Pancreatic Cancer Research Today is a free monthly online journal that collates and summarizes the latest research about Pancreatic Cancer, including details on symptoms, causes, treatment, information. | ||||||||
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Quality of life after pancreaticoduodenectomy for ductal adenocarcinoma of the pancreatic head.Schniewind B, Bestmann B, Henne-Bruns D, Faendrich F, Kremer B, Kuechler T Clinic for General and Thoracic Surgery, University Clinic of Schleswig-Holstein, Campus Kiel, Kiel, Germany. schniewind@surgery.uni-kiel.de BACKGROUND: This study examined quality of life (QoL) after classical partial pancreaticoduodenectomy (PPD) and pylorus-preserving pancreaticoduodenectomy (PPPD) in patients with adenocarcinoma of the pancreatic head, and also evaluated the influence of extended lymphadenectomy (ELA). METHODS: Between January 1993 and March 2004, QoL was analysed in a prospective single-centre study that included 91 patients. Thirty-four patients underwent PPD and 57 had a PPPD. Seventy patients had an ELA and 21 underwent regional lymphadenectomy (RLA). QoL was assessed using the European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer QLQ-C30 questionnaire and a pancreatic cancer-specific module. Data were collected before operation and for 24 months after surgery. RESULTS: The overall 5-year survival rate was 18 percent for all patients and 21 percent in those who had an R0 resection. QoL was impaired for 3-6 months after surgery and then recovered to preoperative levels. There was no significant difference in long-term survival after PPD versus PPPD and ELA versus RLA. Patients who had ELA reported clinically significant higher levels of diarrhoea and pain. PPPD showed a disadvantage in terms of pain. CONCLUSION: The surgical techniques of resection and reconstruction did not affect QoL, but extended lymphadenectomy was associated with an impairment in QoL. Published 30 August 2006 in Br J Surg, 93(9): 1099-107.
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