Pointer DT, et al. - Factors that lead pancreatic cancer patients to undergo resection were investigated. Researchers recognized patients’ insurance type and economic status to be markedly linked with their ability to achieve pancreatic resection. They also noted a significant association of surgeon experience and hospital volumes with pancreatic resection, clinical and economic outcomes.

Methods

• The Nationwide Inpatient Sample (NIS) database, 2003–2009, was utilized for this analysis.
• Adults (≥18 years) with pancreatic cancer who underwent either pancreatic resection or other interventions were included.
• In this study, surgeon volume classified based on the median into low and high-volume surgeon.

Results

• Researchers included 11,365 patients; 68.0% underwent pancreatic resection, while 32.0% had other interventions.
• The majority of patients who underwent resection were <60 years old, female, with higher annual household income (P < 0.05 for all).
• Pancreatic resection was performed less frequently in patients with Medicaid coverage and comorbidity scores ≥2.
• For high-volume surgeons, high-volume hospitals and teaching hospitals, resection was more frequently observed (P<0.05 for all).
• A lower risk of postoperative complications, lower mortality, shorter hospital stay, and lower healthcare costs were noted among patients managed by high-volume surgeons (P<0.05 for all).