Abstract
Objectives.
Dumping syndrome is a poorly understood post-surgical complication with a wide heterogeneity (0-78%) in reported prevalence among oesophageal cancer patients. Severe symptoms can reduce the quality of life and promote weight loss, often requiring dietary adjustments. This study investigates the prevalence of dumping symptoms longitudinally in oesophageal cancer patients after oesophagectomy.
Materials and Methods.
This prospective, nationwide cohort study (OSCAR) included all patients who underwent oesophageal cancer surgery in Sweden from 2013 to 2020. Of 617 eligible, 418 were included at year one post-surgery. Clinical data were drawn from the Swedish National Patient Register, Swedish Cancer Register, and medical records. Dumping symptoms at years one and five post-surgery were assessed via a study-specific questionnaire covering 10 most characteristic symptoms. Symptom severity was rated on a 4-point Likert scale and overall severity was classified as ‘none’, ‘moderate’, or ‘severe’ dumping. Symptom onset was categorized as ‘early’ or ‘late’ based on patient interviews. Frequencies are presented as numbers (%). Group comparisons used chi-square test, and time-point comparisons Wilcoxon Signed-Rank Test, with significance set at p<0.05.
Results.
Complete data on dumping symptoms at year one post-surgery were available for 385 patients (91.7% men; median age 68.7 at surgery). A total of 204 (53%) reported early dumping symptoms (43.1% moderate, 9.9% severe), and 42 (10.9%) reported late symptoms (9.1% moderate, 1.8% severe). The most common early symptoms were stomach cramps, nausea, and diarrhoea, while sleepiness was a predominant late symptom. Five years post-surgery, 112 patients completed the dumping symptom questionnaire. Among these, 70 (62.5%) experienced early and 17 (15.2%) late dumping symptoms. Among 109 patients reporting at both years one and five, early symptom severity increased significantly over time (p=0.018), but late symptom severity did not differ. Younger patients reported higher severity of early (p=0.009) and late (p=0.044) dumping symptoms at year one. No significant associations were found between dumping severity and gender, comorbidity, preoperative body mass index, tumour histology, neoadjuvant therapy or postoperative complications.
Conclusions.
Dumping symptoms are common and persistent over time in patients undergoing oesophageal cancer surgery. A standardized diagnostic tool is needed to address inconsistencies across studies.
Dumping syndrome is a poorly understood post-surgical complication with a wide heterogeneity (0-78%) in reported prevalence among oesophageal cancer patients. Severe symptoms can reduce the quality of life and promote weight loss, often requiring dietary adjustments. This study investigates the prevalence of dumping symptoms longitudinally in oesophageal cancer patients after oesophagectomy.
Materials and Methods.
This prospective, nationwide cohort study (OSCAR) included all patients who underwent oesophageal cancer surgery in Sweden from 2013 to 2020. Of 617 eligible, 418 were included at year one post-surgery. Clinical data were drawn from the Swedish National Patient Register, Swedish Cancer Register, and medical records. Dumping symptoms at years one and five post-surgery were assessed via a study-specific questionnaire covering 10 most characteristic symptoms. Symptom severity was rated on a 4-point Likert scale and overall severity was classified as ‘none’, ‘moderate’, or ‘severe’ dumping. Symptom onset was categorized as ‘early’ or ‘late’ based on patient interviews. Frequencies are presented as numbers (%). Group comparisons used chi-square test, and time-point comparisons Wilcoxon Signed-Rank Test, with significance set at p<0.05.
Results.
Complete data on dumping symptoms at year one post-surgery were available for 385 patients (91.7% men; median age 68.7 at surgery). A total of 204 (53%) reported early dumping symptoms (43.1% moderate, 9.9% severe), and 42 (10.9%) reported late symptoms (9.1% moderate, 1.8% severe). The most common early symptoms were stomach cramps, nausea, and diarrhoea, while sleepiness was a predominant late symptom. Five years post-surgery, 112 patients completed the dumping symptom questionnaire. Among these, 70 (62.5%) experienced early and 17 (15.2%) late dumping symptoms. Among 109 patients reporting at both years one and five, early symptom severity increased significantly over time (p=0.018), but late symptom severity did not differ. Younger patients reported higher severity of early (p=0.009) and late (p=0.044) dumping symptoms at year one. No significant associations were found between dumping severity and gender, comorbidity, preoperative body mass index, tumour histology, neoadjuvant therapy or postoperative complications.
Conclusions.
Dumping symptoms are common and persistent over time in patients undergoing oesophageal cancer surgery. A standardized diagnostic tool is needed to address inconsistencies across studies.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Pages | 13 |
| Number of pages | 1 |
| Publication status | Published - 5 Dec 2024 |
| Externally published | Yes |
| Event | 4th International Conference Nutrition and Health - Rīga Stradiņš university, Rīga, Latvia Duration: 5 Dec 2024 → 6 Dec 2024 Conference number: 4 https://www.rsu.lv/en/4th-international-conference-nutrition-and-health |
Conference
| Conference | 4th International Conference Nutrition and Health |
|---|---|
| Country/Territory | Latvia |
| City | Rīga |
| Period | 5/12/24 → 6/12/24 |
| Internet address |
Keywords*
- Dumping
- Oesophageal neoplasm
- Surgical complications
- Oesophagectomy
Field of Science*
- 3.3 Health sciences
- 3.2 Clinical medicine
Publication Type*
- 3.4. Other publications in conference proceedings (including local)
