title: Long-term functional outcomes of laparoscopic resection for gastric gastrointestinal stromal tumors.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Laparoscopic resection is rapidly becoming the treatment of choice for small- to medium-sized gastric gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GIST). While long-term oncologic data are available, quality of life outcomes are less known.
  
  
  METHODS
  Our IRB-approved prospectively maintained database was retrospectively queried (2003-2013) for patients who underwent laparoscopic gastric GIST resection. Demographics along with perioperative and oncologic outcomes were collected and analyzed. Patients were contacted and asked to complete a quality of life survey consisting of Likert scales scored from 1 to 5. Patients also completed the Gastrointestinal Quality of Life Index (GIQLI).
  
  
  RESULTS
  A total of 69 patients were identified and 36 patients (59.0% of eligible patients) responded to the survey. Median follow-up was 39 months. Patients most commonly reported no change in weight, appetite, early satiety, heartburn, persistent cough, dysphagia, and reflux medication dosing postoperatively. The median scores for chest pain and regurgitation were 4, falling in the "worsened" range. 8.33% of patients reported worsened chest pain and 11.11% of patients reported worsened regurgitation postoperatively. The GIQLI scores had a mean of 126.9 (range 77-141).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  While some patients reported a worsening in early satiety, most patients reported no change in symptoms postoperatively, and the GIQLI scores remained within the normal range. Laparoscopic resection of gastric GIST provides durable results with minimal effect on longer-term quality of life.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, The Jefferson Gastroesophageal Center, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, PA, USA.
authors.forename: Jeremy A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Dressler
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, The Jefferson Gastroesophageal Center, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, PA, USA.
authors.forename: Francesco
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Palazzo
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, The Jefferson Gastroesophageal Center, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, PA, USA.
authors.forename: Adam C
authors.initials: AC
authors.lastname: Berger
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, The Jefferson Gastroesophageal Center, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, PA, USA.
authors.forename: Seth
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Stake
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, The Jefferson Gastroesophageal Center, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, PA, USA.
authors.forename: Asadulla
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Chaudhary
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, The Jefferson Gastroesophageal Center, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, PA, USA.
authors.forename: Karen A
authors.initials: KA
authors.lastname: Chojnacki
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, The Jefferson Gastroesophageal Center, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, PA, USA.
authors.forename: Ernest L
authors.initials: EL
authors.lastname: Rosato
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, The Jefferson Gastroesophageal Center, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, PA, USA. Michael.Pucci@Jefferson.edu.
authors.forename: Michael J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Pucci
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D005764:Gastroesophageal Reflux / Q000209:etiology; D005770:Gastrointestinal Neoplasms / Q000150:complications / Q000601:surgery*; D046152:Gastrointestinal Stromal Tumors / Q000150:complications / Q000601:surgery*; D006356:Heartburn / Q000209:etiology; D006801:Humans; D010535:Laparoscopy; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011788:Quality of Life; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Gastrointestinal stromal tumor; Laparoscopy; Quality of life