The Impact of Esophageal Reflux-Induced Symptoms on Quality of Life after Gastrectomy in Patients with Gastric Cancer

PURPOSE: To evaluate the prevalence of esophageal reflux-induced symptoms after gastrectomy owing to gastric cancer and assess the relationship between esophageal reflux-induced symptoms and quality of life. MATERIALS AND METHODS: From January 2012 to May 2012, 332 patients were enrolled in this cross-sectional study. The patients had a history of curative resection for gastric cancer at least 6 months previously without recurrence, other malignancy, or ongoing chemotherapy. Esophageal reflux-induced symptoms were evaluated with the GerdQ questionnaire. The quality of life was evaluated with the European Organization for Research and Treatment QLQ-C30 and STO22 questionnaires. RESULTS: Of the 332 patients, 275 had undergone subtotal gastrectomy and 57 had undergone total gastrectomy. The number of GerdQ(+) patients was 58 (21.1%) after subtotal gastrectomy, and 7 (12.3%) after total gastrectomy (P=0.127). GerdQ(+) patients showed significantly worse scores compared to those for GerdQ(-) patients in nearly all functional and symptom QLQ-C30 scales, with the difference in the mean score of global health status/quality of life and diarrhea symptoms being higher than in the minimal important difference. Additionally, in the QLQ STO22, GerdQ(+) patients had significantly worse scores in every symptom scale. The GerdQ score was negatively correlated with the global quality of life score (r=-0.170, P=0.002). CONCLUSIONS: Esophageal reflux-induced symptoms may develop at a similar rate or more frequently after subtotal gastrectomy compared to that after total gastrectomy, and decrease quality of life in gastric cancer patients. To improve quality of life after gastrectomy, new strategies are required to prevent or reduce esophageal reflux.

Resolution of type 2 diabetes after gastrectomy for gastric cancer with long limb Roux-en Y reconstruction: a prospective pilot study / 대한외과학회지

PURPOSE: It is unclear whether metabolic surgery is effective in non obese type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) and the result after gastrectomy and conventional reconstruction for gastric cancer with non obese T2DM are not satisfactory for improvement of T2DM. Prospective single-arm pilot study with long limb Roux-en Y reconstruction after gastrectomy was evaluated on its safety and efficacy as a potential cure for T2DM in patients with non obese gastric cancer. METHODS: Fifteen patients with non obese T2DM and gastric cancer were enrolled. After gastrectomy, the gastrointestinal tract was reconstructed by Roux-en Y gastrojejunostomy or esophagojejunostomy. The biliopancreatic and Roux limb were 100 to 120 cm long each. RESULTS: There was no surgery-related mortality, but four cases experienced complications (26.7%). Before surgery, the mean body mass index was 25.2 +/- 3.4 kg/m2 and mean glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c) was 7.7 +/- 1.4% with antidiabetic medications. The mean BMI decreased to 21.7 +/- 3.1 kg/m2 (P < 0.05) and the mean HbA1c decreased to 6.3 +/- 0.8% (P < 0.05) 6 months after surgery. At the end of the study (follow-up duration, 12.5 +/- 5.5 months), HbA1c decreased to <6% in 11 patients (78.6%) without any antidiabetic medications. There were no patients who had anemia, and/or malnutrition after surgery except one patient who died due to recurrence four months after surgery. CONCLUSION: Long limb Roux-en Y reconstruction after gastrectomy is feasible and has the potential to cure T2DM in non obese gastric cancer patients. A randomized controlled trial is needed to confirm this result.

Clinical Analysis of Death in Trauma Patients

PURPOSE: Trauma is the 5th most common leading cause of death in Korea, but there has been no appropriate management system for patients until now. We analyzed the main causes of death in trauma patients by comparing the characteristics of those patients with the characteristics of patients who survived. We feel this analysis should have a positive effect on the development of an appropriate trauma management system in Korea. METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed trauma patients who had been admitted to the Department of General Surgery from February 2002 to February 2007. We compared several expected risk factors between the mortality and the survival group. Data on the transportation, arrival time at the emergency center, amount of transfusion, initial shock index, cause of death, and initial physical condition according to RTS (Revised trauma score), ISS (Injury severity score) and TRISS (Trauma and Injury Severity Score) were collected. Patients with ISS lower than 12 were excluded. RESULTS: Three hundred sixty-six(366) patients with multiple injuries were included. There were 40 patients in the mortality group and 326 patients in the survival group. The mean arrival time (minutes) to emergency center was longer in the mortality group (137.6 vs 93.6 p 0.04). The total amount of transfusion (ml) was larger in the mortality group (7139 vs 2470 p 0.01). The initial shock index was higher in the mortality group (1.45 vs 1.17 p<0.01). The RTS, ISS, and TRISS were not statistically different between the groups. In the multivariate analysis, mean arrival time and initial shock index were important factors for survival. CONCLUSION: If the mortality rate of trauma patients is to be reduced , the arrival time at the emergency center should be minimized. Improvement of the emergency medical transfer service system is very important for achieving that.