Quality of life after surgical treatment of pancreatic cancer.
BACKGROUND
This study was designed to assess postoperative changes in the quality of life (QoL) of patients after surgical treatment for pancreatic cancer.


METHODS
QoL was analyzed in a prospective single-centre study that included 54 patients with pancreatic cancer. Patients with potentially resectable tumours underwent pancreaticoduodenectomy (PD) (n = 26), a double-bypass procedure (DBP) (n = 17) or laparotomy (L) (n = 11). They were asked to complete a questionnaire before and at 1, 2, 3 and 6 months after surgery. QoL was assessed using the EORTC QLQ-C30 and EORTC QLQ-PAN26 questionnaires (European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer Quality of Life Questionnaire C30 and PAN26).


RESULTS
The patients did not demonstrate significant differences in the assessment of their global health status. Although, after resection, patients gave a positive assessment of most parameters in question, after DBP they reported some aggravation of most of the symptoms. The majority of patients did not have aggravated symptoms after laparotomy.


CONCLUSIONS
The study has shown the value of conducting both curative and palliative resection for QoL. Bypass procedures should be performed in cases of non-resectable pancreatic cancer with accompanying jaundice and/or gastric outlet obstruction in patients with a life expectancy of at least 6 months.
Kostro
J
J
Department of General, Endocrine and Transplantation Surgery, Medical University of Gdańsk, Poland. kostro@amg.gda.pl
Sledziński
Z
Z
D000368:Aged; D005260:Female; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010147:Pain Measurement; D010166:Palliative Care; D010190:Pancreatic Neoplasms / Q000601:surgery*; D016577:Pancreaticoduodenectomy; D011788:Quality of Life; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires