Medium-term surgical outcomes and health-related quality of life after laparoscopic vs open colorectal cancer resection: SF-36 health survey questionnaire

BACKGROUND Previous studies that compared the postoperative health-related quality of life(HRQoL)outcomes after receiving laparoscopic resection(LR)or open resection(OR)in patients with colorectal cancer(CRC)have different conclusions.AIM To explore the medium-term effect of postoperative HRQoL in such patients.METHODS This study randomized 567 patients undergoing non-metastatic CRC surgery managed by one surgeon to the LR or OR groups.HRQoL was assessed during the preoperative period and 3,6,and 12 mo postoperative using a modified version of the 36-Item Short Form(SF-36)Health Survey questionnaire,emphasizing eight specific items.RESULTS This cohort randomly assigned 541 patients to receive LR(n=296)or OR(n=245)surgical procedures.More episodes of postoperative urinary tract infection(P<0.001),wound infection(P<0.001),and pneumonia(P=0.048)were encountered in the OR group.The results demonstrated that the LR group subjectively gained mildly better general health(P=0.045),moderately better physical activity(P=0.006),and significantly better social function recovery(P=0.0001)3 mo postoperatively.Only the aspect of social function recovery was claimed at 6 mo,with a significant advantage in the LR group(P=0.001).No clinical difference was found in HRQoL during the 12 mo.CONCLUSION Our results demonstrated that LR resulted in better outcomes,including intra-operative blood loss,surgery-related complications,course of recovery,and especially some health domains of HRQoL at least within 6 mo postoperatively.Patients should undergo LR if there is no contraindication.