomized trial and one cohort study demonstrated significantly improved physical scores at three months in patients who underwent endoscopic necrosectomy compared to surgical necrosectomy. One prospective study that examined HR-QoL following surgical necrosectomy reported some deterioration in the functional status of the patients. On the other hand, a cohort study that assessed the long-term HR-QoL following sequential surgical necrosectomy stated that all patients had SF-36 > 60%. In the only study that examined patients following endoscopic necrosectomy, the HR-QoL was also very good. Three studies investigated the quality adjusted life years suggesting that endoscopic and surgical approaches to management of pancreatic necrosis were comparable in cost effectiveness. Finally, regarding HR-QoL between open necrosectomy and minimally invasive approaches, patients who underwent the later had a significantly better overall quality of life, vitality and mental health.

CONCLUSION

This review would suggest that the endoscopic approach might offer better HR-QoL compared to surgical necrosectomy. However, the available comparative literature was very limited. More randomized trials powered to detect differences in HR-QoL are required.

Patient volume and clinical outcome after pancreatic cancer resection: A contemporary systematic review and meta-analysis

BACKGROUND

Pancreatic cancer remains a highly fatal disease with a 5-year overall survival of less than 10%. In seeking to improve clinical outcomes, there is ongoing debate about the weight that should be given to patient volume in centralization models. The aim of this systematic review is to examine the relationship between patient volume and clinical outcome after pancreatic resection for cancer in the contemporary literature.

METHODS

The Google Scholar, PubMed, and Cochrane Library databases were systematically searched from February 2015 until June 2021 for articles reporting patient volume and outcomes after pancreatic cancer resection.

RESULTS

There were 46 eligible studies over a 6-year period comprising 526,344 patients. The median defined annual patient volume thresholds varied: low-volume 0 (range 0-9), medium-volume 9 (range 3-29), high-volume 19 (range 9-97), and very-high-volume 28 (range 17-60) patients. The latter 2 were associated with a significantly lower 30-day mortality (P < .001), 90-day mortality (P < .001), overall postoperative morbidity (P = .005), failure to rescue rate (P = .006), and R0 resection rate (P = .008) compared with very-low/low-volume hospitals. Centralization was associated with lower 30-day mortality in 3 out of 5 studies, while postoperative morbidity was similar in 4 out of 4 studies. Median survival was longer in patients traveling greater distance for pancreatic resection in 2 out of 3 studies. Median and 5-year survival did not differ between urban and rural settings.

CONCLUSION

The contemporary literature confirms a strong relationship between patient volume and clinical outcome for pancreatic cancer resection despite expected bias toward more complex surgery in high-volume centers. These outcomes include lower mortality, morbidity, failure-to-rescue, and positive resection margin rates.

Systematic review of sarcopenia in chronic pancreatitis: prevalence, impact on surgical outcomes, and survival

INTRODUCTION

Chronic pancreatitis (CP) is characterized by progressive inflammatory changes to the pancreas, leading to loss of endocrine and exocrine function. Emerging literature suggests sarcopenia may adversely affect outcomes for chronic pancreatitis patients. This systematic review examines the evidence surrounding the impact of sarcopenia on patients with CP.

AREAS COVERED

A systematic literature search of MEDLINE (via PUBMED), Cochrane and EMBASE databases was undertaken to identify articles describing body composition assessment in patients with CP. Data collected included definitions of sarcopenia, sarcopenia assessment methodology, baseline demographics, surgical outcomes, and short- and long-term outcomes.

EXPERT OPINION

In total, nine studies reported on 977 patients with a sarcopenia prevalence of 32.3% (95% CI 22.9-42.6%). CT remains the primary modality to assess for sarcopenia, due to ease of access. None of the studies reporting on post-operative outcomes for patients with chronic pancreatitis found a significant increase in complications among those with sarcopenia. Mortality within 1 year in the outpatient setting from one study of patients with CP was 16% in sarcopenic patients versus 3% (HR: 6.69 (95% CI: 1.79-24.9), p < 0.001) in those with no sarcopenia.Sarcopenia is prevalent in patients with CP occurring in approximately a third of patients. Sarcopenia is associated with an adverse impact on long-term survival.

Can trainees safely perform pancreatoenteric anastomosis? A systematic review, meta-analysis, and risk-adjusted analysis of postoperative pancreatic fistula

BACKGROUND

The complexity of pancreaticoduodenectomy and fear of morbidity, particularly postoperative pancreatic fistula, can be a barrier to surgical trainees gaining operative experience. This meta-analysis sought to compare the postoperative pancreatic fistula rate after pancreatoenteric anastomosis by trainees or established surgeons.

METHODS

A systematic review of the literature was performed using Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses guidelines, with differences in postoperative pancreatic fistula rates after pancreatoenteric anastomosis between trainee-led versus consultant/attending surgeons pooled using meta-analysis. Variation in rates of postoperative pancreatic fistula was further explored using risk-adjusted outcomes using published risk scores and cumulative sum control chart analysis in a retrospective cohort.

RESULTS

Across 14 cohorts included in the meta-analysis, trainees tended toward a lower but nonsignificant rate of all postoperative pancreatic fistula (odds ratio: 0.77, P = .45) and clinically relevant postoperative pancreatic fistula (odds ratio: 0.69, P = .37). However, there was evidence of case selection, with trainees being less likely to operate on patients with a pancreatic duct width <3 mm (odds ratio: 0.45, P = .05). Similarly, analysis of a retrospective cohort (N = 756 cases) found patients operated by trainees to have significantly lower predicted all postoperative pancreatic fistula (median: 20 vs 26%, P < .001) and clinically relevant postoperative pancreatic fistula (7 vs 9%, P = .020) rates than consultant/attending surgeons, based on preoperative risk scores. After adjusting for this on multivariable analysis, the risks of all postoperative pancreatic fistula (odds ratio: 1.18, P = .604) and clinically relevant postoperative pancreatic fistula (odds ratio: 0.85, P = .693) remained similar after pancreatoenteric anastomosis by trainees or consultant/attending surgeons.

CONCLUSION

Pancreatoenteric anastomosis, when performed by trainees, is associated with acceptable outcomes. There is evidence of case selection among patients undergoing surgery by trainees; hence, risk adjustment provides a critical tool for the objective evaluation of performance.