P-O18 Pancreatic Enzyme Replacement Therapy in Upper GI Surgery- A Retrospective Audit

Abstract

Abstract Background Pancreatic enzyme insufficiency (PEI) appears to be under recognised and under treated in upper GI surgery due to limited clinical data regarding the prevalence of PEI after gastric surgery, therefore potentially leading to malnutrition in an already vulnerable patient group. This retrospective audit looked at a total of 197 resections in a two year time period and aimed to determine what type of upper GI surgery pancreatic enzyme replacement therapy (PERT) was used in, if use of PERT improved malabsorption symptoms and/or nutritional markers (weight and grip strength) and finally if there was a consistent PERT dosage that was prescribed with good effect. Methods Retrospective audit recorded all patients that had undergone a total gastrectomy, subtotal gastrectomy, oesophagectomy, colonic interposition, palliative bypass and GIST resections between 2018-2019 that were undertaken in a regional centre for upper GI cancer surgery. Through means of patient electronic records it was recorded which of these patients started on PERT and if there was any improvement in their symptoms. Nutritional markers were recorded at specific intervals and the final dosage of PERT used with good effect. Results 66.6% of total gastrectomies were commenced on PERT with 68.1% reporting an improvement in symptoms and 27.2% reporting some improvement. 34.7% of subtotal gastrectomies were commenced on PERT and 100% of these patients experienced symptomatic relief. 22.4% of oesophagectomies were commenced on PERT with 68% reporting an improvement in symptoms and 9% some improvement. 33% of the colonic interpositions were commenced on PERT with 100% of patients reporting an improvement with symptoms. PEI was not identified in palliative bypass or GIST surgery. No significant improvement in weight was seen 9-12 months post-operatively in patients who began Creon 0-3 months after their operation, with a p-value of 0.19. Not enough grip strength data was available to analyse. The average final PERT dosage in patients that reported some improvement to improvement in symptoms was 50,000 – 75,000 units with every meal and snack. Conclusions More prevalent usage of PERT seen in total gastrectomy resections with good effect. This finding would benefit from further higher quality research to determine the mechanism behind this to support wider PERT usage in this patient group. In view of the overall positive outcomes in regards to symptom control across gastrectomies and oesophagectomies, albeit in small numbers, it should be a considered treatment and regularly screened for. In order to get a statistically significant result in regards to weight improvement when commenced on PERT a bigger sample size would be needed