Facility type is associated with improved perioperative and oncologic outcomes after minimally invasive surgery for pancreatic cancer.

Background: This study sought to evaluate outcome differences by facility type in patients who underwent minimally invasive surgery (MIS) for pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC).

Methods: The National Cancer Database was used to identify patients with clinical stage I-III PDAC who underwent MIS from 2010 to 2019 in academic or community facilities.

Results: Of 6806 patients who fulfilled inclusion criteria; 1788 (26.3%) were treated at community facilities and 5018 (74.7%) at academic facilities. Patients treated at academic facilities were more likely to receive care at a high-volume facility (62% vs. 32%, p < 0.001), undergo a Whipple (64% vs. 61%, p < 0.001), and be clinical stage II (42% vs. 38%) and III (5.6% vs. 4.9%, p = 0.001). Treatment at academic facilities was predictive of receiving neoadjuvant therapy (OR 2.08, p < 0.001), negative margin resection (OR 0.80, p = 0.004), lower 90-day mortality (OR 0.72, p = 0.02), decreased length of stay (IRR 0.96, p < 0.001), and longer OS (HR 0.88, p = 0.002).

Conclusion: Patients who underwent MIS for PDAC at academic facilities experienced an association with improved perioperative and oncologic outcomes than those treated in community facilities.