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Impact of the Site of Anastomosis after Oncologic Esophagectomy on Quality of Life — A Prospective, Longitudinal Outcome Study

  • Gastrointestinal Oncology
  • Original Paper
  • Published:
Annals of Surgical Oncology Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Background

For patients undergoing oncologic surgery, the quality of life (QoL) is generally accepted as an important outcome parameter in addition to long-term survival, mortality, and complication rates. Our study focused on outcome in terms of QoL in patients with esophageal cancer, comparing the sites of anastomosis (cervical versus thoracic anastomosis).

Methods

In a prospective longitudinal single-center study from 1998 to 2005, 105 patients underwent surgery for esophageal cancer. To assess QoL the EORTC-QLQ-C-30 and a tumor-specific module were administered before surgery, at discharge, and three, six, 12, and 24 months after surgery. Clinical data were collected prospectively and follow-up was performed every six months.

Results

The histological type was squamous cell carcinoma in 51.4% of the cases, adenocarcinoma in 41.9%, and some other type in 6.7%. There was no significant difference between cervical and thoracic anastomosis with regard to morbidity, mortality, and survival rates (30% five-year survival rate), whereas tumor stage was a significant (p < 0.001) prognostic factor. Most QoL scores dropped significantly below baseline in the early postoperative period. Even though they recovered slowly during the follow-up period, they never reached preoperative levels again. There was no statistically significant difference in any of the QoL scales between patients with a cervical or a thoracic anastomosis.

Conclusions

Esophageal resections are associated with significant deterioration of QoL, which persists during the follow-up period. The surgical technique and position of the esophagogastrostomy did not affect QoL deterioration.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of General and Thoracic Surgery, University Hospital Schleswig-Holstein, Campus Kiel, Arnold-Heller-Str. 7, 24105, Kiel, Germany

    Jan-Hendrik Egberts MD, Bodo Schniewind MD, Clemens Schafmayer MD, MBA, Fred Faendrich MD, FRCS & Juergen Tepel MD

  2. Reference Center for Quality of Life, University Hospital Schleswig-Holstein, Kiel, Germany

    Beate Bestmann PhD, MA & Thomas Kuechler PhD

  3. Department of Dermatology and Dermato-Oncology, University Hospital Schleswig-Holstein, Kiel, Germany

    Friederike Egberts MD

Authors
  1. Jan-Hendrik Egberts MD
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  2. Bodo Schniewind MD
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  3. Beate Bestmann PhD, MA
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Correspondence to Jan-Hendrik Egberts MD.

Additional information

Jan-Hendrik Egberts and Bodo Schniewind contributed equally to this work.

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Egberts, JH., Schniewind, B., Bestmann, B. et al. Impact of the Site of Anastomosis after Oncologic Esophagectomy on Quality of Life — A Prospective, Longitudinal Outcome Study. Ann Surg Oncol 15, 566–575 (2008). https://doi.org/10.1245/s10434-007-9615-1

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1245/s10434-007-9615-1

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