Quality of life after laparoscopy-assisted Billroth I gastrectomy.

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OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the quality of life of patients who had undergone laparoscopy-assisted Billroth I gastrectomy (LAG) for cure of cancer. SUMMARY BACKGROUND DATA: In 1994, the authors reported the first case of LAG for early gastric cancer, and this approach quickly has been adopted by Japanese surgeons. However, little is known about the subjective clinical results of this less invasive surgery. METHODS: Quality of life was estimated using the 24-item questionnaire with a scoring system of 1, 2, and 3 and was compared between 41 consecutive patients with LAG and 35 with conventional open gastrectomy. All patients underwent Billroth I gastrectomy for early gastric cancer from January 1993 to July 1997 and were alive without recurrence. RESULTS: Patients who had undergone LAG were taking a normal diet (100%) with >66% of volume at each meal (90%), showed no decreased performance status (90%), and were satisfied with their surgical results (88%). Patients with LAG, when compared with open gastrectomy, showed significantly better results with regard to weight loss, difficulty in swallowing, heartburn and belch, early dumping syndrome, and total score. LAG was better accepted by the patients. CONCLUSIONS: Quality of life after Billroth I gastrectomy was significantly better in patients in whom a laparoscopic technique was used than in those who underwent a conventional method. LAG is less invasive and better accepted by patients and is the procedure of choice for the treatment of early gastric cancer.

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