title: Functional outcome, quality of life, and efficacy of probiotics in postoperative patients with colorectal cancer.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  We investigated the functional outcome and health-related quality of life (QOL) of patients who underwent a surgical resection of colorectal cancer, and reviewed the efficacy of probiotics for improving bowel function.
  
  
  METHODS
  A questionnaire was mailed to 193 patients. Questionnaires contained the Medical Outcomes Study Short-Form 36-Item Health Survey and the European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer Quality of Life Questionnaire C30 as QOL scores, the Wexner incontinence score, and original questionnaire items about bowel functions. Probiotics, containing Bacillus natto and Lactobacillus acidophilus, were given to 77 patients for 3 months; after 3 months of treatment, the same questionnaire was administered. The results were analyzed by location of the resected cancer: rectal, colonic, right, and left.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In the rectal group, defecation frequency, anal pain, and the Wexner score were significantly worse than in the colonic group. In the right group, the fecal form was looser and nighttime defecation frequency was higher than those of the left group. Three items in the QOL score of the right group were significantly worse compared with the left group. Functional outcome including defecation frequency, feeling of incomplete defecation, and five items in the QOL score were significantly improved after taking probiotics. Improvement in functional outcome and/or QOL was observed in all groups.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Not only rectal resection but also rightside colectomy affected bowel dysfunction. Probiotics could be an effective treatment for improvement in functional outcome and QOL after colorectal resection.
authors.affiliation: Department of Gastroenterological Surgery, St Luke's International Hospital, 9-1 Akashi-cho, Chuo-ku, Tokyo, 104-8560, Japan.
authors.forename: Seiji
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ohigashi
authors.forename: Yoshinori
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Hoshino
authors.forename: Sachiko
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ohde
authors.forename: Hisashi
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Onodera
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D001407:Bacillus; D003082:Colectomy; D003110:Colonic Neoplasms / Q000601:surgery*; D003248:Constipation / Q000178:diet therapy* / Q000209:etiology; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003967:Diarrhea / Q000178:diet therapy* / Q000209:etiology; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007779:Lactobacillus acidophilus; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000178:diet therapy*; D019936:Probiotics / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D011788:Quality of Life; D020127:Recovery of Function; D012004:Rectal Neoplasms / Q000601:surgery*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D016896:Treatment Outcome