Long-term quality of life following pancreaticoduodenectomy.
OBJECTIVE
This study examined long-term quality of life in an unselected consecutive cohort of patients undergoing pancreaticoduodenectomy, both Whipple and total, for benign and malignant disease.


METHODS
Forty consecutive patients who underwent pancreaticoduodenectomy over a nine-year period formed the study group. The control group consisted of 58 age- and sex-matched patients undergoing open cholecystectomy during the same period. Quality of Life was assessed using the European Organisation for Research and Treatment of Cancer QLQ-C30 (core cancer module) and QLQ-PAN26 (pancreatic cancer module) questionnaires at a median of 42 months postoperatively.


RESULTS
The Global Health Status of the study and control groups was similar, but significant differences were noted in certain individual scales. The benign group reported greater social and financial difficulties, and symptoms consistent with impaired exocrine function. The malignant group reported difficulties with daily physical and role functioning, concern for future health and individual symptoms such as fatigue, muscle weakness, and inability to gain weight.


CONCLUSIONS
This study demonstrates that the overall quality of life of patients who underwent pancreaticoduodenectomy compared favorably with that of a control group. Significant differences did exist in some individual scales, in both the benign and malignant sub-groups, suggestive of exocrine insufficiency.
Shaw
Colette M
CM
Department of Surgery, Mater Misericordiae Hospital, Dublin, Ireland. coshaw@gofree.indigo.ie
O'Hanlon
Deirdre M
DM
McEntee
Gerry P
GP
D000203:Activities of Daily Living / Q000145:classification / Q000523:psychology; D002763:Cholecystectomy; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010190:Pancreatic Neoplasms / Q000601:surgery*; D016577:Pancreaticoduodenectomy / Q000523:psychology*; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000523:psychology*; D011788:Quality of Life / Q000523:psychology*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires