A Post-Pancreaticoduodenectomy Clinical Pathway to Improve Interdisciplinary Collaboration

Abstract

Background: Pancreatic cancer is one of the leading causes of cancer-related deaths in men and women. Due to its resistance to chemotherapy and radiation, pancreaticoduodenectomy, also known as the Whipple surgery, remains as the last resort option. Due to the complexity of the surgery, postoperative care is crucial in providing the patients with necessary interventions without omission. Objective: The objective of this project was to assemble an organization-specific postoperative care clinical pathway for patients undergoing the Whipple surgery and to assess the attending surgeons’ views on the new pathway. Design: This project was a descriptive qualitative study to determine the views of the attending surgeons regarding the clinical pathway and its influence on interdisciplinary collaboration and patient care planning. Setting: This project took place at an academic medical center in Southern Arizona. Participants: The participants were two of the three attending surgeons who perform the Whipple surgery, from two different surgery departments. Measurements: Attending surgeons were interviewed one-on-one. The assembled pathway was presented during the interview, and a set of interview questions were asked to solicit the surgeons’ views. Results: The two attending surgeons agreed with the components of the clinical pathway. They thought the pathway can improve interdisciplinary collaboration and postoperative patient care planning. Each attending voiced willingness for an inter-departmental pathway for their patients undergoing Whipple surgery. They viewed the pathway feasible for future implementation but were concerned about potential organizational barriers for implementation. Conclusion: The interviewed attending surgeons support the idea of a pathway for consistent postoperative care among Whipple patients. Although this study was limited due to a small sample size, the findings are promising for a potential implementation of a clinical pathway for the post-Whipple patient care.