[Quality of life after prograde jejunum interposition with and without pouch. A prospective study of stomach cancer patients on the reservoir as a reconstruction principle after total gastrectomy].

Out of 74 consecutive patients with gastric carcinoma only 39 patients fulfilled the inclusion criteria for this randomized study. These patients were divided into two groups intraoperatively, 21 were reconstructed with and 18 without performing a stapled interposed jejunal pouch. Quality of life was evaluated using Spitzer's QL index and Cuschieri's assessment for 6 months. Spitzer's QL index showed--as expected--no differences concerning the specific reconstruction in gastrointestinal complaints, whereas Cuschieri's assessment revealed an advantage in the pouch group. Cuschieri's assessment needs to be validated by larger comparable groups to prove its suitability for the determination of specific gastrointestinal complaints concerning the type of reconstruction in gastric cancer patients.