Usefulness of Gastric Exclusion for Unresectable Gastric Cancer from the Standpoint of Postoperative Quality of Life and Outcome

Kuniyoshi Arai, Masatsugu Kitamura, Yoshiaki Iwasaki

Department of Surgery, Tokyo Metropolitan Komagome Hospital

Fifty-seven patients with unresectable gastric cancer that received palliative gastrojejunostomy (36 cases of conventional type: group A, 21 cases of gastric exclusion: group B) were retrospectively examined as to their postoperative quality of life (QOL) and outcome. The frequency of postoperative gastrointestinal bleeding and blood transfusion (ml/month) were significantly lower in group B (500 ml/m) than in group A (1,288 ml/m). These advantages enabled group B to achieve a better QOL as indicated by prolongation of the period of both postoperative oral intake (97 days vs 201 days) and home stay (97 days vs 178 days). The prognosis also improved, and the 50% survival period in group B was 189 days, whereas that in group A was 111 days. In conclusion, we recommend gastric exclusion as a useful operation for the lower or middle third of unresectable gastric cancer.

Key words
unresectable gastric cancer, quality of life, gastric exclusion, gastrojejunostomy, palliative operation

Reprint requests
Kiniyoshi Arai Department of Surgery, Tokyo Metropolitan Komagome Hospital
3-18-22 Honkomagome, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo, 113 JAPAN

Accepted
November 9, 1994

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