title: Minimally invasive surgery for colorectal cancer: quality of life, body image, cosmesis, and functional results.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The aims of this cross-sectional study were to assess the long-term quality of life, the body image, and the cosmetic and functional results in patients who had laparoscopic-assisted for colorectal cancer.
  
  
  METHODS
  Forty-two patients were enrolled in this study: 21 consecutive patients who had undergone laparoscopic-assisted colonic resection and 21 patients who had open colonic resection, selected according to stage, gender, age, cancer site, and type of resection. The patients answered four questionnaires about their quality of life, body image, functional, and cosmetic results. Nonparametric tests were used for statistical analysis.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Postoperative hospital stay was shorter in patients who had laparoscopic-assisted resection. The cosmetic score was significantly better in the laparoscopic-assisted group than in the open group (p < 0.01). In spite of similar overall body image score, patients who had a laparoscopic-assisted resection reported a significantly better satisfaction with their own body (p = 0.05). Quality-of-life and functional results were similar in both groups.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The cosmetic results and the consequent satisfaction with the body were significantly better after laparoscopic assisted resection compared to equivalent open procedure. These effects seemed to be temporary but they could help patients to accept the burden of surgery.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgical and Gastroenterological Sciences, University of Padova, Padova, Italy. marcoscarpa73@yahoo.it
authors.forename: Marco
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Scarpa
authors.forename: Francesca
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Erroi
authors.forename: Cesare
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Ruffolo
authors.forename: Eleonora
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Mollica
authors.forename: Lino
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Polese
authors.forename: Giulia
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Pozza
authors.forename: Lorenzo
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Norberto
authors.forename: Davide F
authors.initials: DF
authors.lastname: D'Amico
authors.forename: Imerio
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Angriman
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001828:Body Image; D015179:Colorectal Neoplasms / Q000523:psychology* / Q000601:surgery*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004954:Esthetics; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D010535:Laparoscopy / Q000379:methods*; D007902:Length of Stay / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D016014:Linear Models; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011788:Quality of Life; D018709:Statistics, Nonparametric; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D016896:Treatment Outcome