Impact of endoscopic ultrasonography (EUS) on surgical decision-making in upper gastrointestinal tract cancer: an international multicenter study.

BACKGROUND: Endoscopic ultrasonography (EUS) is an integrated part of the pretherapeutic evaluation program for patients with upper gastrointestinal (GI) tract cancer. Whether the clinical impact of EUS differs between surgeons from different countries is unknown. The same applies to the potential clinical influence of EUS misinterpretations. The aim of this study was to evaluate the interobserver agreement on predefined treatment strategies between surgeons from four different countries, with and without EUS, and to evaluate the clinical consequences of EUS misinterpretations. METHODS: One hundred patients with upper GI tract cancer were randomly selected from all upper GI tract cancer patients treated at Odense University Hospital between 1997 and 2000. Based on patient records and EUS database results, a case story was created with and without the EUS result for each patient. Four surgeons were asked to select the relevant treatment strategy in each case, at first without knowledge of the EUS and thereafter with the EUS result available. Interobserver agreement and impact of EUS misinterpretations were evaluated using the actual final treatment of each patient as reference. RESULTS: Three of four or all four surgeons agreed on the same treatment strategy for nearly 60% of the patients with and without the EUS results. Treatment decisions were changed in 34% based on the EUS results, and the majority of these changes were toward nonsurgical and palliative treatments (85%). Interobserver agreement was relatively low, but overall EUS increased kappa values from 0.16 ("poor") to 0.33 ("fair"), thus indicating increased overall agreement after the EUS results were available. EUS conclusion regarding stage or resectability was wrong in 17% of the cases, but only one serious event would have been the clinical result of EUS misinterpretations. CONCLUSION: Despite being used in different ways by different surgeons, EUS did change patient management in one third of the cases. The impact of EUS misinterpretations seemed very low, and this study confirmed one of the strongest clinical possibilities of EUS, i.e., the ability to detect nonresectable cases. EUS is an important imaging modality for oncosurgeons from different countries.

Changes of gastric mucosal architecture during long-term omeprazole therapy: results of a randomized clinical trial.

BACKGROUND: The impact of long-term acid suppression on the gastric mucosa remains controversial. AIM: To report further observations on an established cohort of patients with gastro-oesophageal reflux disease, after 7 years of follow-up. METHODS: Of the original cohort randomized to either antireflux surgery or omeprazole, 117 and 98 patients remained in the medical and surgical arms, respectively. Gastric biopsies were taken at baseline and throughout the study. RESULTS: Fifty-three antireflux surgery and 39 omeprazole-treated patients had Helicobacter pylori infection at randomization. Eighty-three omeprazole-treated and 60 antireflux surgery patients remained H. pylori negative over the 7 years, and no change was observed in mucosal morphology except for a change in endocrine cell population (linear and diffuse hyperplasia, P = 0.03). During the 7-year study many patients, who were initially H. pylori infected, had the infection eradicated leaving only 13 omeprazole and 12 antireflux surgery patients still infected. In these patients, omeprazole induced a deterioration of the mucosal inflammation scores (P = 0.01) with a numerical increase of glandular atrophy. CONCLUSIONS: Long-term omeprazole therapy does not alter the exocrine oxyntic mucosal morphology in H. pylori-negative patients, but mucosal endocrine cells appear to be under proliferative stimulation; in H. pylori-positive patients there are changes in mucosal inflammation and atrophy.

Sealing of esophageal perforation or ruptures with expandable metallic stents: a prospective controlled study on treatment efficacy and limitations.

Esophageal perforations are surgical emergencies with high mortality rates. A variety of treatment strategies have been advocated. No single strategy has however, been fully applicable to deal with most situations. The aim of this study was to investigate if treatment with covered expandable metallic stents could offer a feasible option for the management of a leaking esophagus regardless of cause. Twenty-two consecutive patients with perforation or leakage from the intrathoracic esophagus were endoscopically treated with placement of a covered expandable metallic stent. Nine patients had esophageal cancer and 13 had benign underlying disease of whom two had a leakage from a surgical anastomosis. The leakage could be sealed in all but one patient. This patient died after an open esophageal diversion procedure. Twelve patients had an uneventful recovery, whereas three patients needed percutaneous drainage of abscesses and one drainage of the pleural cavity through a small thoracotomy. One patient required a conventional thoracotomy to drain the mediastinum. In total five (23%) patients died from the perforation within 30 days. Two of the deaths were unrelated and three (14%) related to the perforation. In patients with benign disease stents were removed or replaced after 3 weeks. In total 17 stents were successfully removed. Leakage from a damage esophagus can be effectively covered by expandable metallic stents seemingly regardless of the underlying cause and is likely to offer a good chance of survival even in severely ill patients.

Pancreas-sparing duodenectomy: technique and indications.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the feasibility, safety, and short-term functional outcome of a pancreas-sparing duodenectomy. DESIGN: Prospective, uncontrolled study. SETTING: University hospital, Sweden. SUBJECTS: Four patients with extensive lesions in the duodenum (2 familial polyposis, 1 villous adenoma, and 1 giant multiple lipoma). RESULTS: All 4 patients had a duodenectomy with sparing of 1-1.5 cm of the duodenal bulb and reinplantation of the biliary and pancreatic ducts into the jejunum. Except for one early postoperative bile leak the operative and postoperative courses were uneventful. The functional results have been promising with unaltered alimentary function in the 3 patients who had no preoperative outlet obstruction and complete resolution of symptoms in the patient with duodenal lipomas who had chronic incomplete obstruction preoperatively. CONCLUSIONS: Although the indications for pancreas-preserving duodenectomy are limited, the procedure can be done safely with gastrointestinal function maintained.

The cost of long term therapy for gastro-oesophageal reflux disease: a randomised trial comparing omeprazole and open antireflux surgery.

BACKGROUND AND AIM: To comprehensively assess the relative merits of medical and surgical therapy for gastro-oesophageal reflux disease (GORD), health economic aspects have to be incorporated. We have studied the direct and indirect costs of medical and surgical therapy within the framework of a prospective randomised multicentre trial. METHODS: After initial treatment of reflux oesophagitis with omeprazole to control symptoms and to heal oesophagitis, 154 patients were randomised to continue treatment with omeprazole (20 or 40 mg daily) and 144 patients to have an open antireflux operation (ARS). In case of GORD relapse, patients allocated to omeprazole were offered ARS and those initially operated on had either a reoperation or were treated with omeprazole. The costs were assessed over five years from randomisation. RESULTS: Differences in cumulative direct medical costs per patient between the two therapeutic strategies diminished with time. However, five year direct medical costs per patient when given omeprazole were still significantly lower than for those having ARS in Denmark, Norway, and Sweden (differences were DKK 8703 (US$1475), NOK 32 992 (US$ 5155), and SEK 13 036 (US$ 1946), respectively). However, in Finland the reverse was true (the difference in favour of ARS amounted to FMK 7354 (US$ 1599)). When indirect costs (loss of production due to GORD related sick leave) were also included, the cost of surgical treatment increased substantially and exceeded the cost of medical treatment in all countries. CONCLUSIONS: The total costs of medical therapy for chronic GORD were lower than those of open ARS when prospectively assessed over a five year period, although significant differences in cost estimates were revealed between countries.

Preoperative adjuvant radiochemotherapy may increase the risk in patients undergoing thoracoabdominal esophageal resections.

BACKGROUND/AIM: Fatigue and malaise are common symptoms after radiochemotherapy which could affect patients' working capacity and add to the subsequent postoperative risk. The aim of the study was to investigate whether neoadjuvant radiochemotherapy in patients scheduled for a thoracoabdominal resection impairs their working capacity and adds to the postoperative risk. PATIENTS AND METHODS: 29 patients with resectable tumors (T(3) or N(1)) and a working capacity of > or =80 W on a bicycle test were included into the study. The tumor stage was determined by endoscopic ultrasound and computed tomography scan. The patients were given neoadjuvant radiochemotherapy during 38 days, consisting of two cycles of 5-fluorouracil (1,000 mg/m(2)) daily during 5 days and cisplatinum (100 mg/m(2)) on two occasions. Accelerated radiochemotherapy to a total dose of 40.8 Gy was given. Surgery was planned 4-6 weeks after completion of therapy. The patients had a bicycle test before induction of neoadjuvant treatment and 2-5 days prior to the operation. RESULTS: Three patients died already during the course of neoadjuvant treatment. The 26 remaining patients who had a bicycle test decreased their working capacity by a mean of 30 W (p < 0.0001). Ten patients had a decrease of their working capacity to < or = 90 W, of whom 6 died within 3 months postoperatively, and of the patients who had the working capacity decreased to < or = 80 W, 4 out of 5 died during the corresponding postoperative period. None of the patients, who performed >100 W at the second preoperative bicycle test died. CONCLUSIONS: Preoperative adjuvant radiochemotherapy, according to the present schedule, clearly exerts a detrimental effect on the patients' working capacity. A physical performance, at the time of the operation, < or = 80-90 W strongly predicts the subsequent postoperative risk. Similar adjuvant therapies may, therefore, in fact be harmful to some patients scheduled for a thoracoabdominal resection.

Treatment of devastating postgastrectomy symptoms: the potential role of jejunal pouch reconstruction.

After gastrectomy a few patients develop severe symptoms and malnutrition. There are probably several reasons for this, such as insufficient gastric reservoir function, malassimilation, diarrhea and dumping. The patient presented here developed severe malnutrition after partial gastrectomy and his weight gradually decreased from 95 to 40 kg during the first 6 postoperative years. His major complaint was postprandial vomiting and early satiety. During the course of his illness, he was repeatedly investigated with computerized tomography scans, repeated endoscopies with biopsies, barium examinations, etc. Finally the only positive finding was bacterial intestinal overgrowth, but antibiotic treatment did not improve his condition. After repeated periods of parenteral nutrition or enteral tube feeding, an S-shaped jejunal pouch was attached to the gastric remnant. Dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry was used to examine the body composition and bone density in the immediate postoperative period and 1 year after the operation. During the first postoperative year he gained 11 kg weight and reported an essentially normal food intake. Both laboratory and clinical parameters improved and a gain in lean body mass was recorded. Patients with severe postgastrectomy symptoms, with no other plausible explanation than nonexistent or insufficient gastric reservoir function, may benefit from re-reconstruction with a jejunal pouch.

Continued (5-year) followup of a randomized clinical study comparing antireflux surgery and omeprazole in gastroesophageal reflux disease.

BACKGROUND: The efficacy of antireflux surgery (ARS) and proton pump inhibitor therapy in the control of gastroesophageal reflux disease is well established. A direct comparison between these therapies is warranted to assess the benefits of respective therapies. STUDY DESIGN: There were 310 patients with erosive esophagitis enrolled in the trial. There were 155 patients randomized to continuous omeprazole therapy and 155 to open antireflux surgery, of whom 144 later had an operation. Because of various withdrawals during the study course, 122 patients originally having an antireflux operation completed the 5-year followup; the corresponding figure in the omeprazole group was 133. Symptoms, endoscopy, and quality-of-life questionnaires were used to document clinical outcomes. Treatment failure was defined to occur if at least one of the following criteria were fulfilled: Moderate or severe heartburn or acid regurgitation during the last 7 days before the respective visit; Esophagitis of at least grade 2; Moderate or severe dysphagia or odynophagia symptoms reported in combination with mild heartburn or regurgitation; If randomized to surgery and subsequently required omeprazole for more than 8 weeks to control symptoms, or having a reoperation; If randomized to omeprazole and considered by the responsible physician to require antireflux surgery to control symptoms; If randomized to omeprazole and the patient, for any reason, preferred antireflux surgery during the course of the study. Treatment failure was the primary outcomes variable. RESULTS: When the time to treatment failure was analyzed by use of the intention to treat approach, applying the life table analysis technique, a highly significant difference between the two strategies was revealed (p < 0.001), with more treatment failures in patients who originally were randomized to omeprazole treatment. The protocol also allowed dose adjustment in patients allocated to omeprazole therapy to either 40 or 60 mg daily in case of symptom recurrence. The curves subsequently describing the failure rates still remained separated in favor of surgery, although the difference did not reach statistical significance (p = 0.088). Quality of life assessment revealed values within normal ranges in both therapy arms during the 5 years. CONCLUSIONS: In this randomized multicenter trial with a 5-year followup, we found antireflux surgery to be more effective than omeprazole in controlling gastroesophageal reflux disease as measured by the treatment failure rates. But if the dose of omeprazole was adjusted in case of relapse, the two therapeutic strategies reached levels of efficacy that were not statistically different.

Symptom control may improve food intake, body composition, and aspects of quality of life after gastrectomy in cancer patients.

That severe malnutrition affects body function and psychological well-being is well documented. We addressed the question of whether quality of life relates to changes in variables such as food intake, body composition, and gastrointestinal symptomatology after gastrectomy for gastric cancer. Thirty-two patients undergoing gastric resection had their dietary intake, body composition, and specific and general aspects of quality of life determined preoperatively, at 12 months and, in the 15 surviving patients, several years after the operation. The patients lost 10% of their preoperative weight (mainly body fat) during the first year. Food intake did not correlate to changes in body composition or quality of life. Gastrointestinal symptoms adversely related to changes in lean body mass, meal size, and general aspects of quality of life for a long time after the operation. Gastrointestinal symptom control seems important to minimize impairment in quality of life, body composition, and eating after gastrectomy.

Emergency oesophagectomy and proximal deviating oesophagostomy for fulminent mediastinal sepsis.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate an aggressive surgical strategy in patients with mediastinal sepsis as a result of oesophageal leakage. DESIGN: A prospective clinical study. SETTING: University hospital, Sweden. SUBJECTS: 11 consecutive patients who presented with mediastinal sepsis as a result of a damaged oesophagus caused by instrumental perforation in 4 cases and spontaneous rupture in 6 cases during a 6-year period. INTERVENTIONS: Ten patients were treated with oesophagectomy with a diverting proximal oesophagostomy and in one case a primary cervical oesophagogastrostomy was done after emergency resection. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Mortality and morbidity. RESULTS: The median delay from onset of symptoms to admission to the unit was 3 days (range 0-6). All patients required artificial ventilation postoperatively and the stay in the ICU amounted to 12.5 days but only 1 patient died during the postoperative course. All patients have subsequently undergone substernal oesophageal replacement with either a gastric tube or a colonic graft. CONCLUSION: Emergency oesophagectomy and proximal deviating oesophagostomy is a salvage procedure for patients with severe fulminant mediastinal sepsis, and it can be done in selected cases with good results.

Changes in bone metabolism and body composition after total gastrectomy: results of a longitudinal study.

Decreased bone mineral density and an increased risk of fracture have been reported many years after gastric resections due to peptic ulcer disease. Corresponding information after total gastrectomy is, however, contradictory and incomplete. Twenty-two gastric cancer patients who were long-term survivors after total gastrectomy (mean of eight years) were investigated. They had whole body DXA scans performed both after a mean of five and eight years after the operation. Serum levels of relevant blood tests were determined. Our patients lost 3.2 kg of their body weight (P<0.006) with a corresponding loss of lean body mass (P<0.0001). We were unable to demonstrate any difference in bone density from values seen in age- and sex-matched controls. We found a slight elevation of osteocalcine levels but only a minor increase in parathyroid hormone levels. Body weight had the greatest impact on the T score. The impact of total gastrectomy on calcium homoeostasis and bone mineral density seems to be marginal. The close relationship between bone mineral density and body weight suggest the pivotal importance of maintaining weight control.

Symptoms after total gastrectomy on food intake, body composition, bone metabolism, and quality of life in gastric cancer patients--is reconstruction with a reservoir worthwhile?

Gastric cancer is worldwide one of the most common causes of cancer death. Operation is the only treatment at this time that cures some patients. The side effects of the operation are, however, considerable, and include postoperative weight loss, loss of appetite, and other metabolic and nutritional changes. The recovery is very slow and incomplete. Reconstruction with different types of pouches has been asserted to facilitate the nutritional recovery, but results from different studies are somewhat contradictory. Malnutrition, osteoporosis, osteomalacia, and impaired quality of life are often but not always described. We can, however, establish that after a total gastrectomy, gastric cancer patients are very much at risk for these complications, which are probably caused by impaired food intake and steathorrhea even when the patients are cured from their cancer disease. In order to minimize the nutritional problems, it is crucial to avoid anastomotic narrowing and bile reflux. Roux-en-Y reconstruction seems to be the method of choice. Evidence from several randomized studies now speak in favor of including some type of pouch in the reconstruction. The most commonly used pouch today is the jejunal J-pouch. How the effect is exerted is not clear. Probably both the reservoir function of the pouch and changes in intestinal transit time are important. The importance of nutritional surveillance of these patients should not be underestimated, and most of the observed differences from various reports are probably due to dissimilarity in the follow-up protocols. A patient surviving his/her cancer has a decreased risk of developing severe disturbances in bone metabolism, food intake, body composition, and quality of life if the patient is under concerned nutritional surveillance and reconstructed with a pouch.

Lack of effect of acid suppression therapy on gastric atrophy. Nordic Gerd Study Group.

BACKGROUND & AIMS: A hypothesis suggesting that profound acid inhibition therapy facilitates and hastens the development of gastric glandular atrophy in patients infected with Helicobacter pylori was investigated in this randomized study comparing omeprazole therapy with antireflux surgery (ARS) for chronic gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). METHODS: Patients with esophagitis and/or chronic GERD were enrolled; 155 patients were randomized to ARS and 155 to long-term omeprazole therapy. Baseline data were obtained and repeated after 3 years in 131 ARS patients and in 139 omeprazole-treated patients. Histopathologic status of the oxyntic mucosa was assessed according to the Sydney system. RESULTS: Forty omeprazole-treated patients were infected with H. pylori compared with 53 in the ARS group. Basal gastrin levels were significantly higher in H. pylori-infected patients, particularly in the omeprazole group. No further increases in serum gastrin levels were observed during 3 years. Despite 3 years of therapy, only slight changes were found in the prevalence of inflammation in the corpus mucosa of H. pylori-infected subjects. A slow progression of gastric glandular atrophy was observed in these patients irrespective of therapy with no obvious difference between treatment regimens. Intestinal metaplasia (all of type I) was only exceptionally observed with no difference between the treatment arms. CONCLUSIONS: Acid-suppressive therapy in the form of omeprazole maintained for 3 years facilitates neither the development of gastric glandular atrophy of the corpus mucosa nor the occurrence of intestinal metaplasia in H. pylori-infected GERD patients.

Long term consequences of gastrectomy for patient's quality of life: the impact of reconstructive techniques.

OBJECTIVE: During recent years considerable interest has been focused on quality of life as an additional therapeutic outcome measure in the surgical treatment of gastric carcinoma. However, the long term consequences of gastrectomy and the impact on quality of life of different reconstructive techniques are still a matter of controversy. To broaden the criteria for choice of treatment, we conducted a prospective randomized clinical trial to determine the impact of various gastrectomy procedures on quality of life during a 5-yr follow-up period. METHODS: Consecutive patients (n = 64) eligible for curative gastric cancer surgery were randomized to have either total (n = 31) or subtotal (n = 13) gastrectomy or a jejunal S-shaped pouch (n = 20) as a gastric substitute after total gastrectomy. Assessments of quality of life were made on seven occasions during a 5-yr period: within 1 wk before surgery, 3 and 12 months after the surgical intervention, and then once/yr. All patients were interviewed by one of two psychiatrists, who rated their symptoms and introduced standardized self-report questionnaires covering both general and specific aspects of life. The raters were blinded for the patients' group affiliations. RESULTS: Survival rates were similar in all treatment groups. Patients who had a total gastrectomy continued to suffer from alimentary symptoms, especially indigestion and diarrhea, during the entire follow-up period. However, patients who underwent subtotal gastrectomy had a significantly better outcome already during the first postoperative yr. Patients given a gastric substitute after gastrectomy improved with the passage of time and had an even better outcome in the long run. CONCLUSIONS: To optimize the rehabilitation after gastrectomy, patients' quality of life must be taken into consideration. When subtotal gastrectomy is clinically feasible, this procedure has advantages in the early postoperative period. However, a pouch reconstruction after total gastrectomy should be considered in patients having a favorable tumor status suggesting a fair chance of long term survival.

Long-term beneficial effects of a gastric reservoir on weight control after total gastrectomy: a study of potential mechanisms.

BACKGROUND: Weight loss after total gastrectomy is a regular occurrence. Reconstruction with a gastric substitute has been suggested to facilitate recovery, but few randomized studies are available. METHODS: In a randomized study comparing subtotal, total and total gastrectomy with an S-shaped pouch, 36 patients who had total gastrectomy with or without a pouch survived for more than 3 (mean 5.2) years. Body composition (four-chamber model, dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry, anthropometric data) was evaluated before operation, after 12 months and at long-term follow-up. Food intake was registered as a 4-day food record at 12 months and at long-term follow-up. RESULTS: At long-term follow-up those allocated to the gastric substitute arm had lesser degrees of weight loss consisting mainly of the depletion of body fat stores, whereas lean body mass showed no significant decrease when adjusted for the process of ageing. There was no significant difference in food intake. CONCLUSION: Reconstruction with an S-shaped gastric substitute facilitates long-term recovery after total gastrectomy and should be considered when the prognosis is favourable.

Osteoporosis after total gastrectomy. Results of a prospective, clinical study.

BACKGROUND: Osteopenia and enhanced risk of fractures have been reported after partial gastrectomy, but the significance of total gastrectomy is still unknown. METHODS: Twenty-six patients were followed up for at least 3 years after total gastrectomy. The intake and S-levels of vitamin D, phosphate, magnesium, and calcium were prospectively studied, and a whole-body dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry scan was performed at a mean of 5 years after gastrectomy. RESULTS: At this time point we found normal blood levels of vitamin D, calcium, and phosphate. Food intakes of phosphate, calcium, magnesium, and vitamin D reached the recommended daily allowances. Bone mineral density was similar to that of a control population, and increasing values were seen concomitant with an increase in body weight with the time after gastrectomy. CONCLUSIONS: Calcium homeostasis and bone mineral densities seem not to be affected by total gastrectomy, at least when studied over a period of 5 years, an observation that hypothetically can be explained by weight recovery with time after the operation.

Changes in body composition after gastrectomy: results of a controlled, prospective clinical trial.

To elucidate mechanisms involved in weight development after gastrectomy we have prospectively determined changes in body composition during the first year after similar operations. A total of 75 patients were enrolled who had a "curative operation" for gastric carcinoma; 42 were randomized to have a total gastrectomy, 23 total gastrectomy with a gastric substitute, and 10 subtotal gastrectomy. All reconstructions were done with a Roux-en-Y loop of the jejunum. Body composition was assessed preoperatively and at 6 and 12 months after gastrectomy by determining total body potassium and total body water. From these estimates, body cell mass, extracellular water, fat-free extracellular solids, and body fat were calculated with knowledge of the actual body weight and length. Triceps skinfold, arm muscle circumference, and grip strength were also measured. Weight loss (10% of preoperative weight) occurred early after the operations, after which body weight stabilized. Body cell mass remained essentially unchanged over the entire study period in contrast to body fat, which decreased by 40% during the first 6 months after gastrectomy. In accordance with the selective loss of body fat, we recorded a significant decrease in triceps skinfold figures and only a minor decrease of arm muscle circumference without obvious deterioration in hand grip strength. Weight loss after gastrectomy seems to be characterized by selective loss of body fat in contrast to other known clinical situations associated with impaired nutritional intake. Our observations form a basis for future clinical research aimed at preventing weight loss after these operations.

Quality of life after gastrectomy for gastric carcinoma: controlled study of reconstructive procedures.

The choice of reconstruction after gastrectomy and the significance of remaining reservoir function is a matter of controversy. To broaden the criteria for choice of treatment, we conducted a prospective randomized clinical trial to determine the impact of various gastrectomy procedures on quality of life. Consecutive patients (n = 64) eligible for curative gastric cancer surgery were randomized to have either a total (n = 31) or subtotal (n = 13) gastrectomy or a jejunal S-shaped pouch (n = 20) implanted as a gastric substitute. The quality-of-life evaluation was based on a battery of questionnaires covering both general and specific aspects of life. The patients were rated by one of two psychiatrists who were blinded to the patients' group affiliation. Assessments were made on three occasions: during the week prior to surgery and 3 and 12 months after the surgical intervention. The postoperative complication and mortality rates were similar in all treatment groups, with few serious complications recorded. Irrespective of type of treatment, the patients suffered from alimentary symptoms and functional limitations in everyday life, whereas their mental well-being improved after surgery. Patients who underwent subtotal gastrectomy had the best outcome, especially with respect to complaints of diarrhea. Patients given a gastric substitute after gastrectomy showed no difference from those who had only a total gastrectomy. We conclude that despite significant unfavorable consequences that follow gastrectomy, patients recover with an improved mental status. A pouch reconstruction after total gastrectomy does not improve quality of life, but a subtotal gastrectomy has advantages that must be considered when the procedure is clinically feasible.