BACKGROUND: Relief of symptoms should be the primary focus of palliative treatment as defined by the World Health Organization. Evaluating the effectiveness of palliative interventions should incorporate this goal and include quality of life (QOL) outcome assessments. A systematic review of the surgical gastric cancer literature was performed to summarize the effectiveness of palliative surgical interventions in addressing QOL. METHODS: An electronic literature search of EMBASE, Medline, and the Cochrane Database of Controlled Trials was performed from January 1, 1985 to December 1, 2009. English language abstracts and articles were reviewed independently by two reviewers. A systematic approach to data abstraction and presentation was followed. RESULTS: No articles were identified as reporting true QOL outcomes using reliable, validated QOL instruments in surgically managed, advanced gastric cancer patients. Nine articles were identified as reporting outcomes measuring effectiveness of palliation. Commonly reported pre-procedure symptoms were weight loss, abdominal pain, vomiting, obstruction, and bleeding. Time to oral intake was reported in 5 of 9 studies, ranging from a mean of 2.9 days (laparoscopic gastrojejunostomy) to 8 days (surgical bypass). Length of postoperative inpatient stay ranged from a mean of 7 days (gastrojejunostomy) to 28 days (surgical bypass). Other measures of effective palliation included measures of clinical success, hospital re-admission rates, and post-procedure analgesic intake. CONCLUSION: A paucity of literature exists regarding the QOL of surgically managed gastric cancer patients. Prospectively designed studies using credible QOL measures are necessary to better inform the treatment decision-making process for these patients.
BACKGROUND: Relief of symptoms should be the primary focus of palliative treatment as defined by the World Health Organization. Evaluating the effectiveness of palliative interventions should incorporate this goal and include quality of life (QOL) outcome assessments. A systematic review of the surgical gastric cancer literature was performed to summarize the effectiveness of palliative surgical interventions in addressing QOL. METHODS: An electronic literature search of EMBASE, Medline, and the Cochrane Database of Controlled Trials was performed from January 1, 1985 to December 1, 2009. English language abstracts and articles were reviewed independently by two reviewers. A systematic approach to data abstraction and presentation was followed. RESULTS: No articles were identified as reporting true QOL outcomes using reliable, validated QOL instruments in surgically managed, advanced gastric cancerpatients. Nine articles were identified as reporting outcomes measuring effectiveness of palliation. Commonly reported pre-procedure symptoms were weight loss, abdominal pain, vomiting, obstruction, and bleeding. Time to oral intake was reported in 5 of 9 studies, ranging from a mean of 2.9 days (laparoscopic gastrojejunostomy) to 8 days (surgical bypass). Length of postoperative inpatient stay ranged from a mean of 7 days (gastrojejunostomy) to 28 days (surgical bypass). Other measures of effective palliation included measures of clinical success, hospital re-admission rates, and post-procedure analgesic intake. CONCLUSION: A paucity of literature exists regarding the QOL of surgically managed gastric cancerpatients. Prospectively designed studies using credible QOL measures are necessary to better inform the treatment decision-making process for these patients.
Authors: Desmond Curran; Carmelo Pozzo; Jerzy Zaluski; Magdalena Dank; Carlo Barone; Vahur Valvere; Suayib Yalcin; Christian Peschel; Miklós Wenczl; Erdem Goker; Roland Bugat Journal: Qual Life Res Date: 2009-07-01 Impact factor: 4.147
Authors: Sheila N Garland; Guy Pelletier; Andrew Lawe; Bradly J Biagioni; Jay Easaw; Michael Eliasziw; David Cella; Oliver F Bathe Journal: Cancer Date: 2010-10-19 Impact factor: 6.860
Authors: Paul J Karanicolas; Kai Bickenbach; Shiva Jayaraman; Andrea L Pusic; Daniel G Coit; Gordon H Guyatt; Murray F Brennan Journal: J Gastrointest Surg Date: 2011-01-19 Impact factor: 3.452
Authors: Y H M Claassen; E Bastiaannet; H H Hartgrink; J L Dikken; W O de Steur; M Slingerland; R H A Verhoeven; E van Eycken; H de Schutter; M Lindblad; J Hedberg; E Johnson; G O Hjortland; L S Jensen; H J Larsson; T Koessler; M Chevallay; W H Allum; C J H van de Velde Journal: BJS Open Date: 2018-10-09