title: Palliation of pancreatic cancer. A prospective multicentre study.
abstract: The aim of this study was to compare palliation of patients with verified pancreatic carcinoma after radical surgery (n = 84), bypass surgery, i.e. biliary (n = 106), biliary and duodenal (n = 85), and for patients with advanced disease, i.e. laparotomy alone (n = 56), not operated (n = 106), 3 months after discharge from hospital. 128 of 233 patients (55%) still alive were followed up. Radically resected patients had the best palliation and clinical performance; on average they could perform normal activities if helped, 82% were mobile at home and 62% were pain-free. Bypassed patients can on average look after themselves but normal activities are not possible, 31% were in hospital, 26% were pain-free and 39% suffered from nausea and vomiting. Patients with advanced disease were on average incapable and required special help and care, about 70% were in hospital, 8-17% were pain-free. 'Good risk' bypassed patients, i.e. in stage I-III, used stronger analgesics (29 vs 3%) (P = 0.006) and more frequently complained of nausea and vomiting (38 vs 12%) (P = 0.02) than radically resected patients. Palliation was comparable for the two bypassed groups.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Haukeland University Hospital, Bergen, Norway.
authors.forename: K E
authors.initials: KE
authors.lastname: Bakkevold
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Kambestad
mesh_terms: D000230:Adenocarcinoma / Q000601:surgery / Q000628:therapy*; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D017567:Karnofsky Performance Status; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010166:Palliative Care; D010190:Pancreatic Neoplasms / Q000601:surgery / Q000628:therapy*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011788:Quality of Life; D016896:Treatment Outcome