Global Trends in Perioperative Imaging Workups and Records for Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Surgery: Reports From 103...

Perioperative imaging workups and records, including preoperative schema-drawing, three-dimensional tomographic image simulation, intraoperative ultrasonography, fluorescence imaging in hepatectomy, and postoperative record with illustration, may be helpful to perform and educate safe and accurate hepato-biliary-pancreatic (HBP) surgery. The purpose of this study is to elucidate the global usage of image-analyzing methods in HBP surgery.

Twenty-four questions were sent to 182 HBP and transplantation surgeons in 177 academic institutions in 34 countries worldwide to examine the usage of perioperative image-analyzing methods, surgical volume, and introduction of minimally invasive (MI) approaches.

Questionnaire responses were obtained from 107 surgeons at 103 institutions across 27 countries (response rate, 58.2%). Perioperative schema-drawing (97% vs. 41%), three-dimensional simulation (100% vs. 58%), and operation record with illustration (100% vs. 41%), were best utilized in Japan (p < 0.001). The number of hepatectomy, liver transplantation, pancreatectomy, introduction of MI approaches was significantly associated with a larger number of surgical staffs (≥ 12) in each institution, but not with the imaging workups and records.

Japan made optimal use of perioperative image-analyzing methods; however, they are not of global standard. Surgical volume and introduction of MI-HBP surgery were associated with the number of surgical staff.