Prevalence and intensity of dumping symptoms and their association with health-related quality of life following surgery for oesophageal cancer.

BACKGROUND & AIMS: This study aimed to investigate the prevalence and intensity of symptoms of dumping syndrome (early and late) experienced by oesophageal cancer survivors one year after surgery and their association with health related quality of life (HRQL). METHODS: A prospective cohort study of patients who underwent surgery for oesophageal cancer in Sweden from January 2013 to April 2018, included at one year after surgery with follow-up at 1.5 years. Common symptoms of dumping syndrome were the exposure, classified as early and late onset, further divided into 'moderate' or 'severe' based on symptom intensity, and no dumping symptoms (reference group). The primary outcome was mean summary score of HRQL, and secondary outcomes were global quality of life, physical, role, emotional, cognitive and social function measured using the EORTC QLQ-C30 1.5 years after surgery. An ANCOVA model, adjusted for potential confounders was used to study the association between dumping symptoms and HRQL, presented as mean score differences (MD) with 95% confidence intervals (CI). RESULTS: Among 188 patients, moderate early dumping symptoms was experienced by 45% and severe early dumping by 9%. Moderate late dumping symptoms was reported by 13%, whereas 5% reported severe late dumping symptoms. Severe early dumping symptoms was associated with worse HRQL in 4 out of 7 aspects with worse global quality of life (MD -16, 95% CI: -27 to -4) and social function (MD -17, 95% CI: -32 to -3), which showed clinically large differences compared to having no such symptoms. Patients with moderate late dumping symptoms reported poorer HRQL in 6 out of 7 aspects compared to those with no dumping symptoms. Cognitive function (MD -27, 95% CI: -47 to -7) and emotional function (MD -24, 95% CI: -47 to -2) were significantly declined (clinically large relevance) in those with severe late dumping symptoms. CONCLUSIONS: Patients who have undergone curative treatment for oesophageal cancer experience reduced HRQL from early and late dumping symptoms at one year after surgery that indicate clear implications for clinical routine. Medical support and additional dietary counselling are required as potential ways to alleviate dumping symptoms on clinical repercussions.

Longitudinal analysis of serum oxylipin profile as a novel descriptor of the inflammatory response to surgery.

BACKGROUND: Oxylipins are potent lipid mediators demonstrated to initiate and regulate inflammation yet little is known regarding their involvement in the response to surgical trauma. As key modulators of the inflammatory response, oxylipins have the potential to provide novel insights into the physiological response to surgery and the pathophysiology of post-operative complications. We aimed to investigate the effects of major surgery on longitudinal oxylipin profile. METHODS: Adults patients undergoing elective laparoscopic or open colorectal resections were included. Primary outcomes were serum oxylipin profile quantified by ultra high-performance liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry, serum white cell count and C-reactive protein concentration. Serum samples were taken at three time-points: pre-operative (day zero), early post-operative (day one) and late post-operative (day four/five). RESULTS: Some 55 patients were included, of which 33 (60%) underwent surgery that was completed laparoscopically. Pre-operative oxylipin profiles were characterised by marked heterogeneity but surgery induced a common shift resulting in more homogeneity at the early post-operative time-point. By the late post-operative phase, oxylipin profiles were again highly variable. This evolution was driven by time-dependent changes in specific oxylipins. Notably, the levels of several oxylipins with anti-inflammatory properties (15-HETE and four regioisomers of DHET) were reduced at the early post-operative point before returning to baseline by the late post-operative period. In addition, levels of the pro-inflammatory 11-HETE rose in the early post-operative phase while levels of anti-thrombotic mediators (9-HODE and 13-HODE) fell; concentrations of all three oxylipins then remained fairly static from early to late post-operative phases. Compared to those undergoing laparoscopic surgery, patients undergoing open surgery had lower levels of some anti-inflammatory oxylipins (8,9-DHET and 17-HDoHE) in addition to reduced concentrations of anti-thrombotic mediators (9-HODE and 13-HODE) with increased concentration of their pro-thrombotic counterpart (TxB2). CONCLUSIONS: Serum oxylipin profile is modified by surgical intervention and may even be sensitive to the degree of surgical trauma and therefore represents a novel descriptor of the surgical systemic inflammatory response.