Comparison of the short-term health-related quality of life in patients with esophageal cancer with different routes of gastric tube reconstruction after minimally invasive esophagectomy

To compare the short-term health-related quality of life (HRQL) between the two different routes of gastric tube reconstruction after minimally invasive esophagectomy (MIE).

From January 2007 to June 2009, 97 patients who underwent three-incision subtotal MIE were enrolled in this retrospective study. Among them, 49 patients followed prevertebral route and 48 patients followed retrosternal route. The questionnaires (EORTC QLQ C-30 and OES-18) were applied to assess the HRQL of the patients before and 2, 4, 12, 24 weeks after operation.

All the patients underwent operation with no mortality. No statistical difference was found in age, gender, serum albumin level, the level of growth in the esophagus, pathological diagnosis, tumor stage, operation time, blood loss or ICU stay between the two groups. The perioperative complication rate was 35.4% in retrosternal group and 32.7% in prevertebral group (P = 0.774). However, the rate of cervical anastomotic leak in the retrosternal group was much higher (20.8 vs. 6.1%, P = 0.033). But the rate of cardiac or pulmonary complication in the retrosternal group seemed to be lower (10.4 vs. 22.4%, P = 0.110). Besides, the rate of anastomotic stricture was similar (6.3 vs. 10.2%, P = 0.735). And all HRQL measures did not show major differences between the two groups before operation. However, at the time of 2 weeks after operation, the dysphagia and eating problem questionnaires scores were higher in retrosternal group than in prevertebral group, which meant that the patients in retrosternal group suffered more severe problems; meanwhile, the scores of global quality scale in retrosternal group was also lower, which indicated that the patients had a worse global quality of life. Whereas, at the time of 12 and 24 weeks after operation, the dyspnoea and reflux symptom questionnaire scores were lower in retrosternal group than in prevertebral group, which revealed that there were less problems in the patients of retrosternal group; meanwhile, the score of global quality scale in retrosternal group was higher conversely, which suggested that the patients gain a better status in global quality of life.

Our results suggest that retrosternal route may be a good alternative choice for MIE in view of better HRQL after operation, although it has higher risk of anastomotic leak that might lead to worse HRQL in early period.