1992 Volume 53 Issue 4 Pages 832-836
The quality of life (QOL) in 5 patients who survived more than 10 months after pancreaticoduodenectomy (PD), was discussed from viewpoints of both reversion to the jobs and nutritive condition. Performance status scale after PD unavoidably decreased and it was difficult for the patient to reverse the same jobs before operation. Remarkable body weight loss was noted during postoperative 1 to 3 months, and serum protein and albumin levels significantly decreased compared to those before operation. In long survivors more than 4 years after surgery, administration of pancreatic enzymes or eutrophics failed to improve hypoproteinemia or anemia, which tended to become chronic. It is a fact that we have no any strategies to interfere the depreciation in QOL after PD. The pertinent factor of the depreciation in QOL is nutrition disturbance, which indicates an urgent need of evaluation of nutritive condition and adequate treatment. Considering the curability, physical condition and social background of each patient, the indication of PD should be determined.
