title: Independent predictors of survival in patients with incurable malignant gastric outlet obstruction: a multicenter prospective observational study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Gastric outlet obstruction (GOO) is one of the late complications of a variety of malignancies. Palliation of symptoms of obstruction rather than cure is the primary aim of treatment in affected patients. Thus far prognostic information on life expectancy is lacking in these patients although it can be of importance when deciding upon their optimal treatment. The purpose of this study was to investigate whether baseline data in patients with incurable GOO can independently predict survival.
  
  
  METHODS
  In total, 105 consecutive patients with symptomatic GOO treated with duodenal stent placement were enrolled in this multicenter prospective observational study. Patients were followed until death or till 1 November 2008. The Cox proportional hazard regression model was used for both univariate and multivariate analyses of survival.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Baseline data of 101 patients were completed. At the time of analysis, 95% of patients had died; median overall survival was 82 days (75% alive at 36 days, 25% alive at 156 days). The final prediction model revealed the dichotomized WHO performance status (HR: 2.63, 95% CI: 1.68-4.12, p < 0.001), prescription of morphines stronger than tramadol (HR: 2.42, 95% CI: 1.38-4.25, p = 0.002) and pain score of the EORTC QLQ-C30 (HR: 1.01, 95% CI: 1.00-1.01, p = 0.035) as independent significant prognostic factors for short survival.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study demonstrates clear predictors of poor outcome for patients presenting with symptomatic malignant GOO. The model may enhance the selection of optimal treatment for individual patients.
authors.affiliation: Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Academic Medical Center, Amsterdam, The Netherlands. J.E.vanhooft@amc.nl
authors.forename: Jeanin E
authors.initials: JE
authors.lastname: van Hooft
authors.forename: Marcel G W
authors.initials: MG
authors.lastname: Dijkgraaf
authors.forename: Robin
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Timmer
authors.forename: Peter D
authors.initials: PD
authors.lastname: Siersema
authors.forename: Paul
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Fockens
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000701:Analgesics, Opioid / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D005260:Female; D017219:Gastric Outlet Obstruction / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology / Q000401:mortality* / Q000628:therapy*; D006801:Humans; D053208:Kaplan-Meier Estimate; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000150:complications*; D009426:Netherlands / Q000453:epidemiology; D010147:Pain Measurement; D010166:Palliative Care / Q000379:methods; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D011379:Prognosis; D016016:Proportional Hazards Models; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011788:Quality of Life; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D015607:Stents; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D000701:Analgesics, Opioid