Short-term results of quality of life for curatively treated colorectal cancer patients in Lithuania.
OBJECTIVE
Treatment options for colorectal cancer patients create the need to assess the quality of life (QoL) of colorectal cancer patients in the early postoperative period when changes are potentially greatest. The aim of the current study was to assess the QoL of colorectal cancer patients following open and laparoscopic colorectal surgery.


METHODS
A total of 82 consecutive patients requiring elective open or laparoscopic colorectal surgery were recruited to the study for 3 months in the three colorectal surgery centers of Lithuania. Patients completed the EORTC QLQ-C30 (version 3.0) questionnaire before surgery, 2 and 5 days, 1 and 3 months after operation. The EORTC QLQ-CR29 questionnaire was completed before surgery and at 1 and 3 months after operation. Analysis was done according to the manual for each instrument.


RESULTS
EORTC QLQ-C30 reflected the postoperative recovery of QoL. The global health status, cognitive and emotional functioning came back to the preoperative level in one month after operation. Physical and role functioning for laparoscopic group was significantly improved in 1 month after operation and in 3 months for open surgery group respectively. Colorectal module EORTC-QLQ-CR29 found that future perspective increased significantly in laparoscopic group 1 month after operation.


CONCLUSIONS
The present study showed that majority of functional scale scores came back to the preoperative level during the first 3 months after colorectal cancer surgery. Differences in QoL according to surgical approach are mostly expressed on this period.
Department of Surgery, Medical Academy, Lithuanian University of Health Sciences, Kaunas, Lithuania. Electronic address: pauliuslizdenis@yahoo.com.
Paulius
P
Lizdenis
Department of Surgery, Medical Academy, Lithuanian University of Health Sciences, Kaunas, Lithuania.
Justas
J
Birutis
Department of Surgery, Medical Academy, Lithuanian University of Health Sciences, Kaunas, Lithuania.
Ieva
I
Čelkienė
Centre of Oncosurgery, National Cancer Institute, Vilnius University, Vilnius, Lithuania.
Narimantas
N
Samalavičius
Centre of Oncosurgery, National Cancer Institute, Vilnius University, Vilnius, Lithuania.
Justas
J
Kuliavas
Centre of Oncosurgery, National Cancer Institute, Vilnius University, Vilnius, Lithuania.
Vytautas
V
Slunskis
Centre of Abdominal Surgery, Vilnius University, Vilnius, Lithuania.
Tomas
T
Poškus
Centre of Abdominal Surgery, Vilnius University, Vilnius, Lithuania.
Valdemaras
V
Jotautas
Centre of Abdominal Surgery, Vilnius University, Vilnius, Lithuania.
Eligijus
E
Poškus
Centre of Abdominal Surgery, Vilnius University, Vilnius, Lithuania.
Kęstutis
K
Strupas
Department of Surgery, Medical Academy, Lithuanian University of Health Sciences, Kaunas, Lithuania.
Žilvinas
Ž
Saladžinskas
Department of Surgery, Medical Academy, Lithuanian University of Health Sciences, Kaunas, Lithuania.
Algimantas
A
Tamelis
D000368:Aged; D015179:Colorectal Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D005260:Female; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D010535:Laparoscopy; D008097:Lithuania; D008297:Male; D011184:Postoperative Period; D011788:Quality of Life; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
Colorectal cancer; EORTC-QLQ-C30; EORTC-QLQ-CR29; Quality of life; Resection