Postoperative Complications and Health-related Quality of Life 10 Years After Esophageal Cancer Surgery

AbstractObjective: To evaluate the impact of postoperative complications on health-related quality of life (HRQOL) up to 10 years after surgery for esophageal cancer.Background: The impact of postoperative complications on HRQOL past 5 years is unknown.Methods: Some 616 patients undergoing open esophageal cancer surgery between April 2, 2001 and December 31, 2005 in Sweden were enrolled in this population-based, nationwide, and prospective cohort study. Exposure was the occurrence of predefined postoperative complications, and the outcome was HRQOL evaluated by validated European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer questionnaires at 6 months, 3, 5, and 10 years after surgery. Linear mixed models, adjusted for longitudinal HRQOL in the general population and confounders, provided mean score differences (MDs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for each HRQOL item and scale in patients with or without postoperative complications.Results: At 10 years, 104 (17%) patients were alive and 92 (88%) answered the HRQOL questionnaires. Of these, 37 (40%) had at least 1 predefined postoperative complication. Twelve of the 25 scales and items were significantly worse in patients with postoperative complications 10 years after surgery, for example, physical function (MD −15, 95% CI −24 to −7), fatigue (MD 16, 95% CI 5–26), pain (MD 18, 95% CI 7–30), dyspnea (MD 15, 95% CI 2–27), insomnia (MD 20, 95% CI 8–32), and eating problems (MD 14, 95% CI 3–24) compared to patients without complications.Conclusions: Postoperative complications are associated with considerably impaired HRQOL up to 10 years after esophageal cancer surgery.Abstract Objective: To evaluate the impact of postoperative complications on health-related quality of life (HRQOL) up to 10 years after surgery for esophageal cancer. Background: The impact of postoperative complications on HRQOL past 5 years is unknown. Methods: Some 616 patients undergoing open esophageal cancer surgery between April 2, 2001 and December 31, 2005 in Sweden were enrolled in this population-based, nationwide, and prospective cohort study. Exposure was the occurrence of predefined postoperative complications, and the outcome was HRQOL evaluated by validated European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer questionnaires at 6 months, 3, 5, and 10 years after surgery. Linear mixed models, adjusted for longitudinal HRQOL in the general population and confounders, provided mean score differences (MDs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for each HRQOL item and scale in patients with or without postoperative complications. Results: At 10 years, 104 (17%) patients were alive and 92 (88%) answered the HRQOL questionnaires. Of these, 37 (40%) had at least 1 predefined postoperative complication. Twelve of the 25 scales and items were significantly worse in patients with postoperative complications 10 years after surgery, for example, physical function (MD −15, 95% CI −24 to −7), fatigue (MD 16, 95% CI 5–26), pain (MD 18, 95% CI 7–30), dyspnea (MD 15, 95% CI 2–27), insomnia (MD 20, 95% CI 8–32), and eating problems (MD 14, 95% CI 3–24) compared to patients without complications. Conclusions: Postoperative complications are associated with considerably impaired HRQOL up to 10 years after esophageal cancer surgery

Medical and Surgical Complications and Health-related Quality of Life After Esophageal Cancer Surgery

AbstractObjective: To evaluate the impact of postoperative medical and surgical complications on health-related quality of life (HRQOL) in esophageal cancer.Background: Complications after esophageal surgery negatively affect HRQOL, but it is unclear whether medical and surgical complications differ in effects.Methods: This Swedish population-based, nationwide, and prospective cohort study enrolled 616 patients undergoing esophageal cancer surgery during 2001 to 2005, with 10 years of follow-up. The exposure was the occurrence of the predefined postoperative medical or surgical technical complications. The study outcome was HRQOL, evaluated by European Organisation for Research and Treatment of Cancer questionnaires at 6 months, and 3, 5, and 10 years after surgery. Linear mixed models, adjusted for confounders and complications, provided mean score differences (MDs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for each HRQOL scale and item.Results: Of the 616 patients, 217 (35%) had medical and 163 (26%) had surgical postoperative complications. In patients with medical complications, HRQOL was generally worse at all time points, with worse global quality of life (QOL) (MD −10, 95% CI −18 to −2) and dyspnea (MD 16, 95% CI 5–27) from 3 years onwards, compared with those without. Patients with surgical complications had worse HRQOL outcomes up to 5 years after surgery, for example, dyspnea at 6 months (MD 11, 95% CI 4–19) and global QOL at 3 years (MD −13, 95% CI −22 to −5), than those without.Conclusion: Medical complications are associated with long-lasting impairments and worsening HRQOL, whereas the negative effects of surgical complications on HRQOL seem to minimize 5 years postsurgery.Abstract Objective: To evaluate the impact of postoperative medical and surgical complications on health-related quality of life (HRQOL) in esophageal cancer. Background: Complications after esophageal surgery negatively affect HRQOL, but it is unclear whether medical and surgical complications differ in effects. Methods: This Swedish population-based, nationwide, and prospective cohort study enrolled 616 patients undergoing esophageal cancer surgery during 2001 to 2005, with 10 years of follow-up. The exposure was the occurrence of the predefined postoperative medical or surgical technical complications. The study outcome was HRQOL, evaluated by European Organisation for Research and Treatment of Cancer questionnaires at 6 months, and 3, 5, and 10 years after surgery. Linear mixed models, adjusted for confounders and complications, provided mean score differences (MDs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for each HRQOL scale and item. Results: Of the 616 patients, 217 (35%) had medical and 163 (26%) had surgical postoperative complications. In patients with medical complications, HRQOL was generally worse at all time points, with worse global quality of life (QOL) (MD −10, 95% CI −18 to −2) and dyspnea (MD 16, 95% CI 5–27) from 3 years onwards, compared with those without. Patients with surgical complications had worse HRQOL outcomes up to 5 years after surgery, for example, dyspnea at 6 months (MD 11, 95% CI 4–19) and global QOL at 3 years (MD −13, 95% CI −22 to −5), than those without. Conclusion: Medical complications are associated with long-lasting impairments and worsening HRQOL, whereas the negative effects of surgical complications on HRQOL seem to minimize 5 years postsurgery

Sex differences in the prognosis after surgery for esophageal squamous cell carcinoma and adenocarcinoma

AbstractSome investigations suggest a better prognosis in women compared to men with esophageal cancer but these differences are uncertain. The aim of our study was to clarify whether sex influences the prognosis after esophagectomy for esophageal squamous cell carcinoma and esophageal adenocarcinoma. A population‐based and nationwide cohort study included almost all patients who underwent esophagectomy for esophageal cancer in Sweden in 1987–2010, with follow‐up until 2016. Patients’ sex was analyzed in relation to risk of mortality. Multivariable Cox regression provided hazard ratios (HR) with 95% confidence intervals (CI), adjusted for calendar period, age, education, comorbidity, tumor stage, neoadjuvant therapy, and surgeon volume. Among 1,816 participants, 1,024 (56%) had esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (355 [35%] women), and 792 (44%) had esophageal adenocarcinoma (103 [13%] women). Compared to men, women had a decreased overall all‐cause mortality in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (HR = 0.73, 95% CI 0.63–0.85). Stratified analyses showed decreased mortality limited to women aged >55 years (HR = 0.71, 95% CI 0.61–0.83), but in all tumor stages, particularly stages 0‐I (HR = 0.54, 95% CI 0.37–0.79). Women also had decreased 90‐day all‐cause mortality, 5‐year all‐cause mortality, and 5‐year disease‐specific mortality in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma compared to men. For esophageal adenocarcinoma, no sex differences were found for any of the mortality outcomes. Thus, women who undergo esophagectomy for esophageal squamous cell carcinoma seem to have better prognosis than men, especially those with early tumor stages, whereas no sex differences in prognosis were found for esophageal adenocarcinoma.Abstract Some investigations suggest a better prognosis in women compared to men with esophageal cancer but these differences are uncertain. The aim of our study was to clarify whether sex influences the prognosis after esophagectomy for esophageal squamous cell carcinoma and esophageal adenocarcinoma. A population‐based and nationwide cohort study included almost all patients who underwent esophagectomy for esophageal cancer in Sweden in 1987–2010, with follow‐up until 2016. Patients’ sex was analyzed in relation to risk of mortality. Multivariable Cox regression provided hazard ratios (HR) with 95% confidence intervals (CI), adjusted for calendar period, age, education, comorbidity, tumor stage, neoadjuvant therapy, and surgeon volume. Among 1,816 participants, 1,024 (56%) had esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (355 [35%] women), and 792 (44%) had esophageal adenocarcinoma (103 [13%] women). Compared to men, women had a decreased overall all‐cause mortality in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (HR = 0.73, 95% CI 0.63–0.85). Stratified analyses showed decreased mortality limited to women aged >55 years (HR = 0.71, 95% CI 0.61–0.83), but in all tumor stages, particularly stages 0‐I (HR = 0.54, 95% CI 0.37–0.79). Women also had decreased 90‐day all‐cause mortality, 5‐year all‐cause mortality, and 5‐year disease‐specific mortality in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma compared to men. For esophageal adenocarcinoma, no sex differences were found for any of the mortality outcomes. Thus, women who undergo esophagectomy for esophageal squamous cell carcinoma seem to have better prognosis than men, especially those with early tumor stages, whereas no sex differences in prognosis were found for esophageal adenocarcinoma

Imaging in disappearing colorectal liver metastases and their accuracy : a systematic review

AbstractBackground: Approximately 30% of patients with colorectal cancer develop colorectal liver metastases (CRLM). CRLM that become undetectable by imaging after chemotherapy are called disappearing liver metastases (DLM). But a DLM is not necessarily equal to cure. An increasing incidence of patients with DLM provides surgeons with a difficult dilemma: to resect or to not resect the original sites of DLM? The aim of this review was to investigate to what extent a DLM equates a complete response (CR) and to compare outcomes.Methods: This review was conducted in accordance with the PRISMA guidelines and registered in Prospero (registration number CRD42017070441). Literature search was made in the PubMed and Embase databases. During the process of writing, PubMed was repeatedly searched and reference lists of included studies were screened for additional studies of interest for this review. Results were independently screened by two authors with the Covidence platform. Studies eligible for inclusion were those reporting outcomes of DLM in adult patients undergoing surgery following chemotherapy.Results: Fifteen studies were included with a total of 2955 patients with CRLM. They had 4742 CRLM altogether. Post-chemotherapy, patients presented with 1561 DLM. Patients with one or more DLM ranged from 7 to 48% (median 19%). Median DLM per patient was 3.4 (range 0.4–5.6). Patients were predominantly evaluated by contrast-enhanced computed tomography (CE-CT) before and after chemotherapy, with some exceptions and with addition of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in some studies. Intraoperative ultrasound (IOUS) was universally performed in all but two studies. If a DLM remained undetectable by IOUS, this DLM represented a CR in 24–96% (median 77.5%). Further, if a DLM on preoperative CE-CT remained undetectable by additional workup with MRI and CE-IOUS, this DLM was equal to a CR in 75–94% (median 89%). Patients with resected DLM had a longer disease-free survival compared to patients with DLM left in situ but statistically significant differences in overall survival could not be found.Conclusion: Combination of CE-CT, MRI, and IOUS showed promising results in accurately identifying DLM with CR. This suggests that leaving DLM in situ could be an alternative to surgical resection when a DLM remains undetectable by MRI and IOUS.Abstract Background: Approximately 30% of patients with colorectal cancer develop colorectal liver metastases (CRLM). CRLM that become undetectable by imaging after chemotherapy are called disappearing liver metastases (DLM). But a DLM is not necessarily equal to cure. An increasing incidence of patients with DLM provides surgeons with a difficult dilemma: to resect or to not resect the original sites of DLM? The aim of this review was to investigate to what extent a DLM equates a complete response (CR) and to compare outcomes. Methods: This review was conducted in accordance with the PRISMA guidelines and registered in Prospero (registration number CRD42017070441). Literature search was made in the PubMed and Embase databases. During the process of writing, PubMed was repeatedly searched and reference lists of included studies were screened for additional studies of interest for this review. Results were independently screened by two authors with the Covidence platform. Studies eligible for inclusion were those reporting outcomes of DLM in adult patients undergoing surgery following chemotherapy. Results: Fifteen studies were included with a total of 2955 patients with CRLM. They had 4742 CRLM altogether. Post-chemotherapy, patients presented with 1561 DLM. Patients with one or more DLM ranged from 7 to 48% (median 19%). Median DLM per patient was 3.4 (range 0.4–5.6). Patients were predominantly evaluated by contrast-enhanced computed tomography (CE-CT) before and after chemotherapy, with some exceptions and with addition of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in some studies. Intraoperative ultrasound (IOUS) was universally performed in all but two studies. If a DLM remained undetectable by IOUS, this DLM represented a CR in 24–96% (median 77.5%). Further, if a DLM on preoperative CE-CT remained undetectable by additional workup with MRI and CE-IOUS, this DLM was equal to a CR in 75–94% (median 89%). Patients with resected DLM had a longer disease-free survival compared to patients with DLM left in situ but statistically significant differences in overall survival could not be found. Conclusion: Combination of CE-CT, MRI, and IOUS showed promising results in accurately identifying DLM with CR. This suggests that leaving DLM in situ could be an alternative to surgical resection when a DLM remains undetectable by MRI and IOUS

Research letter : Oncological treatment reported by the Finnish Cancer Registry compared to given neoadjuvant treatment in patients undergoing esophagectomy for cancer-A nationwide study

Peer reviewe

Incidence of parastomal and incisional hernia following emergency surgery for Hinchey III-IV diverticulitis : A systematic review

AbstractPurpose: The aim of this systematic review was to evaluate the risk of parastomal (PSH) and incisional hernias (IH) after emergency surgery for Hinchey III–IV diverticulitis, with comparison between the Hartmann procedure and other surgical techniques.Methods: The Cochrane Library, Embase, PubMed (MEDLINE), Web of Science and Scopus databases were systematically searched. The primary endpoint was parastomal hernia incidence. The secondary endpoint was incisional hernia incidence.Results: Five studies (four randomized controlled trials and one retrospective cohort) with a total of 699 patients were eligible for inclusion. The PSH rate was 15%–46% for Hartmann procedure, 0%–85% for primary anastomosis, 4% for resection, and 2% for laparoscopic lavage. The IH rates were 5%–38% for Hartmann procedure, 5%–27% for primary anastomosis, 9%–12% for primary resection, and 3%–11% for laparoscopic lavage.Conclusions: Both the parastomal and incisional hernia incidences are poorly evaluated and reported, and varied greatly between the studies.Abstract Purpose: The aim of this systematic review was to evaluate the risk of parastomal (PSH) and incisional hernias (IH) after emergency surgery for Hinchey III–IV diverticulitis, with comparison between the Hartmann procedure and other surgical techniques. Methods: The Cochrane Library, Embase, PubMed (MEDLINE), Web of Science and Scopus databases were systematically searched. The primary endpoint was parastomal hernia incidence. The secondary endpoint was incisional hernia incidence. Results: Five studies (four randomized controlled trials and one retrospective cohort) with a total of 699 patients were eligible for inclusion. The PSH rate was 15%–46% for Hartmann procedure, 0%–85% for primary anastomosis, 4% for resection, and 2% for laparoscopic lavage. The IH rates were 5%–38% for Hartmann procedure, 5%–27% for primary anastomosis, 9%–12% for primary resection, and 3%–11% for laparoscopic lavage. Conclusions: Both the parastomal and incisional hernia incidences are poorly evaluated and reported, and varied greatly between the studies