Standardization and streamlining of a pancreas surgery practice improves outcomes and resource utilization: A single institution's 20-year experience

Background In the past two decades, pancreas surgery (PS) has undergone significant advances in operative techniques and with a focus on multidisciplinary high-volume practices. Methods A review of patients undergoing PS from 3/1995-2/2015 was conducted; dividing patients into group A (1995–2005) and group B (2005–2015) for a detailed comparison. Effect of surgeon volume in group B was determined. Results A total of 1001 patients underwent PS (group A: 259; group B: 742). The mean age was 62.7 years and 52.8% were female. Group B patients were associated with a higher rate of pylorus preservation and minimally invasive resection and a lower rate of morbidity, pancreas fistula (PF), and delayed gastric emptying (DGE) than group A. High-volume surgeons (HVS) had lower operative blood loss (300 mL vs 600 mL), transfusion requirements, PF (14% vs 20%), DGE, surgical site infections, reoperations, and major morbidity rate (15.5 vs 39%) than low-volume surgeons. Conclusions This study demonstrates improved patient outcomes and hospital resource utilization over the past 20 years. Concentration of PS to HVS results in superior results.