Prospective Integrated Individualized Clinical Decision-making and Outcome Evaluation for Surgery in Patients with Acromegaly: A New Paradigm?

BACKGROUND

Growth-hormone-producing pituitary adenomas have variable likelihood for biochemical remission (BR). During preoperative counseling, individual estimated surgical likelihoods/risks should be balanced against alternative (medical) treatments, which is necessary for accurate outcome presentation. Preoperative estimation of BR or total resection (TR) likelihoods have not been reported, resulting in extrapolation of individual outcomes.

AIMS: To share an innovative outcome reporting paradigm by integrating surgical decision-making, and expected/realized results, resulting from the Value-Based Health Care (VBHC) care path with periodical performance evaluation and care innovation cycle.

METHODS

Prospective cohort study of consecutive patients with acromegaly undergoing surgery (January 2016-December 2020; postoperative follow-up ≥6 months) reporting on both classic, and novel innovative outcome evaluations.

RESULTS

Fifty eight patients (66 procedures) were included. Intended TR was achieved in 34/50 procedures, whereas intended debulking was achieved in 15/16 procedures. 38/66 procedures resulted in BR, and 4 procedures resulted in permanent complications. Achieving intended surgical goal was estimated preoperatively as likely in 33 (goal achieved (GA) in 28/33), potentially in 27 (GA in 19/27), and unlikely in 6 procedures (GA in 2/6). Integrated Outcome Square 1 (IOQ1) -intended effect achieved without complications- was achieved in 46/66 patients.

CONCLUSION

Implementation of the developed quality process positively affects preoperative individual shared decision-making, resulting in improved (individual) outcomes, particularly in complex patients for whom preoperative chances are not fully reflected by tumor size and KNOSP grade, e.g., reoperations, or other challenging circumstances identified during preoperative counseling. Through repeated evaluations, our own team's knowledge increased, allowing for improved individualized treatment strategies.