Abstract
Despite decreasing mortality rates, morbidity is still high after pancreatic head resection. Comparative data in the United States and Europe show a relationship between hospital volume and mortality. Treatment strategies vary frequently, partially because of the lack of evidence-based data. We performed a multi-institutional analysis in Germany evaluating current numbers, indications, techniques, and complication rates of pancreatic head resection. Questionnaires were completed by seven high-volume surgical departments regarding quantitative and qualitative aspects of pancreatic head resections in the period from 1999 to 2004 (five prospective and two retrospective institutional databases). A total of 1454 pancreatic head resections (944 for malignancy) were reported. Mean annual hospital volume ranged from 14 to 52 (10 to 43 in malignancy). Mortality was between 1.1% and 4.8%, morbidity was between 24% and 46%, and pancreatic leakage was between 9% and 20%. In malignant disease, all centers perform standard lymphadenectomy and regard arterial infiltration as a contraindication for resection. However, the rate of portal vein resection varied from 0% to 28%. No consensus is seen on the type of surgery for malignancy and chronic pancreatitis. After resection for pancreatic cancer less than one fourth of the patients receive adjuvant therapy. The results of our analysis in Germany confirm that pancreatic head resection can be performed with low mortality in specialized units. Variations in indications, operative technique, and perioperative care may demonstrate the lack of evidence-based data and/or personal and institutional experience. The low number of patients receiving adjuvant therapy after resection of pancreatic cancer suggests that more efforts must be made to establish novel adjuvant therapies under randomized study conditions.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Birkmeyer JD, Siewers AE, Finlayson EV, et al. Hospital volume and surgical mortality in the United States. N Engl J Med 2002;346:1128–1137.
Birkmeyer JD, Stukel TA, Siewers AE, Goodney PP, Wennberg DE, Lucas FL. Surgeon volume and operative mortality in the United States. N Engl J Med 2003;349:2117–2127.
Gouma DJ, van Geenen RC, van Gulik TM, et al. Rates of complications and death after pancreaticoduodenectomy: risk factors and the impact of hospital volume. Ann Surg 2000;232:786–795.
Nordback L, Parviainen M, Raty S, Kuivanen H, Sand J. Resection of the head of the pancreas in Finland: effects of hospital and surgeon on short-term and long-term results. Scand J Gastroenterol 2002;37:1454–1460.
Neoptolemos JP, Russell RC, Bramhall S, Theis B. Low mortality following resection for pancreatic and periampullary tumours in 1026 patients: UK survey of specialist pancreatic units. UK Pancreatic Cancer Group. Br J Surg 1997;84:1370–1376.
Sohn TA, Yeo CJ, Cameron JL, et al. Pancreaticoduodenectomy: role of interventional radiologists in managing patients and complications. J Gastrointest Surg 2003;7:209–219.
Buchler MW, Wagner M, Schmied BM, Uhl W, Friess H, Z’graggen K. Changes in morbidity after pancreatic resection: toward the end of completion pancreatectomy. Arch Surg 2003;138:1310–1314.
Adam U, Makowiec F, Riediger H, Schareck WD, Benz S, Hopt UT. Risk factors for complications after pancreatic head resection. Am J Surg 2004;187:201–208.
Bottger TC, Junginger T. Factors influencing morbidity and mortality after pancreaticoduodenectomy: critical analysis of 221 resections. World J Surg 1999;23:164–171.
Tseng JF, Raut CP, Lee JE, et al. Pancreaticoduodenectomy with vascular resection: margin status and survival duration. J Gastrointest Surg 2004;8:935–949.
Li-Ling J, Irving M. Somatostatin and octreotide in the prevention of postoperative pancreatic complications and the treatment of enterocutaneous pancreatic fistulas: a systematic review of randomized controlled trials. Br J Surg 2001;88:190–199.
Schafer M, Mullhaupt B, Clavien PA. Evidence-based pancreatic head resection for pancreatic cancer and chronic pancreatitis. Ann Surg 2002;236:137–148.
Alexakis N, Halloran C, Raraty M, Ghaneh P, Sutton R, Neoptolemos JP. Current standards of surgery for pancreatic cancer. Br J Surg 2004;91:1410–1427.
Jimenez RE, Fernandez-del Castillo C, Rattner DW, Chang Y, Warshaw AL. Outcome of pancreaticoduodenectomy with pylorus preservation or with antrectomy in the treatment of chronic pancreatitis. Ann Surg 2000;231:293–300.
Buchler MW, Friess H, Wagner M, Kulli C, Wagener V, Z’Graggen K. Pancreatic fistula after pancreatic head resection. Br J Surg 2000;87:883–889.
Tran KT, Smeenk HG, van Eijck CH, et al. Pylorus preserving pancreaticoduodenectomy versus standard Whipple procedure: a prospective, randomized, multicenter analysis of 170 patients with pancreatic and periampullary tumors. Ann Surg 2004;240:738–745.
Seiler CA, Wagner M, Bachmann T, et al. Randomized clinical trial of pylorus-preserving duodenopancreatectomy versus classical Whipple resection-long term results. Br J Surg 2005;92:547–556.
Pedrazzoli S, DiCarlo V, Dionigi R, et al. Standard versus extended lymphadenectomy associated with pancreatoduodenectomy in the surgical treatment of adenocarcinoma of the head of the pancreas: a multicenter, prospective, randomized study. Lymphadenectomy Study Group. Ann Surg 1998; 228:508–517.
Yeo CJ, Cameron JL, Lillemoe KD, et al. Pancreaticoduodenectomy with or without distal gastrectomy and extended retroperitoneal lymphadenectomy for periampullary adenocarcinoma, part 2: randomized controlled trial evaluating survival, morbidity, and mortality. Ann Surg 2002;236:355–366.
Neoptolemos JP, Stocken DD, Friess H, et al. European Study Group for Pancreatic Cancer. A randomized trial of chemoradiotherapy and chemotherapy after resection of pancreatic cancer. N Engl J Med 2004;350:1200–1210.
Picozzi VJ, Kozarek RA, Traverso LW. Interferon-based adjuvant chemoradiation therapy after pancreaticoduodenectomy for pancreatic adenocarcinoma. Am J Surg 2003;185:476–480.
Izbicki JR, Bloechle C, Broering DC, Knoefel WT, Kuechler T, Broelsch CE. Extended drainage versus resection in surgery for chronic pancreatitis: a prospective randomized trial comparing the longitudinal pancreaticojejunostomy combined with local pancreatic head excision with the pylorus-preserving pancreatoduodenectomy. Ann Surg 1998; 228:771–779.
Buchler MW, Friess H, Muller MW, Wheatley AM, Beger HG. Randomized trial of duodenum-preserving pancreatic head resection versus pylorus-preserving Whipple in chronic pancreatitis. Am J Surg 1995;169:65–69.
Makowiec F, Riediger H, Hopt UT, Adam U. Randomized controlled trial of pylorus-preserving Whipple versus duodenum-preserving pancreatic head resection in chronic pancreatitis. Gastroenterology 2004;(Suppl):126.A802 (Abstract).
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Consortia
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Makowiec, F., Post, S., Saeger, HD. et al. Current practice patterns in pancreatic surgery: Results of a multi-institutional analysis of seven large surgical departments in germany with 1454 pancreatic head resections, 1999 to 2004 (german advanced surgical treatment study group). J Gastrointest Surg 9, 1080–1087 (2005). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.gassur.2005.07.020
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.gassur.2005.07.020