Long-term Quality of Life and Gastrointestinal Functional Outcomes After Pancreaticoduodenectomy

To perform a comprehensive assessment of long-term quality of life (QOL) and gastrointestinal (GI) function in patients following pancreaticoduodenectomy (PD).

Survival after PD has greatly improved and thus has resulted in a larger population of survivors, yet long-term QOL and GI function after PD is largely unknown.

Patients were identified from a global online support group. QOL was measured using the Short Form-36, while GI function was assessed using the Gastrointestinal Symptom Rating Scale. QOL and GI function were analyzed across subgroups based on time after PD. QOL was compared with preoperative measurements and with established values of a general healthy population (GHP). Multivariate linear regression was used to identify predictors of QOL.

Of the 7605 members of the online support group, 1102 responded to the questionnaire with 927 responders meeting inclusion criteria. Seven hundred seventeen (77.3%) of these responders underwent PD for malignancy. Mean age was 57 ± 12 years and 327 (35%) were male. At the time of survey, patients were 2.0 (0.7, 4.3) years out from surgery, with a maximum 30.7-year response following PD. Emotional and physical domains of QOL improved with time and surpassed preoperative levels between 6 months and 1 year after PD (both P < 0.001). Each GI symptom worsened over time (all P < 0.001). Independent predictors of general QOL in long-term survivors (> 5 years) included total GSRS score [β = -1.70 (-1.91, -1.50)], female sex [β = 3.58 (0.67, 6.46)], and being a cancer survivor [β = 3.93 (0.60, 7.25)].

Long-term QOL following PD improves over time, however never approaches that of a GHP. GI dysfunction persists in long-term survivors and is an independent predictor of poor QOL. Long-term physical, psychosocial, and GI functional support after PD is encouraged.