title: Is American College of Surgeons NSQIP organ space infection a surrogate for pancreatic fistula?
abstract: BACKGROUND
  In the American College of Surgeons National Surgical Quality Improvement Program (ACS NSQIP), pancreatic fistula has not been monitored, although organ space infection (OSI) data are collected. Therefore, the purpose of this analysis was to determine the relationship between ACS NSQIP organ space infection and pancreatic fistulas.
  
  
  METHODS
  From 2007 to 2011, 976 pancreatic resection patients were monitored via ACS NSQIP at our institution. From this database, 250 patients were randomly chosen for further analysis. Four patients were excluded because they underwent total pancreatectomy. Data on OSI were gathered prospectively. Data on pancreatic fistulas and other intra-abdominal complications were determined retrospectively.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Organ space infections (OSIs) were documented in 22 patients (8.9%). Grades B (n = 26) and C (n = 5) pancreatic fistulas occurred in 31 patients (12.4%); grade A fistulas were observed in 38 patients (15.2%). Bile leaks and gastrointestinal (GI) anastomotic leaks each developed in 5 (2.0%) patients. Only 17 of 31 grade B and C pancreatic fistulas (55%), and none of 38 grade A fistulas were classified as OSIs in ACS NSQIP. In addition, only 2 of 5 bile leaks (40%) and 2 of 5 GI anastomotic leaks (40%) were OSIs. Moreover, 3 OSIs were due to bacterial peritonitis, a chyle leak, and an ischemic bowel.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This analysis suggests that the sensitivity (55%) and specificity (45%) of organ space infection (OSI) in ACS NSQIP are too low for OSI to be a surrogate for grade B and C pancreatic fistulas. We concluded that procedure-specific variables will be required for ACS NSQIP to improve outcomes after pancreatectomy.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN.
authors.forename: Janak Atul
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Parikh
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN.
authors.forename: Joal D
authors.initials: JD
authors.lastname: Beane
authors.affiliation: Indiana University Health, Indianapolis, IN.
authors.forename: E Molly
authors.initials: EM
authors.lastname: Kilbane
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN.
authors.forename: Daniel P
authors.initials: DP
authors.lastname: Milgrom
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Temple University School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA. Electronic address: henry.pitt@tuhs.temple.edu.
authors.forename: Henry A
authors.initials: HA
authors.lastname: Pitt
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D016208:Databases, Factual; D005260:Female; D013502:General Surgery / Q000592:standards; D006801:Humans; D007239:Infections / Q000209:etiology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010180:Pancreatectomy; D010182:Pancreatic Diseases / Q000209:etiology*; D010185:Pancreatic Fistula / Q000209:etiology*; D011183:Postoperative Complications; D011446:Prospective Studies; D058996:Quality Improvement; D012955:Societies, Medical; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014481:United States