TY - JOUR
T1 - Indications and use of palliative surgery
T2 - Results of Society of Surgical Oncology survey
AU - McCahill, Laurence E.
AU - Krouse, Robert
AU - Chu, David
AU - Juarez, Gloria
AU - Uman, Gwen C.
AU - Ferrell, Betty
AU - Wagman, Lawrence D.
PY - 2002
Y1 - 2002
N2 - Background: Despite increasing attention to end-of-life care in oncology, palliative surgery (PS) remains poorly defined. A survey to test the definition, assess the extent of use, and evaluate attitudes and goals of surgeons regarding PS was devised. Methods: A survey of Society of Surgical Oncology (SSO) members. Results: 419 SSO members completed a 110-item survey. Surgeons estimated 21% of their cancer surgeries as palliative in nature. Forty-three percent of respondents felt PS was best defined based on pre-operative intent, 27% based on post-operative factors, and 30% on patient prognosis. Only 43% considered estimated patient survival time an important factor in defining PS, and 22% considered 5-year survival rate important. The vast majority (95%) considered tumor still evident following surgery in a patient with poor prognosis constituted PS. Most surgeons felt PS could be procedures due to generalized illness related to cancer (80%) or related to cancer treatment complications (76%). Patient symptom relief and pain relief were identified as the two most important goals in PS, with increased survival the least important. Conclusion: PS is a major portion of surgical oncology practice. Quality-of-life parameters, not patient survival, were identified as the most important goals of PS.
AB - Background: Despite increasing attention to end-of-life care in oncology, palliative surgery (PS) remains poorly defined. A survey to test the definition, assess the extent of use, and evaluate attitudes and goals of surgeons regarding PS was devised. Methods: A survey of Society of Surgical Oncology (SSO) members. Results: 419 SSO members completed a 110-item survey. Surgeons estimated 21% of their cancer surgeries as palliative in nature. Forty-three percent of respondents felt PS was best defined based on pre-operative intent, 27% based on post-operative factors, and 30% on patient prognosis. Only 43% considered estimated patient survival time an important factor in defining PS, and 22% considered 5-year survival rate important. The vast majority (95%) considered tumor still evident following surgery in a patient with poor prognosis constituted PS. Most surgeons felt PS could be procedures due to generalized illness related to cancer (80%) or related to cancer treatment complications (76%). Patient symptom relief and pain relief were identified as the two most important goals in PS, with increased survival the least important. Conclusion: PS is a major portion of surgical oncology practice. Quality-of-life parameters, not patient survival, were identified as the most important goals of PS.
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U2 - 10.1245/aso.2002.9.1.104
DO - 10.1245/aso.2002.9.1.104
M3 - Article
C2 - 11829424
AN - SCOPUS:0036211704
SN - 1068-9265
VL - 9
SP - 104
EP - 112
JO - Annals of Surgical Oncology
JF - Annals of Surgical Oncology
IS - 1
ER -