Pancreatic surgery in Italy. Criteria to identify the hospital units and the tertiary referral centers entitled to perform it

Indicators of effectiveness and quality of care are urgently needed to improve the surgical outcomes. This is particularly felt in the field of complex surgical fields, such as the HPB one. International and national studies have documented an association between the large number of pancreatic surgical procedures and the outcome quality. The aim of this paper is to suggest reliable structural requirements and surgical volume to support pancreatic surgical accreditation, preserving patient's safety. Moreover, an accreditation program is outlined.