[Quality of life in patients with rectal cancer after laparoscopic colectomy].
To assess the quality of life in patients with rectal cancer after laparoscopic colectomy.



From Sep.2004 to Dec. 2005, 51 patients with rectal cancer were recruited in this prospective, non-randomized study.Twenty-three patients underwent laparoscopic colectomy (LC), 28 patients had open colectomy (OC). EORTC QLQ-C30 and QLQ-CR38 questionnaire were applied to evaluate quality of life baseline, discharging and 3 months after operation.



Before operation,the median score of role functioning in LC group was lower. However, LC group patients complained less financial difficulties. The differences were of statistical significance (P<0.05), but not of clinical significance. The median scores of other function domains and symptom domains were similar between two groups (P>0.05). Postoperatively, the most median scores of function domains and symptom domains between two groups were similar (P>0.05). The only score with statistically significant difference was the pain when patients left hospital (U=218.5, P=0.042). However, the difference was not of clinical significance, too.



Only minimal benefits in short-term postoperative quality of life are found with laparoscopic colectomy in patients with rectal cancer compared with open colectomy.
Li
Jun
J
The Second Affiliated Hospital, College of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310009, China.
Ding
Ke-feng
KF
Wang
Xiao-chen
XC
D000230:Adenocarcinoma / Q000601:surgery*; D000368:Aged; D003082:Colectomy / Q000379:methods; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D010535:Laparoscopy / Q000379:methods*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011788:Quality of Life; D012004:Rectal Neoplasms / Q000601:surgery*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D016896:Treatment Outcome