The American surgeon
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The American surgeon · Jun 2014
Multicenter StudyThe impact of regionalization of pancreaticoduodenectomy for pancreatic Cancer in North Carolina since 2004.
Pancreaticoduodenectomy (PD) carries a significant risk. High-volume centers (HVCs) provide improved outcomes and regionalization is advocated. Rapid regionalization could, however, have detrimental effects. ⋯ Major morbidity was not significantly different between groups within either time period; however, there was a significant increase in major morbidity at low-volume centers (P = 0.018). Regionalization of PD for cancer is occurring in North Carolina. Mortality was significantly lower at HVCs, and rapid regionalization has not detracted from the superior outcomes at HVCs.