Quality of life after emergency vs. elective esophagectomy with cervical reconstruction.

INTRODUCTION: Esophagectomy with reconstruction by collar anastomosis has an impact on the patients quality of life (QOL). The aim of this study was to explore a potential difference in QOL between elective and emergency esophagectomy with collar reconstruction.

PATIENTS AND METHODS: Quality of life questionnaires were evaluated in 17 patients prior to esophagectomy, shortly after surgery, hospital discharge, and at least > 9 months after surgery using the EORTC QLQ C30 and EORTC OES 18 forms. In all patients reconstruction was per-formed by high collar anastomosis. Patients in group A received elective esophageal resection. In group B emergency esophagectomy was performed because of esophageal perforation for various reasons apart from cancer. In this group, delayed reconstruction was performed in a second operation 3-6 months after esophagectomy.

RESULTS: There was a temporary decrease of postoperative QOL in both groups, which re-turned to preoperative values in the follow-up except for physical functioning, which remained decreased in group A (p < 0,05). There were no persisting differences in QOL after elective and emergency esophagectomy in the follow-up.

DISCUSSION: Patients with elective and emergency esophagectomy and reconstruction by high collar anastomosis gained a good long-term QOL in our cohort of patients. This gives evidence that the observed QOL after elective resection of esophageal cancer is not only caused by a relief of cancer burden, but also due to a surgical procedure which is able to provide a good long-term QOL.