Exocrine pancreatic insufficiency and quality of life after oncologic gastric surgery: Evaluation from a single tertiary center

Table 2 Comparative analysis of clinico-demographic characteristics according to exocrine pancreatic insufficiency severity, n (%)

Variables	No-EPI (n = 28)	Moderate EPI (n = 9)	Severe EPI (n = 7)	P value
Sex
Male	16 (57.1)	7 (77.8)	4 (57.1)	0.35
Female	12 (42.9)	2 (22.2)	3 (42.9)
Age
≥ 65	16 (57.1)	8 (88.9)	2 (28.6)	0.05
< 65	12 (42.9)	1 (11.1)	5 (71.4)
Comorbidities
Diabetes	3 (10.7)	2 (22.2)	2 (28.6)	0.32
Cardiovascular disease	6 (21.4)	3 (33.3)	2 (28.6)
Pulmonary disease	2 (7.1)	3 (33.3)	2 (28.6)
ASA score
ASA 1	0	0	0	0.4
ASA 2	22 (78.6)	7 (77.8)	7 (100)
ASA 3	6 (21.4)	2 (22.2)	0
Tumor location
Proximal	10 (35.7)	1 (11.1)	3 (42.9)	0.41
Middle	3 (10.7)	3 (33.3)	1 (14.2)
Distal	15 (53.6)	5 (55.6)	3 (42.9)
Neoadjuvant therapy
	14 (50)	5 (55.6)	6 (85.7)	0.23
Type of surgical procedure
STG	17 (60.7)	5 (55.6)	4 (57.1)	0.49
Total gastrectomy	7 (25)	4 (44.4)	3 (42.9)
Superior polar gastrectomy	4 (14.3)	0	0
Reconstruction after STG
Roux-en-Y	12 (70.6)	4 (80)	3 (75)	0.91
Billroth II	5 (29.4)	1 (20)	1 (25)
Clavien-Dindo ≥ 3
	4 (14.3)	0	0	0.28
Fecal elastase (mcg/g), median (QR)
	476 (347.5-620.5)	184 (137-218)	47 (15-95)	< 0.0001
Histotype
Intestinal	16 (57)	7 (77.8)	0	0.02
Diffuse	7 (25)	1 (11.1)	3 (42.9)
Mixed	5 (18)	1 (11.1)	4 (57.1)
T stage
T1-T2	14 (50)	4 (44.4)	0	0.05
T3-T4	14 (50)	5 (55.6)	7 (100)
N stage
N0	14 (50)	5 (55.6)	0	0.04
N+	14 (50)	4 (44.4)	7 (100)
Adjuvant therapy
	14 (50)	4 (44.4)	6 (85.7)	0.19
Tumor recurrence
	5 (17.8)	2 (22.2)	4 (57.1)	0.12

ASA: American Society of Anesthesiologists; EPI: Exocrine pancreatic insufficiency; QR: Quartile rank; STG: Subtotal gastrectomy.