Defining Benchmark Outcomes for Distal Pancreatectomy: Results of a French Multicentric Study.

Abstract : OBJECTIVE: Defining robust and standardized outcome references for distal pancreatectomy (DP) by using Benchmark analysis. BACKGROUND: Outcomes after DP are recorded in medium or small-sized studies without standardized analysis. Therefore, the best results remain uncertain. METHODS: This multicenter study included all patients undergoing DP for resectable benign or malignant tumors in 21 French expert centers in pancreas surgery from 2014 to 2018. A low-risk cohort defined by no significant comorbidities was analyzed to establish 18 outcome benchmarks for DP. These values were tested in high-risk, minimally invasive and benign tumor cohorts. RESULTS: 1188 patients were identified and 749 low-risk patients were screened to establish Benchmark cut-offs. Therefore, Benchmark rate for mini-invasive approach was ≥q36.8%. Benchmark cut-offs for postoperative mortality, major morbidity grade ≥q3a and clinically significant pancreatic fistula rates were 0%, ≤q27% and ≤q28%, respectively. The benchmark rate for readmission was ≤q 16%. For patients with pancreatic adenocarcinoma, cut-offs were ≥q75%, ≥q69.5% and ≥q66% for free resection margins (R0), 1-year disease free-survival and 3-year overall survival, respectively. The rate of mini-invasive approach in high-risk cohort was lower than the Benchmark cut-off (34.1% vs. ≥q36.8%). All Benchmark cut-offs were respected for benign tumor group. The proportion of benchmark cases was correlated to outcomes of DP. Centers with a majority of low-risk patients had worse results than those operating complex cases. CONCLUSION: This large-scale study is the first benchmark analysis of DP outcomes and provides robust and standardized data. This may allow for comparisons between surgeons, centers, studies, and surgical techniques.