title: Influence of enhanced recovery after surgery pathways and laparoscopic surgery on health-related quality of life.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This study set out to compare the postoperative health related quality of life (HQoL) of patients undergoing elective open colorectal surgery using a well-established enhanced recovery after surgery (ERAS) pathway with those undergoing laparoscopic surgery without an established an ERAS pathway.
  
  
  METHODS
  Using a power calculation, it was estimated that 40 patients would be required in each group. HQoL of the two groups was prospectively assessed using SF-12 (Short Form 12) and EORTC QLQ 30 (European Organisation of Research and Treatment of Cancer, Quality of Life Questionnaire) preoperatively, and at 2 and 6 weeks after discharge.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Data were collected from 83 patients, 41 in the laparoscopic group and 42 in the open-ERAS group. There was a significant difference between the median length of stay of the open-ERAS (5 days) and laparoscopic (7 days, P = 0.028) groups. There were no significant differences between the HQoL score of the two groups at any stage. In both groups, the majority of HQoL scores had improved considerably by 6 weeks.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Laparoscopic and open-ERAS surgery have a similar impact on postoperative HQoL. HQoL tends to improve by the 6-week stage.
authors.affiliation: Combined Gastroenterology Research Unit, Scarborough General Hospital, Scarborough, Yorkshire, UK.
authors.forename: S A
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Khan
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ullah
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Ahmed
authors.forename: T R
authors.initials: TR
authors.lastname: Wilson
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: McNaught
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Hartley
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Macfie
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D003082:Colectomy / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D019091:Critical Pathways; D005260:Female; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D010535:Laparoscopy / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D007902:Length of Stay / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011788:Quality of Life; D016896:Treatment Outcome
keywords: ERAS; HRQoL; colorectal; laparoscopic; surgery