[Purpose] The purpose of this study was to examine changes in fatigue and physical function with age for groups of patients with gastrointestinal cancer in the perioperative period. [Subjects and Methods] The study involved 52 patients with gastrointestinal cancer (28 males and 24 females, aged 62.4 ± 12.0 years). The subjects were divided into two groups: those 65 or over (the so-called elderly group,) and those 64 or under (the so-called young group). The six minute walk distance (6MWD), Cancer Fatigue Scale (CFS), and serum albumin (ALB) were evaluated on three occasions: before surgery, after surgery and after discharge. This study considered change in physical function and fatigue, differences between the two groups and correlations between age and each evaluation on the three occasions. [Results] The 6MWD was the main difference between the elderly and young groups, with the former having significantly reduced 6MWD values as compared to the latter after surgery. Age was positively correlated with 6MWD and ALB after surgery and after discharge. Moreover, age was negatively correlated with CFS after surgery and after discharge. [Conclusion] It is suggested that elderly patients are more likely to experience a decline in exercise tolerance and an increase in fatigue.

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[Purpose] The purpose of the present study was to observe physical function, physique (only BMI), and nutrition status (evaluated by serum albumin levels) from before surgery to after discharge among perioperative patients with gastrointestinal tract cancer and to examine the effect of difference in surgical site (i.e., stomach, colon, and rectum) in these patients. [Subjects and Methods] The study subjects were 70 patients who underwent surgical treatment for gastrointestinal tract cancer [36 males and 34 females, aged 59.3 ± 11.4 years (mean ± SD)]. The subjects were classified into three levels according to surgical site (stomach, colon, and rectum). We evaluated patients’ physical function, physique, and nutrition status in the three points: before surgery, after surgery, and after discharge. The 6-minute walk distance was measured for physical function. Body mass index was measured for physique. The serum albumin level was measured for nutrition status. [Results] Significant declines in 6-minute walk distance, body mass index, and serum albumin were observed after surgery among the study subjects. In addition, a significant decline in body mass index was observed after discharge compared with before surgery. Regarding body mass index, a significant interaction between surgical site and evaluation times was observed for ANOVA. [Conclusion] These results suggest that BMI after discharge is significantly less than that before surgery and that body mass index changes from before surgery to after surgery are efficacy the difference of surgical site in patients who undergo surgical treatment for gastrointestinal tract cancer.

To evaluate the association between the cross-sectional area of selected shoulder and scapular muscles and the range of shoulder abduction, early after neck dissection surgery. Patients and Methods: Twenty-seven patients (contributing 34 upper limbs), who had undergone neck dissection surgery for head and neck malignancy, were enrolled into the study. Loss of strength of the trapezius muscle at 1month post-surgery was quantified by the change in active range of shoulder abduction (%A-ROM), measured by hand-held goniometry in a standing position, from baseline, before surgery. The cross-sectional area of the following muscles were measured on unenhanced computed tomography images after surgery: trapezius, rhomboid, serratus anterior, pectoralis major, deltoid, and biceps brachii. Results: There was a significant positive correlation between the %A-ROM and the cross-sectional area of the rhomboid muscle. Conclusion: Greater active shoulder abduction early after surgery is associated with a greater cross-sectional area of the rhomboid muscle. This muscle should be included in intensive programs for rehabilitation of upper limb movement after neck dissection surgery.

Purpose] The purpose of this study was to examine the factors influencing postoperative physical function using data collected from perioperative patients with gastrointestinal cancer.[Subjects] Subjects were 101 perioperative patients with gastrointestinal cancer.[Methods] Six-minute walking distance (6MWD) was measured to assess postoperative physical function. Subjects were divided two groups based on the 6MWD of greater or less than 400 m. Demographic data (age, gender, cancer stage, surgical site, and body mass index), intraoperative data (surgical time, blood loss, and surgery type), and biochemical data [serum albumin (Alb), prognostic nutritional index, and C-reactive protein] were collected pre and post-operatively.[Results] Multivariate logistic regression, with 6MWD as the dependent variable, identified postoperative Alb as a significantly independent variable in both groups. [Conclusion] We consider postoperative Alb is useful as an indicator of the impact of surgery on physical function of perioperative patients with gastrointestinal cancer.