Perioperative symptom clusters in patients with esophageal cancer:a longitudinal study

LI Wen; CHEN Die; WU Siqi; LI Hong; WANG Yijing; ZENG Jie; WEN Hongying

doi:10.12102/j.issn.1009-6493.2024.09.005

Abstract：Objective:To investigate the types,composition,and dynamics of symptom clusters experienced by patients with esophageal cancer in the perioperative period,and to provide theoretical guidance for symptom management in patients with esophageal cancer.Methods:A total of 161 patients who underwent radical esophageal cancer surgery for the first time in the Department of Thoracic Surgery in a tertiary care hospital in Nanchong City from March 2022 to September were conveniently selected and longitudinally surveyed using a self-administered general information questionnaire and the Esophageal Cancer Perioperative Symptom Assessment Scale 1～3 days before surgery(T1),1～3 days after surgery(T2)and 1～3 days before discharge(T3),and symptom clusters were identified by exploratory factor analysis.Results:A final total of 154 patients were included.Patients had different incidences and severity of symptoms at the 3-time points.Exploratory factor analysis extracted three symptom clusters of eating-related symptom cluster,psychological symptom cluster,and energy deficit symptom cluster in T1;four symptom clusters of eating-related symptom cluster,psychological symptom cluster,energy deficit symptom cluster,and pain-fatigue symptom cluster in T2;three symptom clusters of eating-related symptom cluster,somato-psychological symptom cluster,and pain-fatigue symptom cluster in T3,among which the eating-related symptom cluster was stable in the perioperative period and was specific to patients with esophageal cancer.Conclusion:There is a stable and dynamic symptom cluster during the perioperative period in patients with esophageal cancer.Patients'symptoms should be assessed,symptom management implemented promptly,and a targeted intervention plan should be developed to reduce the impact of surgery-related symptoms on patients.