Nationwide analysis of one-year mortality following pancreatectomy in 17,183 patients with pancreatic cancer

Background

The use of 1-year mortality following pancreatectomy for PDAC as a measure of surgical quality has not been evaluated. We aim to i) assess the 1-year mortality rate following pancreatectomy for PDAC, and ii) identify patient and hospital characteristics associated with 1-year mortality.

Methods

Data was extracted retrospectively from the French national medico-administrative database. The study included patients who underwent pancreatectomy for PDAC between January 2012 and December 2019. The primary outcome was 1-year postoperative mortality. Hospitals were classified based on volume (high (≥26 resections/year) and low volume (<26)).

Results

Overall, 17,183 patients who underwent pancreatectomy for PDAC were included. The overall 90-day and 1-year mortalities were 6.5 % and 21.5 %, respectively. 1-year mortality varied significantly between low and high-volume hospitals (23.6 % vs. 18.6 %, respectively, p < 0.001). Older age, Charlson Comorbidity Index (CCI), readmission, major complications were predictive factors for 1-year mortality. Pancreatectomy in low volume hospitals increased the risk of 1-year mortality by 1.23-fold (OR = 1.23, 95 % CI [1.15–1.32], p < 0.001).

Conclusion

The overall 1-year mortality after pancreatectomy for PDAC was 21.5 %, and was higher in patients of older age, with higher comorbidities, who experienced major complications, and who did not receive adjuvant therapy. Management in high-volume centers decreased mortality rates, regardless of the patient’s condition.