title: Quality of life in patients affected by endometrial cancer: comparison among laparotomy, laparoscopy and vaginal approach.
abstract: The aim of this study is to verify if the surgical approach (laparoscopy/laparotomy/vaginal) in stage-I endometrial cancer treatment, may have effects on intra- and post-operative outcomes and on the patient's quality of life. The study group consisted of patients with histological diagnosis of type-I endometrial adenocarcinoma, stage-I. They were divided into three groups according to surgical approach chosen (laparotomic/laparoscopic/vaginal). Every patient answered a telephone health survey (SF-36) at 30 and 180 days post-surgery. Surgical-operating times, hospitalization length and short/long-term complications after surgery were also compared. The SF-36 survey revealed a better performance status in patients who underwent laparoscopy as compared to those who received laparotomy or vaginal surgery. We found significantly better results considering General Health, Physical Functioning, Role-Physical and Bodily Pain in the laparoscopy group after 30 and 180 days. Patients who underwent laparoscopy had significantly shorter hospitalization and less post-operative complications even if laparoscopy required significantly longer surgical-operating times compared to vaginal surgery. Our data confirm the superiority of the laparoscopic approach respect to the laparotomic and vaginal ones both in term of hospitalization length and post-operative complications.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgical Sciences, University of Parma, Parma, Italy.
authors.forename: Roberto
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Berretta
authors.forename: Salvatore
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Gizzo
authors.forename: Marco
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Noventa
authors.forename: Vivienne
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Marrazzo
authors.forename: Laura
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Franchi
authors.forename: Costanza
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Migliavacca
authors.forename: Monica
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Michela
authors.forename: Carla
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Merisio
authors.forename: Alberto Bacchi
authors.initials: AB
authors.lastname: Modena
authors.forename: Tito Silvio
authors.initials: TS
authors.lastname: Patrelli
mesh_terms: D000230:Adenocarcinoma / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D016889:Endometrial Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D010535:Laparoscopy; D007813:Laparotomy; D007902:Length of Stay; D008875:Middle Aged; D060787:Neoplasm Grading; D059035:Perioperative Period; D011183:Postoperative Complications; D011379:Prognosis; D011788:Quality of Life; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D014621:Vagina / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*