Pancreaticoduodenectomy – the transition from a low- to a high-volume center

OBJECTIVE: Previous studies have identified a significant volume-outcome relationship for hospitals performing pancreaticoduodenectomy (PD). However, scant information exists concerning the effects of increased caseload of PD within the same hospital. Here, we describe the effects of becoming a high-volume provider of PD. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The study group comprised 221 patients who underwent PD between 2000 and 2012. Hospital volume was allocated into three groups: low-volume (<10 PDs/year), years 2000-2004, n = 25; medium-volume (10-24 PDs/year), years 2005-2009, n = 86; and high-volume (≥25 PDs/year), years 2010-2012, n = 110. RESULTS: The annual number of PDs increased from 5 in 2000 to 39 in 2012. The median operative duration decreased over the volume categories (p < 0.001). Intraoperative blood loss dropped (p < 0.001). The need for intraoperative blood transfusion was reduced (p < 0.001). Increasing hospital volume was associated with fewer reoperations (p = 0.041) and shorter postoperative length of stay (p = 0.010). There was a tendency toward reduced mortality: 4.0% for the low-volume period, 2.3% for the medium-volume period, and 0% for the high-volume period (p = 0.066). CONCLUSIONS: The transition from a low- to a high-volume center resulted in optimized outcomes for PD and 0% operative mortality, favoring the continued centralization of this high-risk operation.