Laparoscopically-assisted palliative total gastrectomy in patients with stage IV or metastatic gastric cancer: is it worthwhile?
Laparoscopically-assisted noncurative total gastrectomy in patients with stage IV or metastatic gastric cancer is considered to be a safe and feasible approach. Laparoscopically-assisted palliative total gastrectomy can be performed to obtain better quality of life in patients with gastric cancer who suffered from local gastric bleeding, pain, obstruction symptoms refractory to other therapies.
Nutritional risk is an independent predictor of change in health-related QOL. The results also indicate a relationship between nutrition and the more holistic view of QOL. Evaluation studies of interventions for older adults need to include QOL measures as potential outcomes to further demonstrate the benefits of good nutrition.