This manuscript is the result of the North American Neuroendocrine Tumor Society consensus conference on the surgical management of pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors from July 19 to 20, 2018. The ...group reviewed a series of questions of specific interest to surgeons taking care of patients with pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors, and for each, the available literature was reviewed. What follows are these reviews for each question followed by recommendations of the panel.
Pre-operative simulation using three-dimensional (3D) reconstructions have been suggested to enhance surgical planning of hepatectomy. Evidence on its benefits for hepatectomy patients remains ...limited. This systematic review examined the use and impact of pre-operative simulation and intraoperative navigation on hepatectomy outcomes. A systematical searched electronic databases for studies reporting on the use and results of simulation and navigation for hepatectomy was performed. The primary outcome was change in operative plan based on simulation. Secondary outcomes included operating time (min), estimated blood loss, surgical margins, 30-day postoperative morbidity and mortality, and study-specific outcomes. From 222 citations, we included 11 studies including 497 patients. All were observational cohort studies. No study compared hepatectomy with and without simulation. All studies performed 3D reconstruction and segmentation, most commonly with volumetrics measurements. In six studies reporting intraoperative navigation, five relied on ultrasound, and one on a resection map. Of two studies reporting on it, the resection line was changed intraoperatively in one third of patients, based on simulation. Virtually predicted liver volumes (Pearson correlation r = 0.917 to 0.995) and surgical margins (r = 0.84 to 0.967) correlated highly with actual ones in eight studies. Heterogeneity of the included studies precluded meta-analysis. Pre-operative simulation seems accurate in measuring volumetrics and surgical margins. Current studies lack intraoperative transposition of simulation for direct navigation. Simulation appears useful planning of hepatectomies, but further work is warranted focusing on the development of improved tools and appraisal of their clinical impact compared to traditional resection.
Background
Among patients not undergoing curative-intent therapy for esophagogastric cancer, access to care may vary. We examined the geographic distribution of care delivery and survival and their ...relationship with distance to cancer centres for non-curative esophagogastric cancer, hypothesising that patients living further from cancer centres have worse outcomes.
Methods
We conducted a population-based analysis of adults with non-curative esophagogastric cancer from 2005 to 2017 using linked administrative healthcare datasets in Ontario, Canada. Outcomes were medical oncology consultation, receipt of chemotherapy, and overall survival. Using geographic information system analysis, we mapped locations of cancer centres and outcomes across census divisions. Bivariate choropleth maps identified regional outcome discordances. Multivariable regression models assessed the relationship between distance from patient residence to the nearest cancer centre and outcomes, adjusting for demographic, clinical, and socioeconomic factors.
Results
Of 10,228 patients surviving a median 5.1 months (IQR: 2.0–12.0), 68.5% had medical oncology consultation and 32.2% received chemotherapy. Certain distances (reference ≤ 10 km) were associated with lower consultation relative risk 0.79 (95% CI 0.63–0.97) for ≥ 101 km, chemotherapy receipt relative risk 0.67 (95% CI 0.53–0.85) for ≥ 101 km, and overall survival hazard ratio 1.07 (95% CI 1.02–1.13) for 11–50 km, hazard ratio 1.13 (95% CI 1.04–1.23) for 51–100 km.
Conclusion
A third of patients did not see medical oncology and most did not receive chemotherapy. Outcomes exhibited high geographic variability. Location of residence influenced outcomes, with inferior outcomes at certain distances > 10 km from cancer centres. These findings are important for designing interventions to reduce access disparities for non-curative esophagogastric cancer care.
Background
Evidence on short-term outcomes for GC resection in elderly patients is limited by small samples from single-institutions. This study sought to examine the association between advanced age ...and short-term outcomes of gastrectomy for gastric cancer (GC).
Methods
Using ACS-NSQIP data, patients undergoing gastrectomy for GC (2007–2013) were identified. Primary outcome was 30-day major morbidity. Outcomes were compared across age categories (<65, 65–70, 71–75, 76–80, >80 years old). Univariable and multivariable regression was used to estimate the morbidity risk associated with age.
Results
Of 3637 patients, 60.6% were ≥65 years old. Major morbidity increased with age, from 16.3% (<65 years old) to 21.5% (76–80 years old), and 24.1% (>80 years old) (
p
< 0.001), driven by higher respiratory and infectious events. Perioperative 30-day mortality increased from 1.2% (<65years old) to 6.5% (>80 years old) (
p
< 0.0001). After adjustments, age was independently associated with morbidity for 76–80 years of age (RR 1.31, 95% CI, 1.08–1.60) and >80 years old (RR 1.49, 95% CI, 1.23–1.81). Predicted morbidity increased by 18.6% in those 75–80 years old and 27.5% in those >80 years old (compared to <65 years old) for total gastrectomy, and by 11.6% and 17.2% for subtotal gastrectomy, for worst case scenario. Morbidity increased by 5.1% in those 75–80 years old and 7.6% in those >80 years old for total gastrectomy, and by 3.1% and 4.7% for subtotal gastrectomy, for best case scenario.
Conclusions
Advanced age, defined as more than 75 years, was independently associated with increased morbidity after GC resection. The magnitude of this impact is further modulated by clinical scenarios. Increased risk in elderly GC patient should be recognized and considered in indications for resection.
ABSTRACTBACKGROUNDAlthough advancements in systemic therapy have improved the outlook for pancreatic adenocarcinoma, it is not known if patients get access to these therapies. We aimed to examine the ...patterns and factors associated with access to specialized cancer consultations and subsequent receipt of cancer-directed therapy for patients with non-curative pancreatic adenocarcinoma.METHODSWe conducted a population-based analysis of noncurative pancreatic adenocarcinoma diagnosed over 2005–2016 in Ontario by linking administrative health care data sets. Our primary outcomes were specialized cancer consultation and receipt of cancer-directed therapy (chemotherapy or a combination of chemo- and radiation therapy chemoradiation therapy). We examined specialized cancer consultation with hepato-pancreatico-biliary surgery, medical and radiation oncology. We used multivariable logistic regression to identify factors associated with medical oncology consultation and cancer-directed therapy.RESULTSOf 10 881 patients, 64.9% had a consultation with specialists in medical oncology, 35.1% with hepatopancreatico-biliary surgery and 24.7% with radiation oncology. Sociodemographic characteristics were not associated with the likelihood of medical oncology consultation. Of these patients, 4144 received cancer-directed therapy, representing 38.1% of all patients and 58.6% of those who consulted with medical oncology. Of 6737 patients not receiving cancer-directed therapy, 2988 (44.4%) had a consultation with medical oncology. Older age and lowest income quintile were independently associated with lower likelihood of cancer-directed therapy. If the first specialized cancer consultation was with medical or radiation oncology, the likelihood of cancer-directed therapy was significantly higher compared with surgery.INTERPRETATIONA considerable proportion of patients with noncurable pancreatic adenocarcinoma in Ontario did not have a specialized cancer consultation and most did not receive cancer-directed therapy. We identified disparities in specialized cancer consultation and receipt of systemic cancer-directed therapy that indicate potential gaps in assessment.
We describe the association between initial treatment and end-of-life (EOL) outcomes among patients with pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC).
This population-based cohort study included patients ...with PDAC who died from April 2010-December 2017 in Ontario, Canada using administrative databases. We used multivariable models to explore the association between index cancer treatment (no cancer-directed therapy, radiation, chemotherapy, surgery alone, and surgery and chemotherapy), and primary (mortality, healthcare encounters and palliative care) and secondary outcomes (location of death, hospitalizations, and receipt of chemotherapy within the last 30 days of life).
In our cohort (N = 9950), 56% received no cancer-directed therapy, 5% underwent radiation, 27% underwent chemotherapy, 7% underwent surgery alone, and 6% underwent surgery and chemotherapy. Compared to no cancer-directed therapy, radiation therapy (HR = 0.63), chemotherapy (HR = 0.43) surgery alone (HR = 0.32), and surgery and chemotherapy (HR = 0.23) were all associated with decreased mortality. Radiation (AMD = - 3.64), chemotherapy (AMD = -6.35), surgery alone (AMD = -6.91), and surgery and chemotherapy (AMD = -6.74) were all associated with fewer healthcare encounters per 30 days in the last 6 months of life. Chemotherapy (AMD = -1.57), surgery alone (AMD = -1.65), and surgery and chemotherapy (AMD = -1.67) were associated with fewer palliative care visits (all p-values for estimates above < 0.05). Treatment groups were associated with lower odds of institutional death and hospitalization at EOL, and higher odds of chemotherapy at EOL.
Receiving cancer-directed therapies was associated with higher survival, fewer healthcare visits, lower odds of dying in an institution and hospitalization at EOL, fewer palliative care visits, and higher odds of receiving chemotherapy at EOL.
Background Red blood cell transfusions (RBCT) carry risk of transfusion-related immunodulation that may impact postoperative recovery. This study examined the association between perioperative RBCT ...and short-term postoperative outcomes following gastrectomy for gastric cancer. Methods Using the American College of Surgeons National Surgical Quality Improvement Program database, we compared outcomes of patients (transfused v. nontransfused) undergoing elective gastrectomy for gastric cancer (2007–2012). Outcomes were 30-day major morbidity, mortality and length of stay. The association between perioperative RBCT and outcomes was estimated using modified Poisson, logistic, or negative binomial regression. Results Of the 3243 patients in the entire cohort, we included 2884 patients with nonmissing data, of whom 535 (18.6%) received RBCT. Overall 30-day major morbidity and mortality were 20% and 3.5%, respectively. After adjustment for baseline and clinical characteristics, RBCT was independently associated with increased 30-day mortality (relative risk RR 3.1, 95% confidence interval CI 1.9–5.0), major morbidity (RR 1.4, 95% CI 1.2–1.8), length of stay (RR 1.2, 95% CI 1.1–1.2), infections (RR 1.4, 95% CI 1.1–1.6), cardiac complications (RR 1.8, 95% CI 1.0–3.2) and respiratory failure (RR 2.3, 95% CI 1.6–3.3). Conclusion Red blood cell transfusions are associated with worse postoperative short-term outcomes in patients with gastric cancer. Blood management strategies are needed to reduce the use of RBCT after gastrectomy for gastric cancer.
Older adults are at high-risk for a post-operative intensive care unit (ICU) admission, yet little is known about the impact of these admissions on quality of life. The objective of this study was to ...evaluate the impact of an unexpected post-operative ICU admission on the burden of cancer symptoms among older adults who underwent high-intensity cancer surgery and survived to hospital discharge.
We performed a population-based cohort study of older adults (age ≥ 70) who underwent high-intensity cancer surgery and survived to hospital discharge in Ontario, Canada (2007-2017). Using the Edmonton Symptom Assessment System (ESAS), a standardized tool that quantifies patient-reported physical, mental, and emotional symptoms, we described the burden of cancer symptoms during the year after surgery. Total symptom scores ≥ 40 indicated a moderate-to-severe symptom burden. Modified log-Poisson analysis was used to estimate the impact of an unexpected post-operative ICU admission (admission not related to routine monitoring) on the likelihood of experiencing a moderate-to-severe symptom burden during the year after surgery, accounting for potential confounders. We then used multivariable generalized linear mixed models to model symptom trajectories among patients with two or more ESAS assessments. A 10-point difference in total symptom scores was considered clinically significant.
Among 16,560 patients (mean age 76.5 years; 43.4% female), 1,503 (9.1%) had an unexpected ICU admission. After accounting for baseline characteristics, patients with an unexcepted ICU admission were more likely to experience a moderate-to-severe symptom burden relative to those without an unexpected ICU admission (RR 1.64, 95% CI 1.31-2.05). Specifically, among patients with an unexcepted ICU admission the average probability of experiencing moderate-to-severe symptoms ranged from 6.9% (95 CI 5.8-8.3%) during the first month after surgery to 3.2% (95% CI 0.9-11.7%) at the end of the year. Among the 11,229 (67.8%) patients with multiple ESAS assessments, adjusted differences in total scores between patients with and without an unexpected ICU admission ranged from 2.0 to 5.7-points throughout the year (p < 0.001).
While unexpected ICU admissions are associated with a small increase in the likelihood of experiencing a moderate-to-severe symptom burden, most patients do not experience a high overall symptom burden during the year after surgery. These findings support the role of aggressive therapy among older adults after major surgery.
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