Health-related quality-of-life assessment in accordance with reconstruction procedures for distal gastrectomy for stage I gastric cancer using data from JCOG0912.

Abstract

4562 Background: There are three major reconstruction methods after gastrectomy for distal gastric cancer; Billroth-I (B-I), Roux-en-Y (RY) and pylorus-preserving gastrectomy (PPG). These procedures can affect postoperative health-related quality-of-life (HRQoL), but the method is often selected due to physician’s preference or each institutional policy without solid evidence. We aimed to explore differences in HRQoL after each reconstruction procedure selected in JCOG0912, a phase III noninferiority trial comparing open and laparoscopic distal gastrectomies for stage I gastric cancer. Methods: Among 33 institutions participated in JCOG0912, 4 major cancer centers were selected for HRQoL assessment. HRQoL was assessed using the EORTC QLQ-C30 and STO22 before (baseline) and at 1, 3, 12, and 36 months after surgery as preplanned exploratory analysis. Results: Excluding 2 patients who didn’t answer the questionnaire, 590 patients were analyzed in this study. For reconstruction, B-I was performed for 222 patients (37.7%), RY for 178 (30.2%) and PPG for 189 (32.1%). Proportion of the opted reconstruction procedures was not different in open and laparoscopic gastrectomies. Global health status (GHS) scores of QLQ-C30 were not different among 3 groups at any time point. In comparison of B-I and RY, B-I was better than RY in constipation, while RY was better than B-I in diarrhea and reflux symptoms. In comparison of B-I and PPG, B-I was better than PPG in constipation and reflux symptoms, while PPG was better than B-I in diarrhea. When comparing RY and PPG, RY was better than PPG in constipation and reflux symptoms, while PPG was better than RY in taste (table). Conclusions: GHS scores were similar regardless of the reconstruction procedure, however postoperative symptoms including reflux, constipation, and diarrhea were various according to reconstruction methods. [Table: see text]