C. Alexander, R. Kay, Sajid Waheed Rahman, C. Deans
{"title":"Pancreatic Enzyme Supplementation Improves Quality of Life in Patients Following Surgery for Upper GI Cancer","authors":"C. Alexander, R. Kay, Sajid Waheed Rahman, C. Deans","doi":"10.21614/sgo-26-2-322","DOIUrl":null,"url":null,"abstract":"Background: Unpleasant abdominal symptoms are common following surgery for upper gastrointestinal (UGI) cancer and may occur secondary to pancreatic exocrine insufficiency (EPI). This study investigated symptoms of EPI in patients following surgery and assessed the effect of pancreatic enzyme supplementation (PERT) on these symptoms and the effect of supplementation on quality of life. Methods: Patients were assessed for symptoms of EPI using a novel questionnaire. Patients who reported two or more symptoms suggestive of EPI were prescribed PERT. Abdominal symptoms were reassessed following treatment. Quality of life (QoL) was studied using the SF-36 questionnaire before and after treatment. Faecal elastase was measured in a patient subgroup. Results: Fifty-six out of 57 patients (98%) reported at least two symptoms of EPI. Following PERT every patient reported fewer abdominal symptoms; median 5 symptoms before treatment reduced to two symptoms following treatment (p<0.0001; Wilcoxon rank). Reduced faecal elastase concentration was associated with more frequent abdominal symptoms; median 5 symptoms versus 3 symptoms (p = 0.043; Mann Whitney U test). PERT increased quality of life scores for every patient in each of the 5 principle health domains. Conclusion: Symptoms of EPI are common among patients following UGI cancer surgery. PERT reduces unpleasant abdominal symptoms and this leads to significant improvements in quality of life across global health domains. PERT should be offered to all post-operative UGI cancer patients with symptoms suggestive of EPI.","PeriodicalId":22101,"journal":{"name":"Surgery, Gastroenterology and Oncology","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":0.0000,"publicationDate":"2021-06-30","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":"0","resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":null,"PeriodicalName":"Surgery, Gastroenterology and Oncology","FirstCategoryId":"1085","ListUrlMain":"https://doi.org/10.21614/sgo-26-2-322","RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":null,"ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":null,"EPubDate":"","PubModel":"","JCR":"Q4","JCRName":"Medicine","Score":null,"Total":0}
引用次数: 0
Abstract
Background: Unpleasant abdominal symptoms are common following surgery for upper gastrointestinal (UGI) cancer and may occur secondary to pancreatic exocrine insufficiency (EPI). This study investigated symptoms of EPI in patients following surgery and assessed the effect of pancreatic enzyme supplementation (PERT) on these symptoms and the effect of supplementation on quality of life. Methods: Patients were assessed for symptoms of EPI using a novel questionnaire. Patients who reported two or more symptoms suggestive of EPI were prescribed PERT. Abdominal symptoms were reassessed following treatment. Quality of life (QoL) was studied using the SF-36 questionnaire before and after treatment. Faecal elastase was measured in a patient subgroup. Results: Fifty-six out of 57 patients (98%) reported at least two symptoms of EPI. Following PERT every patient reported fewer abdominal symptoms; median 5 symptoms before treatment reduced to two symptoms following treatment (p<0.0001; Wilcoxon rank). Reduced faecal elastase concentration was associated with more frequent abdominal symptoms; median 5 symptoms versus 3 symptoms (p = 0.043; Mann Whitney U test). PERT increased quality of life scores for every patient in each of the 5 principle health domains. Conclusion: Symptoms of EPI are common among patients following UGI cancer surgery. PERT reduces unpleasant abdominal symptoms and this leads to significant improvements in quality of life across global health domains. PERT should be offered to all post-operative UGI cancer patients with symptoms suggestive of EPI.
期刊介绍:
Starting with this issue "Annals of Fundeni Hospital", founded in 1996 as the scientific journal of the prestigious hospital Fundeni becomes "Journal of Translational Medicine and Research" (JTMR), an Journal of the Academy of Medical Sciences of Romania. Therefore, an 18 years old Journal, attested and indexed in Elsevier Bibliographic Databases, Amsterdam and also indexed in SCOPUS, is continuing a tradition of excellence that lasted almost two decades. The new title of the Journal is inspired first of all from the important developments of translational research In Fundeni Clinical Institute and the "C.C Iliescu Institute for Cardio-Vascular Diseases", in parallel with the national and international trend to promote and develop this important area or medical research. Although devoted mainly to translational research, JTMR will continue to promote both basic and clinical research.