[Quality of life of patients with reconstructed esophagus due to chemical burning].

UNLABELLED: The aim of the study was to assess long-term quality of life (QoL) and symptoms presented by patients who underwent esophageal reconstruction. We invited by mail 64 patients (group 1) and 400 individuals from general population (group 2) to complete QoL questionnaire (RAND 36). Patients' questionnaire additionally contained the part regarding esophageal function. 35 patients of group 1 and 114 persons of group 2 were included to the final analysis. In majority of subjects esophageal symptoms appeared directly after the operation. The most frequent ones were choking, burping and postprandial feeling of fullness. 16 patients (45.7%) reported other co-morbidities. Group 1 in comparison with group 2 reported poorer QoL (p<0.01) in 2 of 8 QoL areas. There were no correlations between QoL scales and type of intestinal pedicle grafts or period after esophageal reconstruction.

CONCLUSION: Long-term QoL assessed by the patients themselves is in general similar to the control group.