Abstract
Purpose : There are a few reports dealing with the results and prognosis who had gastrojejunal bypass due to constriction of the upper digestive tract in patients with unresectable malignant tumors. This report deals with the follow-up of such cases in our department.
Methods : Thirty-three cases had bypass surgery from January 1999 to December 2007 ; their background factors, postoperative day of starting oral ingestion, duration of oral ingestion, postoperative survival period, and other factors affecting postoperative survival period were assessed.
Results : The average age was 69 years ; the ratio of men to women was 19:14. The most common disease was gastric cancer (16 cases). The average postoperative day of starting oral ingestion was 7.2 days, and the median duration of oral ingestion was 127 days ; 32 cases were able to ingest semi-solid rice gruel after surgery. The discharge rate was 93.9%, and the 50% survival period was 149 days. The postoperative survival period was significantly decreased in cases with : preoperative systemic complications, anemia, malnutrition or no postoperative chemotherapy.
Conclusion : Bypass surgery permits oral ingestion soon after surgery and greatly contributes to improving the QOL of patients with unresectable malignant tumors. However, it is necessary to carefully determine whether bypass surgery is useful based on such factors as the presence of systemic complications, anemia, and malnutrition.
