title: Prospective evaluation of quality of life of patients receiving either abdominoperineal resection or sphincter-preserving procedure for rectal cancer.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Study results on quality of life (QoL) between patients receiving an anterior resection (AR) or abdominoperineal resection (APR) for rectal cancer vary greatly. A main reason is grounded in unequal methodology. The aims of this study were to assess differences in perceived QoL over time among patients treated with AR or APR with a recommended study design and methodology.
  
  
  METHODS
  In a prospective study, the European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer (EORTC) Quality of Life Questionnaire C30 and a tumor-specific module were administered to patients with rectal cancer before surgery, at discharge, and 3, 6, and 12 months after the operation. Comparisons were made between patients receiving an AR and those receiving an APR.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Two hundred forty-nine patients were included; 46 patients received an APR and 203 an AR. QoL data were available for 212 patients, of which 112 were female and 100 male. No differences in the distribution of age, sex, or tumor stage were observed between groups. EORTC function scales showed no significant differences, including body image scales, between patients receiving an AR and those receiving an APR. In symptom scores, AR patients had more difficulty with diarrhea and constipation, whereas patients with APR experienced more impaired sexuality and pain in the anoperineal region. At discharge, patients receiving an AR were more confident about their future.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  QoL in patients receiving an AR and those receiving an APR is not different. Although patients with APR experience more impaired sexuality, patients receiving an AR experience decreases in QoL because of impaired bowel function.
authors.affiliation: Department of General and Thoracic Surgery, University of Kiel, Arnold-Heller-Str. 7, 24105 Kiel, Germany. cewschmidt@yahoo.de
authors.forename: Christian E
authors.initials: CE
authors.lastname: Schmidt
authors.forename: Beate
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Bestmann
authors.forename: Thomas
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Küchler
authors.forename: Walter E
authors.initials: WE
authors.lastname: Longo
authors.forename: Bernd
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Kremer
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D003082:Colectomy / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000379:methods* / Q000534:rehabilitation; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006305:Health Status Indicators; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011788:Quality of Life; D012004:Rectal Neoplasms / Q000601:surgery*