Health-related quality of life in patients with lower rectal cancer after sphincter-saving surgery: a prospective 6-month follow-up study.

This longitudinal descriptive study examined whether rectal cancer patients report changes in health-related quality of life ( HRQOL) over a 6-month period after different types of sphincter-saving surgery ( SSS): intersphincteric resection ( ISR), ultra-low anterior resection ( ULAR) and low anterior resection ( LAR). It also compares HRQOL among the three groups of patients. Seventy-three patients from two hospitals in Japan completed questionnaires on HRQOL and defecation symptoms immediately before surgery and 1 and 6 months afterwards. Results showed that ISR patients had significantly worse HRQOL scores than ULAR and LAR patients and more defecation symptoms that persisted during the 6 months post- SSS. Thus, patients undergoing ISR require psychological and social support, including skills in competent self-management, during the early post-operative period. Furthermore, defecation problems substantially influence HRQOL. The first month post- SSS is particularly challenging. The assumption that HRQOL is better after SSS compared to living with a permanent stoma might not be valid. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]