Abstract
Background: A retrospective study was performed to assess the effectiveness and safety of pancrelipase for digestive and absorption disorders in patients after gastrectomy.
Methods: Between August 2012 and March 2013, patients who had undergone total or distal gastrectomy at least 1 year ago, had lost more than 5% of their body weight and had been prescribed received the prescription of pancrelipase 1.8g/day for >1 year were identified from the clinical records in the Cancer Institute Hospital. Differences in body weight and nutritional indicators were estimated before and after pancrelipase administration.
Results: Sixty-two patients with gastric cancer were identified: 23 had undergone total gastrectomy and 39 had undergone distal gastrectomy. Drug compliance was 86.3%. Average body weight of patients who underwent total gastrectomy increased significantly from 52.6 kg to 53.6 kg after administration (p= 0.034), but there was no significant change in mean body weight after distal gastrectomy. There was a significant change in serum albumin levels in patients who underwent either total or distal gastrectomy. Moreover some patients reported improvements in subjective symptoms, such as diarrhea and loss of appetite following pancrelipase administration. In Four patients (6.5%) reported adverse events, such as nausea, diarrhea and skin itchiness, although all symptoms were mild (Grade 1).
Conclusion: Administration of pancrelipase may be a promising intervention for digestive or absorption disorders in malnourished patients after gastrectomy.
