title: [Comparison of long-term health-related quality of life in patients with different methods of reconstruction after oncologic esophagectomy].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To explore the effects of reconstructing method (narrow gastric tube (NGT) versus whole stomach (WS)) on health-related quality of life (HRQL) in patients during a 3-year follow-up.
  
  
  METHODS
  In a prospective randomized single-center study from 2007 to 2008, 104 patients underwent esophagectomy for cancer. They were divided into NGT (n = 52) and WS (n = 52) groups. To assess HRQL, a questionnaire in references to EORTC-QLQ-C30 and QLQ-OES18 was administered at 3 weeks, 6 months, 1 year, 2 year and 3 years post-operation. Their clinical data were collected prospectively and follow-up was performed regularly.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The patients in the NGT group reported significantly (P < 0.05) better average scores of HRQL at both 6 months and 1 year.However, no significant difference in average scores of HRQL was found at 3 years. Patients in the NGT group reported significantly (P < 0.05) better scores of reflux at 3 weeks, 6 months and 1 year.Nausea was the only item with significant difference on HRQL at 2 years and 3 years.No significant difference existed between two groups with regards to cumulative survival rate at 3 years.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  No significant difference existed between two groups with regards to cumulative survival rate at 3 years. The patients with gastric tube reconstruction after oncologic esophagectomy present better HRQL.Further studies are warranted to perform survival analysis beyond 3 year post-operation.
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, First Affiliated Hospital, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing 400016, China.
authors.forename: Lin-jun
authors.initials: LJ
authors.lastname: Li
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, First Affiliated Hospital, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing 400016, China. Email: wuqc6@hotmail.com.
authors.forename: Qing-chen
authors.initials: QC
authors.lastname: Wu
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, First Affiliated Hospital, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing 400016, China.
authors.forename: Cheng
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, First Affiliated Hospital, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing 400016, China.
authors.forename: Min
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, First Affiliated Hospital, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing 400016, China.
authors.forename: Li
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Qiang
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, First Affiliated Hospital, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing 400016, China.
authors.forename: Ying-jiu
authors.initials: YJ
authors.lastname: Jiang
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, First Affiliated Hospital, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing 400016, China.
authors.forename: Dan
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Chen
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D004938:Esophageal Neoplasms / Q000601:surgery*; D016629:Esophagectomy; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011788:Quality of Life; D019651:Plastic Surgery Procedures / Q000379:methods*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires