title: Bowel dysfunction after total abdominal hysterectomy for benign conditions: a prospective longitudinal study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  On the basis of retrospective studies, hysterectomy has been considered a risk factor for functional bowel disorders. The aim of this study was to prospectively evaluate the patients' bowel function and general health-related quality of life (QoL) before and after hysterectomy. Our hypothesis was that hysterectomy in properly selected patients can impact positively on the patients' self-reporting of their general health and bowel function.
  
  
  METHODS
  A prospective longitudinal observational study was conducted in a university-based teaching hospital. Eighty-five patients who were scheduled for total abdominal hysterectomy for a nonmalignant cause completed the study. The main outcome measure was the patient's perception of her bowel function, which was assessed preoperatively and at 6, 12, 26 and 52 weeks postoperatively using the gastrointestinal quality of life questionnaire. The patient's general health was also assessed using a generic general health questionnaire (EQ5D and EQVAS). The effect of time on change in questionnaire score was assessed using mixed model repeated measures at a significance level of 0.05.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The scores in the three questionnaires declined significantly at 6 weeks postoperatively as compared with those obtained preoperatively. However, there was a subsequent increase in the scores up to 12 months postoperatively. Smoking and use of laxative were identified as potential confounding variables.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Apart from a transient negative effect, total abdominal hysterectomy improves the patient's gastrointestinal-related QoL, probably as part of general improvement in their QoL.
authors.affiliation: Department of Human Metabolism, Academic Unit of Reproductive and Developmental Medicine, University of Sheffield, UK. h.lashen@sheffield.ac.uk
authors.forename: Hany
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Lashen
authors.forename: Georgina L
authors.initials: GL
authors.lastname: Jones
authors.forename: Chukwudemebi
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Duru
authors.forename: Constantina
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Pitsillides
authors.forename: Stephen
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Radley
authors.forename: Richard M
authors.initials: RM
authors.lastname: Jacques
authors.forename: Mark
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: McAlindon
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007044:Hysterectomy / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000379:methods / Q000534:rehabilitation; D007422:Intestines / Q000503:physiopathology*; D007432:Intraoperative Period; D007902:Length of Stay / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011594:Psychometrics; D011788:Quality of Life; D055815:Young Adult