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Patients’ QoL sustained 10 years after esophagectomy with gastric pull-up
Long-term nutritional quality of life with minimal serious complications was observed among patients 10 or more years after esophagectomy with gastric pull-up, according to recent study data.
“Our findings show that pessimism regarding the long-term ability to enjoy a meal and live with a good quality of life after esophagectomy is unwarranted,” Steven R. DeMeester, MD, professor and clinical scholar, department of surgery, at the University of Southern California, Keck School of Medicine, said in a press release.
Steven R. DeMeester
Investigators analyzed 40 long-term survivors (mean age, 75 years; 36 men) after esophagectomy at a median follow-up period of 12 years (IQR; 12-19). Each patient completed the Gastrointestinal Quality of Life (GIQLI) and RAND short-form, 36-item, questionnaires.
Eighty-eight percent of patients reported no dysphagia, 90% reported eating at least three daily meals, 93% completed at least half of a typical meal, and the average alimentary comfort rating was 9 (10-point scale).
Diarrhea or regurgitation at least three times a day was reported by 33% of patients, while 15% required hospitalization for aspiration events.
After surgery, patients experienced a median weight loss of 26 pounds. Current median body mass index (BMI) was 25 kg/m2. Two patients were considered underweight (BMI<18.5 kg/m2). Patients reported a median GIQLI score of 2.9 out of 4. RAND scores matched the population mean for physical function and were above the normal average in the other seven categories.
“The overwhelming majority of our patients were satisfied with their ability to eat and had a body-mass index in the normal or overweight range,” DeMeester said.
Disclosure: DeMeester reports consulting fees from Bard, C2 Therapeutics, and Novadaq, and lecture fees from Bard.