Improved quality of life in patients with gastric cancer after esophagogastrostomy reconstruction.
OBJECTIVE
To compare postoperative quality of life (QOL) in patients with gastric cancer treated by esophagogastrostomy reconstruction after proximal gastrectomy.


METHODS
QOL assessments that included functional outcomes (a 24-item survey about treatment-specific symptoms) and health perception (Spitzer QOL Index) were performed in 149 patients with gastric cancer in the upper third of the stomach, who had received proximal gastrectomy with additional esophagogastrostomy.


RESULTS
Fifty-four patients underwent reconstruction by esophagogastric anterior wall end-to-side anastomosis combined with pyloroplasty (EA group); 45 patients had reconstruction by esophagogastric posterior wall end-to-side anastomosis (EP group); and 50 patients had reconstruction by esophagogastric end-to-end anastomosis (EE group). The EA group showed the best postoperative QOL, such as recovery of body weight, less discomfort after meals, and less heart burn or belching at 6 and 24 mo postoperatively. However, the survival rates, surgical results and Spitzer QOL index were similar among the three groups.


CONCLUSIONS
Postoperative QOL was better in the EA than EP or EE group. To improve QOL after proximal gastrectomy for upper third gastric cancer, the EA procedure using a stapler is safe and feasible for esophagogastrostomy.
Zhang
Hao
H
State Key Department of General Surgery, Department of Surgical Oncology, First Affiliated Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang, Liaoning Province, China.
Sun
Zhe
Z
Xu
Hui-Mian
HM
Shan
Ji-Xian
JX
Wang
Shu-Bao
SB
Chen
Jun-Qing
JQ
D000368:Aged; D000714:Anastomosis, Surgical / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D005743:Gastrectomy; D006801:Humans; D053208:Kaplan-Meier Estimate; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011184:Postoperative Period; D011788:Quality of Life; D019651:Plastic Surgery Procedures / Q000379:methods*; D013274:Stomach Neoplasms / Q000601:surgery*; D016896:Treatment Outcome