Impact of a Nationwide Training Program in Minimally Invasive Distal Pancreatectomy (LAELAPS)

OBJECTIVE: To study the feasibility and impact of a nationwide training program in minimally invasive distal pancreatectomy (MIDP). SUMMARY OF BACKGROUND DATA: Superior outcomes of MIDP compared with open distal pancreatectomy have been reported. In the Netherlands (2005 to 2013) only 10% of distal pancreatectomies were in a minimally invasive fashion and 85% of surgeons welcomed MIDP training. The feasibility and impact of a nationwide training program is unknown. METHODS: From 2014 to 2015, 32 pancreatic surgeons from 17 centers participated in a nationwide training program in MIDP, including detailed technique description, video training, and proctoring on-site. Outcomes of MIDP before training (2005-2013) were compared with outcomes after training (2014-2015). RESULTS: In total, 201 patients were included; 71 underwent MIDP in 9 years before training versus 130 in 22 months after training (7-fold increase, P < 0.001). The conversion rate (38% n = 27 vs 8% n = 11, P < 0.001) and blood loss were lower after training and more pancreatic adenocarcinomas were resected (7 10% vs 28 22%, P = 0.03), with comparable R0-resection rates (4/7 57% vs 19/28 68%, P = 0.67). Clavien-Dindo score ≥III complications (15 21% vs 19 15%, P = 0.24) and pancreatic fistulas (20 28% vs 41 32%, P = 0.62) were not significantly different. Length of hospital stay was shorter after training (9 7-12 vs 7 5-8 days, P < 0.001). Thirty-day mortality was 3% vs 0% (P = 0.12). CONCLUSION: A nationwide MIDP training program was feasible and followed by a steep increase in the use of MIDP, also in patients with pancreatic cancer, and decreased conversion rates. Future studies should determine whether such a training program is applicable in other settings.