Authors: Fucini, C.¹; Gattai, R.²; Urena, C.²; Bandettini, L.²; Elbetti, C.²

Source: Annals of Surgical Oncology, Volume 15, Number 4, April 2008 , pp. 1099-1106(8)

Publisher: Springer

Abstract:

Low rectal cancers situated less than 5 cm from the anal margin are still usually treated with abdomino-perineal excision (APE). Our aim is to compare the quality of life (QOL) of five-year survivors treated for low or very low rectal cancer with an advanced/complex coloanal procedure with the QOL of patients submitted to a standard APE with a definitive abdominal stoma.

Sixty-two patients, operated on radically for low or very low rectal cancer, who came for their fifth year follow-up visit and were free from cancer, were studied. Thirty patients (group 1) had an APE with permanent abdominal stoma. Thirty-two patients (group 2) had undergone a radical advanced and complex procedure to avoid the abdominal stoma. The patients received the European Organisation for the Research and Treatment of Cancer (EORTC) QOL-30 generic and the CR38 colorectal cancer QOL questionnaires with the recommendation to return the questionnaire to the hospital. The Mann-Whitney U-test and χ ² Fisher test were employed for statistical analysis.

All questionnaires were returned. Patients without a terminal abdominal stoma had a better score in six categories of the QOL 30 and in two categories of the CR38. No differences were observed in the other variables examined.

After five years, cancer-free patients operated on for low or very low rectal cancer have a better QOL if a definitive terminal abdominal stoma was avoided.

Keywords: Rectal cancer; Coloanal anastomosis; Quality of life

Document Type: Research article

DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.1245/s10434-007-9748-2

Affiliations: 1: Department of Medical and Surgical Critical Care, Section of General and Oncological Surgery, University of Florence, Viale Morgagni, 85, 50134, Firenze, Italy, Email: claudio.fucini@unifi.it 2: Department of Medical and Surgical Critical Care, Section of General and Oncological Surgery, University of Florence, Viale Morgagni, 85, 50134, Firenze, Italy

Publication date: 2008-04-01

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