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This is an interim report of a randomized clinical trial on esophagojejunostomy (E J) versusHunt-Lawrence-Rodino (HLR) pouch as reconstruction techniques following total gastrectomy and systematic lymphadenectomy for gastric cancer treatment. The randomized trial preceded a pilot study comparing the Longmire-Gutgemann interposition ant/ the HLR. The pilot study included 7 patients, the randomized trial 38 patients (60 planned). The main outcome variables in the pilot study were food resorption, caloric intake, and body weight. Survival probability and general well-being (quality of life) were measured in the randomized trial. A score was composed of diseasespecific and socio-personal variables with well-being ranging from 0 (worst) to 14 (best) points.Concerning food resorption in the pilot study, no relevant advantage of the duodenal passage was found. The main postoperative disorder was insufficient food intake. Despite a radical operation, a hospital mortality rate of 16%, and a complication rate of 37%, gastric cancer still has a poor prognosis. In the randomized trial only 15 (39%) of 38 patients were alive 1 year after operation, but the survival probability was higher (58%) after HLR than after EJ (24%) (p < 0.05). Hunger and appetite were strongly reduced during the first 6 months after operation. Food intake was less than half of the preoperative values, which was reflected by an average decrease in body weight of 7 kg.Patients dying within the first year after total gastrectomy suffered an irreversible loss of quality of life (scoring 7 points). They had no objective benefit from the operation. Patients surviving this period regained quality of life and exceeded preoperative values, especially after HLR.We conclude that HLR-operated patients who have a chance of surviving for at least 1 year benefit from total gastrectomy in regard to quality of life.

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