Quality of life assessment before and after lumbar disc surgery

Background Although operative treatment for lumbar disc herniation is a commonly performed neurosurgical procedure, no reports have described whether health-related quality of life before surgery affects the operative treatment outcome. This prospective study assessed health-related quality of life before and after surgery and evaluated the predictor variables affecting outcomes. Methods Subjects were 45 consecutive candidates for lumbar disc herniation surgery who gave informed consent. The Medical Outcomes Study Short Form 36 (SF-36) and 15-point Japanese Orthopaedic Association (JOA) score were evaluated before and after surgery, and the magnitude of the effect was calculated. The possible predictor variables for outcomes were physical functioning, role physical, bodily pain, general health, vitality, social functioning; role emotional and mental health from the SF-36 subscales; subjective symptoms and clinical signs from the JOA scores; and the patient's age, sex, occupation, and history of low back pain and/or leg pain. Results Four patients were excluded from the analyses because they were lost to follow-up within 1 year after operation. All subscales of the SF-36 and JOA scores increased significantly at 6 months and 1 year of follow-up with a maximum effect size in bodily pain and a minimal in general health. Operation results were 29 good, 11 fair, and 1 poor. The selected predictor variables affecting the outcomes were patient age and social functioning on SF-36. Conclusions Surgery for lumbar disc herniation improved health-related quality of life. Patients <50 years old with a <60 score in social functioning on SF-36 were considered good candidates.     

SF-36量表用于国人脊髓型颈椎病的信度分析及其与神经功能的相关性研究

目的:评估SF-36量表用于国人脊髓型颈椎病(cervical spondylotic myelopathy,CSM)患者健康相关生活质量(quality of life,QOL)的信度,并验证术后疗效评价中,生活质量评价与神经功能评估的一致性。方法:本研究前瞻性收集了接受手术治疗的脊髓型颈椎病患者142例,男84例,女58例,年龄60.0±10.9岁。所有患者均接受手术治疗。分别于术前、术后3个月、术后1年和术后2年以上末次随访时分别使用改良日本骨科协会评分法(modified Japanese Orthopaedic Association,mJOA)评分和健康状况调查简表(SF-36量表)进行神经功能和生活质量评估,并与正常人群的常模进行对比。使用克隆巴赫系数(Cronbachα)分析SF-36量表八个维度的信度,并进一步分析在术后不同随访时间节点SF-36各维度与神经功能评价的相关性。根据患者各项评分的变化趋势,分析患者的康复峰值时间。结果:术前CSM患者SF-36量表8个维度中,除“精神健康”维度外,其余7各维度较健康成年人常模均存在显著功能缺陷。SF-36量表各维度的Cronbachα介于0.73~0.85之间(Cronbachα:生理功能=0.85、生理职能=0.83、躯体疼痛=0.80、整体健康=0.81、活力=0.81、社会功能=0.79、情感职能=0.73、精神健康=0.75)。术后3个月时,mJOA评分的改善仅与患者SF-36量表中生理功能和躯体疼痛两个维度得分有显著相关性(相关系数R:生理功能=0.32,躯体疼痛=0.20;P<0.05);术后1年时,mJOA评分的改善与SF-36量表中生理功能、整体健康、社会功能和情感职能四个维度有显著相关性(相关系数R:生理功能=0.39,整体健康=0.24,社会功能=0.22,情感职能=0.19;P<0.05);在术后2年以上末次随访时,mJOA评分的改善与SF-36量表中生理功能、活力和情感职能三个维度显著相关(相关系数R:生理功能=0.38,活力=0.20,情感职能=0.20;P<0.05)。SF-36量表的生理总评分和心理总评分分别在17.7个月和18.9个月达到峰值。结论:SF-36量表各维度的信度较高,是一项可靠的评估CSM患者健康相关生活质量的方法。在术后不同随访期的疗效评估中,SF-36量表各维度与神经功能改善评估的一致性不尽相同:在术后恢复早期,mJOA评分的改善与SF-36量表中的生理相关维度显著相关;随着术后恢复期延长,mJOA评分的改善则与生理、心理相关维度均显著相关。     

Quality of life after interventions on the thoracic aorta with deep hypothermic circulatory arrest.

OBJECTIVE: Assessment of quality of life (QL) in patients undergoing major surgical procedures is of increasing interest. We focused on surgery of the thoracic aorta requiring deep hypothermic circulatory arrest (DHCA). Aim of this study was to assess QL after thoracic aortic surgery with DHCA, using the Short Form 36 Health Survey (SF-36) questionnaire. METHODS: Between 01/94 and 12/99 212 (59.1%) out of a total of 359 interventions on the thoracic aorta were performed under DHCA, with an early mortality of 13.7% (28 patients). During an average follow-up of 3.2+/-1.3 years, 27 patients died (15.2%) and five patients (2.8%) were lost. A total of 145 patients (81.9%) had a complete follow-up. RESULTS: 125 of the 145 SF-36 questionnaire handed out were answered correctly (86.2%). In relation to a standard population (z=0), the most important deficits were found in physical function (z=-0.53) and role limitations because of physical health (z=-0.42). Good results were found regarding the aspect of pain (z=0.28), social functioning (z=0.02) and vitality (z=-0.02). Overall QL in patients having been operated for aortic aneurysm was better than for patients with acute type A-dissection. CONCLUSION: Despite restrictions in physical functioning and role limitation because of physical health, QL in patients after interventions on the thoracic aorta with DHCA is fairly good and, for patients being operated for aortic aneurysm, comparable to an age-matched standard population. Patients having being operated electively for aortic aneurysm enjoyed a better QL than patients having been operated emergently for acute type A dissection.     

心血管疾病患者生活质量与心理健康状况的相关性研究

目的探讨心血管疾病患者心理健康、生活质量状况以及两者之间的关系,为制定科学的临床干预措施提供依据。方法分别采用生活质量评定简表(SF-36)中文版和症状自评量表(SCL-90)评估121例心血管疾病患者的生活质量水平和心理健康状况,并进行相关性分析。结果患者的SF-36 8个维度中生理机能、躯体疼痛、活力、心理健康4个维度评分显著低于国内常模(均P<0.01),SCL-90因子除强迫、抑郁、精神病性外,其余6个因子评分显著高于国内常模(P<0.05,P<0.01)。患者SF-36部分维度评分与SCL-90部分因子评分呈显著负相关(P<0.05,P<0.01)。结论心血管疾病患者的生活质量不高,心理健康欠佳,且两者之间密切相关;护理人员应加强心理护理,尤其通过扎实的生活护理和健康教育,改善患者的心理健康状态,提高患者生活质量。     

Quality of life in elderly patients following thoracic aortic surgery

Objective: While early outcomes following thoracic aortic surgery are improving, the long-term quality of life in elderly patients following this procedure remains uncharacterized. Thus, the goal of this retrospective study was to investigate quality of life in elderly patients following thoracic aortic surgery in regard to age, urgency of operation, operative procedures, skin incision, selective cerebral perfusion (SCP) time, and cardiopulmonary bypass time. Methods: One hundred-and-eleven surviving patients that underwent thoracic aortic surgery between 1987 and 1999 were enrolled in this study. The Short Form-36 (SF-36) health questionnaire was administered to all participants. Results: Some measures of quality of life were lower in those patients that underwent the procedure as compared to age- and gender-matched normal population. Quality of life (QOL) of the elderly patients with prolonged SCP time (>120 minutes) was significantly lower in the dimension of role-physical of SF-36. On the other hand, there was no significant difference between the subgroups in terms of urgency of operation, operative procedure, skin incision, and cardiopulmonary bypass time. Conclusions: Physical and mental quality of life was significantly lower in elderly patients undergoing thoracic aortic surgery. Prolonged SCP time (>120 minutes) was a negative factor for long-term QOL. We advocate discussing the data with patients when obtaining informed consent for this procedure.     

Patient-reported outcomes in hernia repair

BACKGROUND: The project aimed at testing the feasibility of a quality improvement system based on patient-reported outcomes in short-stay surgery for groin hernia repair. METHODS: In two centres for short-stay surgery all patients referred for hernia repair were surveyed between August 1999 and January 2002. Patients reported on health-related quality of life (SF-36), symptoms (Hernia Symptom Checklist, HSCL) and other indicators pre-operatively (T0) and 14 days (T1) and 6 months post-operatively (T2). Three of the eight SF-36 subscales (physical functioning, bodily pain, and role physical) and the HSCL at T2 were considered as main outcome indicators. The main outcomes were analysed by generalized linear models with regard to predictors. RESULTS: At T0 a total of 342 hernia patients were included. The response rate at T2 was 54.1% (92.4% males, 58.6 years of age). At T2 only 21.1% did not report complaints (i.e. haematoma, pain, numbness) post-operatively. The overall positive course is reflected by the HSCL: from 32.4% pre-operatively, it rises slightly to 38.5% at T1 and decreases to 10.6% at T2 (T0-T2: P < 0.001). The SF-36 subscales "physical functioning", "bodily pain", and "role physical" showed the same course over time (slight decrease of health-related quality of life at T1 and large increase at T2). The main patient-reported outcomes were mainly influenced by the pre-operative level, age, and self-reported post-operative complaints. CONCLUSION: The low response rate was mainly due to non-delivery of questionnaires at T1 during the regular post-operative visit by the operating physician. Though non-response occurs under conditions of routine care, meaningful information was gained which should be used for quality improvement activities. Because the pre-operative level is a major determinant of the post-operative health outcomes, the prospective pre-post measurement should be standard, in case institutional comparisons are intended.     

Patient-reported quality of life after abdominal aortic aneurysm surgery: a prospective comparison of endovascular and open repair

PURPOSE: This study evaluated and compared changes over time in health-related quality of life reported by patients with infrarenal abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) undergoing elective endovascular (EVAR) and open aneurysm (OR) repair. METHODS: A prospective, nonrandomized cohort of 76 patients (62 men, 14 women; age range, 42 to 89 years) undergoing elective, infrarenal AAA repair (EVAR, n = 43; OR, n = 33) at two university teaching hospitals during a 15-month period were administered the Medical Outcomes Study Short-Form 36-item (SF-36) health survey preoperatively and then 1 week, 1 month, and 6 months postoperatively. Patient demographics, procedural details, postoperative follow-up data, and SF-36 scores were compared between groups. RESULTS: Both groups had total SF-36 scores that were significantly lower than preoperative scores at 1 week and 1 month after surgery but were not significantly different from the preoperative scores at 6 months (OR 66.2 +/- 21.1 to 72.3 +/- 19.8, P > .1; and EVAR 61.0 +/- 17.7 to 58.7 +/- 19.4, P > .1). Six-month total SF-36 scores were significantly higher in the OR group compared with the EVAR group (mean 72.3 +/- 19.8 OR vs 58.7 +/- 19.4 EVAR; P = .009). In the postoperative period, a significant drop occurred in mean scores in six of the eight domains of the SF-36 in the OR patients (physical function, PF; role physical, RP; bodily pain, BP; vitality, VT; social function, SF; role emotional, RE) and five domains for EVAR patients (PF, RP, BP, SF, RE). In two domains, RE and PF, scores returned to baseline values significantly sooner in EVAR patients than in OR patients (RE, EVAR 1 month vs OR 6 months; and PF, EVAR 1 month vs OR 6 months). In the VT domain, no significant postoperative drop occurred in the EVAR group, but in the OR group, mean scores were significantly lower at 1 week and 1 month compared with preoperative values. In the domains of general health and mental health, no significant drop occurred in SF-36 score postoperatively in either group. CONCLUSIONS: Patient reported health-related quality of life after infrarenal AAA repair is significantly impaired in the early postoperative period but returns to baseline by 6 months in patients treated with EVAR and OR. Patients having EVAR had significantly more rapid return to preoperative scores in selected domains of the SF-36. Even though EVAR is associated with shorter and less invasive perioperative hospital course and fewer postoperative complications, EVAR patients had lower quality of life scores 6 months after surgery than OR patients.     

Quality of life after randomization to laparoscopic versus open living donor nephrectomy: long-term follow-up

BACKGROUND: The aim of this randomized study was to compare patient-reported outcome after laparoscopic versus open donor nephrectomy during 1 year follow-up. The evidence base has so far not allowed for a decision as to which method is superior as seen from a long-term quality of life-perspective. METHODS: The donors were randomized to laparoscopic (n=63) or open (n=59) nephrectomy, with follow-up at 1, 6, and 12 months. Primary outcomes were health status (SF-36) and overall quality of life (QOLS-N). Secondary outcomes were donor perception of the surgical scar, the donation's impact on personal finances, and whether the donor would make the same decision to donate again. RESULTS: There was a significant difference in favor of laparoscopic surgery regarding the SF-36 subscale bodily pain at 1 month postoperatively (P<0.05). Analysis based on intention to treat revealed no long-term differences between groups in SF-36 scores. When subtracting the reoperated/converted donors of the laparoscopic group, significant differences in favor of laparoscopy were revealed in the subscales bodily pain at 6 months (P<0.05) and social functioning at 12 months (P<0.05). No significant differences were found in QOLS-N scores between groups. CONCLUSIONS: Laparoscopic donor nephrectomy is an attractive alternative to open donor nephrectomy because of less postoperative pain. However, long-term comparison only revealed significant differences in favor of laparoscopy when adjusting for reoperations/conversions. Both groups reached baseline scores in most SF-36 subscales at 12 months and this may explain why possible minor benefits are hard to prove.     

Objective assessment of quality of life following panproctocolectomy and ileostomy for ulcerative colitis.

A panproctocolectomy and permanent ileostomy improves the quality of life of those suffering from ulcerative colitis. However, it is not known how the quality of life of patients who had this operation compares with that of the general population. The aim of this study was to measure the quality of life of these patients using a reliable and validated instrument, and to determine whether these patients enjoy a similar quality of life to the general population. Forty-nine consecutive patients (31 males and 18 females, median age 49 years), who had a panproctocolectomy with a permanent ileostomy for ulcerative colitis in one of three hospitals in Tayside, UK from 1992-1997, participated in the study. The median number of months (range) post-surgery was 29 (12-72). Participants answered a well-validated generic questionnaire on health-related quality of life: the new SF-36 version 2.0 (SF-36II). The results were then compared with population norms of similar age and gender, derived from the Third Oxford Healthy Lifestyle Survey and published by the Health Services Research Unit of the University of Oxford. The mean score difference between patient and population SF-36II scores (95% confidence intervals) were as follows: physical functioning (PF): -3.9 (-9.4, 1.6); role-physical (RP): -4.1 (-9.9, 1.7); role-emotional (RE): -0.1 (-5.6, 5.4); energy-vitality (EV): 8.2 (2.8-13.6); body pain (BP): 6.6 (0.3, 12.9); social functioning (SF): 3.7 (-2.7, 10.1); mental health (MH): 2.5 (-2.5, 7.5); general health perception (GHP): -1.8 (-7.6, 4.0). Despite the fact that these patients underwent major surgery and have a permanent stoma, their quality of life as measured by the SF-36II was very similar to that of the general population.     

Comparison of the Dutch and English versions of the Carolinas Comfort Scale: a specific quality-of-life questionnaire for abdominal hernia repairs with mesh

Purpose

Repair of abdominal wall hernias with mesh is one of the most common procedures in general surgery. The introduction of hernia repair with mesh has lowered recurrence rates and shifted the focus to quality of life after surgery, raising the need for a specific tool measuring quality of life. The Carolinas Comfort Scale (CCS) is a questionnaire designed specifically for patients having hernia repair with mesh. The aim of this study is to validate the Dutch CCS and to compare it to the generic short form-36 (SF-36).

Methods

The CCS questionnaire was translated into Dutch. Patients undergoing mesh hernia repair between April 2010 and December 2011 completed the CCS, the SF-36 and four questions comparing these two questionnaires in the first week after surgery. After 3 weeks, the CCS was repeated. Correlations between the two surveys were calculated using the Spearman’s rank correlation test with a 95 % confidence interval to determine validity.

Results

The response rate was 60.3 % (100/168). The CCS showed excellent reliability with a Cronbach’s α of 0.948. Significant correlation existed between the CCS and the domains physical functioning, bodily pain, role-physical, vitality and social functioning of the SF-36. Seventy-nine percent of the patients preferred the CCS to the SF-36, and 83 % considered the CCS a better reflection of their quality of life after hernia repair with mesh.

Conclusion

The Dutch CCS appears a valid and clinically relevant tool for assessing quality of life after repair of abdominal wall hernia with mesh.     

Comparison of cognitive function and quality of life after endovascular or conventional aortic aneurysm repair

INTRODUCTION: The long-term effects of endovascular aortic aneurysm repair on cognitive function and quality of life are not known. METHODS: The cognitive function and quality of life of 82 patients undergoing aortic aneurysm repair (34 endovascular and 48 conventional procedures) were assessed before and 6 months after operation. Cognitive function was quantified using a battery of psychometric tests. Quality of life was assessed with the Medical Outcomes Short Form 36 (SF-36) questionnaire. RESULTS: Data at 6 months were available for 78 per cent of patients. As a group the patients showed a significant decline on one cognitive function test (visual search) and on two domains of the SF-36 (physical function and vitality) when they were reassessed. There were no significant differences between patients undergoing endovascular or conventional aneurysm repair after 6 months in cognitive function or quality of life. CONCLUSION: Endovascular aneurysm surgery had a similar impact on health-related quality of life and cognitive function compared with conventional aneurysm repair. Patients in both groups demonstrated a significant decline in cognitive function.     

Prospective analysis of health-related quality of life and clinical evaluations in patients with anterior cruciate ligament injury undergoing reconstruction

Introduction

This study aimed to evaluate the treatment outcome of patients with anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury using the patient-based quality of life (QOL) survey SF-36, and investigate the correlation with conventional objective assessment methods. Our hypothesis that SF-36 is a useful assessment method for QOL in patients with ACL injury, and this assessment clarifies the concord and the discord between doctor-based objective assessment.

Patients and methods

A prospective study was conducted on patients who underwent ligament reconstruction. Eighty-one patients with a mean age of 27.4?years were analyzed. Clinical evaluations comprising SF-36 survey, Lysholm scoring, and anterior tibial translation measurement were conducted before as well as after surgery. The changes over time and the correlation between these evaluation methods were analyzed.

Results

All SF-36 subscales were significantly improved after surgery. Regarding QOL of patients with ACL injury, the preoperative scores of all the subscales except vitality and mental health were lower than the national standard values, while the postoperative scores of all subclasses were not different from the national standards. A correlation was found between Lysholm score and all SF-36 subscale scores except general health before surgery, but a correlation was observed only with physical functioning, bodily pain and role emotional at 6?months after surgery, and with physical functioning, role physical, bodily pain and vitality at 12?months. No correlation between SF-36 scores and distance of anterior tibial translation was observed both before and after surgery.

Discussion

The QOL of patients with ACL injury as assessed by SF-36 improved significantly after reconstruction surgery. The mental health subscales of SF-36 correlate with Lysholm score before surgery suggesting that apart from the physical impairment, lowered mental health is also an important clinical issue in patients with ACL injury.     

Health-related quality of life in survivors of open ruptured abdominal aortic aneurysm repair: a matched, controlled cohort study

OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study was to document the health-related quality of life (HRQOL) for patients who survived operative repair of a ruptured abdominal aortic aneurysm (RAAA) and to compare this with a matched group of patients who survived elective operative repair of an abdominal aortic aneurysm (EAAA). METHODS: A matched, controlled cohort study of HRQOL was used to compare patients surviving RAAA with an EAAA control group. The study was conducted at two university-affiliated vascular tertiary care referral centers. Survivors of RAAA and EAAA during an 8.5-year period were identified and followed up. The RAAA and EAAA control patients were matched for age, serum creatinine concentration, gender, and duration of follow-up since surgery. HRQOL was measured with the Medical Outcomes Study Short Form-36 Health Survey (SF-36). Scores for the EAAA and RAAA cohorts were also compared with age-corrected SF-36 population scores. RESULTS: Of 267 patients operated for RAAA during the study period, 130 (49%) survived to hospital discharge. Death after discharge was documented in 35 patients, leaving a potential study population of 95 RAAA survivors. Thirteen were lost to follow-up, seven refused to participate, and four patients were not able to participate. The SF-36 was completed by 71 RAAA patients (75% of surviving RAAA patients). The 71 RAAA survivors and 189 EAAA control patients were similar for seven of eight domains of the SF-36: Physical Function, Role-Physical, Bodily Pain, General Health, Vitality, Mental Health, and Role-Emotional. There was also no difference in the Physical Health Summary and Mental Health Summary scores. The social function component of the SF-36 demonstrated a statistically significant decline in the EAAA group. Both the EAAA and RAAA SF-36 individual and summary scores compared favorably with population norms that were adjusted only for age. CONCLUSION: Long-term survivors of RAAA enjoy a HRQOL that does not differ significantly from EAAA survivors. Scores for both groups compare favorably with population scores adjusted only for age.     

Quality of life in patients with chronic anal fissure after topical treatment with diltiazem

AIM: To assess the physical and mental health of fissure patients before and after topical treatment with diltiazem.METHODS: Consecutive patients were enrolled prospectively into the study. Quality of life was measured with the short-forum 36 health survey (SF-36) before and after 6-wk treatment with diltiazem. Patients scored symptoms of pain, bleeding, and irritation using numeral rating scales at the initial and follow-up visits. Fissure healing was assessed and side effects were noted.RESULTS: Fissures healed in 21 of 30 (70%) patients. There were significant reductions in the scores of pain, bleeding, and irritation after 1 wk of treatment, respectively. Four patients experienced perianal itching and one patient reported headache. When measured at baseline, pain and irritation showed a negative impact on two of the eight subscales on the SF-36, respectively (bodily pain and social functioning for pain; vitality and mental health for irritation). Repeating the SF-36 showed an improvement in bodily pain (P = 0.001). Patients whose fissures healed reported an improvement in bodily pain, health-perception, vitality, and mental health (P < 0.05).CONCLUSION: Successful treatment of chronic anal fissure with topical diltiazem leads to improvement in health-related quality of life.     

Quality of life before and after laparoscopic Heller myotomy for achalasia.

BACKGROUND: Because the surgical treatment of achalasia is directed at the palliation of chronic symptoms, it is important to assess how surgery affects patients' health-related quality of life (HRQL). METHODS: We evaluated upper gastrointestinal symptoms, satisfaction, and HRQL in 19 patients with achalasia before and after undergoing a laparoscopic Heller myotomy and partial fundoplication. HRQL was assessed using the Medical Outcomes Study 36-item short form health survey (SF-36). RESULTS: The mean age of the patients was 40 years (range 16 to 74), and 58% were men. After a median follow-up of 21 months (range 2 to 35), 12 of 16 patients were satisfied with the results of their surgery. Liquid and solid dysphagia scores were improved after surgery, and the prevalence of heartburn symptoms did not change. Although all the health concepts measured by the SF-36 instrument showed some improvement, statistically significant increases (on a 0 to 100 scale) were detected in physical functioning (11.1, P = 0.02), role-physical (25.0, P = 0.05), bodily pain (12.2, P = 0.01), vitality (13.7, P = 0.02), and social functioning (18.4, P = 0.02). CONCLUSIONS: Most aspects of HRQL improve after a laparoscopic Heller myotomy and partial fundoplication for achalasia.     

Quality of life assessment in patients with chronic anal fissure after lateral internal sphincterotomy

BACKGROUND: The aim of this study was to compare quality of life of patients with chronic anal fissure before and after open lateral internal sphincterotomy. METHODS: A prospective study was undertaken of 108 consecutive patients with a history of chronic anal fissure who underwent lateral internal sphincterotomy. Quality of life was measured before and 6 months after operation with the Short-Form 36 (SF-36) Health Survey. RESULTS: Quality of life improved significantly in six of the eight scales of the SF-36 questionnaire: physical functioning, role physical, bodily pain, energy, social functioning and mental health. There were no significant differences between the 70 patients who had no change in continence after operation and the 38 patients with continence disturbances after sphincterotomy. However, there were significant improvements in four scales in patients without changes in continence compared with improvements in only two scales in those with continence disturbances. CONCLUSION: Patients with chronic anal fissure showed an improvement in quality of life 6 months after internal lateral sphincterotomy. Patients with postoperative continence disturbances showed improvement in fewer scales of the SF-36 questionnaire than those without changes in continence.     

Heller myotomy for achalasia: quality of life comparison of laparoscopic and open approaches.

BACKGROUND: Achalasia is a relatively rare disorder with a variety of treatment options. Although laparoscopic Heller myotomy has become the surgical treatment of choice, little data exist on the overall quality of life of patients undergoing this technique versus standard open approaches. METHODS: We prospectively evaluated all patients surgically treated for achalasia by a single surgeon. Laparoscopic Heller myotomy consisted of a long (> or = 6 cm) esophageal cardiomyotomy extending at least 2 cm onto the gastric cardia, with a concomitant Dor fundoplication. Patients were evaluated preoperatively and postoperatively for symptoms and quality of life using the SF-36, a standardized, generic quality of life instrument. RESULTS: A total of 23 patients were surgically treated: 15 patients had a planned laparoscopic procedure, with 3 conversions; 8 had planned open procedures. Dysphagia resolved in 20 of 21 patients, with 1 patient in the laparoscopic group requiring reoperation due to an inadequate gastric myotomy. Compared with preoperative scores, a statistically significant improvement occurred in the general health domain of the SF-36 (70 to 82, P = 0.04). Compared with that in patients undergoing open surgery, the laparoscopic group had better scores in the domains of physical functioning and bodily pain. CONCLUSIONS: Laparoscopic Heller myotomy has comparable success to open Heller myotomy, and causes less early detriment to quality of life. This should be the primary treatment in all fit surgical patients with achalasia.     

Ruptured abdominal aortic aneurysm and quality of life

This study was undertaken to examine the community hospital experience in managing ruptured abdominal aortic aneurysm, and to assess the quality of life in survivors of the abdominal aortic aneurysm procedure. Study parameters included a retrospective chart review with prospective follow-up at a 369-bed, university-affiliated, community teaching hospital. Eighty-one consecutive patients undergoing surgery for ruptured abdominal aortic aneurysm between 1991 and 2000 were included. Main outcome measures included mortality and quality of life, as assessed by the SF-36 health survey. The overall perioperative mortality rate was 34.6%, significantly less (p < 0.005) than the 50% mortality rate reported in the literature. Predictor variables significantly related to mortality were age (p < 0.002), preoperative creatinine (p < 0.026), use of suprarenal clamp (p < 0.0001), acute renal failure (p < 0.0001), myocardial infarction (p < 0.0001), respiratory failure (p < 0.0001), and tobacco use (p < 0.05). Multiple regression analysis found that three predictor variables--myocardial infarction, respiratory failure, and use of a suprarenal clamp--predicted 25% of the variability in mortality (p < 0.0001). The quality-of-life analyses showed that the majority of the patients for whom follow-up data could be obtained (n = 26), reported the same or better quality of life compared to SF-36 norms for age-matched individuals. Results from this community hospital sample suggest that ruptured abdominal aortic aneurysm repair can be accomplished in this setting with an acceptable survival rate, and subsequent quality of life that meets or exceeds that of an age-matched sample.     

Laparoscopic vs open surgery

BACKGROUND: The purported advantages of laparoscopic surgery over conventional open techniques are less pain and faster return to normal functional status. Very few studies have included validated measures of quality of life as end points. This study prospectively assessed the health status outcomes of patients undergoing four types of laparoscopic and open operations. METHODS: Preoperatively, patients undergoing elective inguinal hernioplasty, esophageal surgery, cholecystectomy, and splenectomy completed the SF-36, a well-tested, validated health-status instrument. This instrument measures physical functioning (PF), role-physical (RP), role-emotional (RE), bodily pain (BP), vitality (VT), mental health (MH), social functioning (SF), and general health (GH) health status domains. Patients then underwent either laparoscopic or open surgery. Patients were reassessed with the instrument > or =6 weeks after surgery. A total of 100 patients underwent these procedures. RESULTS: Compared to preoperative values, median SF-36 scores for laparoscopic cholecystectomy patients were improved in the domains of PF (85 vs 95, p = 0.01), BP (42 vs 75, p = 0.002), and VT (47.5 vs 70, p = 0.04); open cholecystectomy patients did not show statistically significant improvements over preoperative values. In addition, laparoscopic cholecystectomy patients had a better score than open cholecystectomy patients in the BP domain (75 vs 41, p = 0.05). Laparoscopic esophageal surgery patients had better scores than open surgery patients in the domains of RP (100 vs 0, p = 0.02) and VT (65 vs 52.5, p = 0.05). Compared to preoperative values, laparoscopic splenectomy patients had an improved score in GH (52 vs 77, p = 0.02) and better scores than open splenectomy patients in PF (90 vs 45, p = 0.05) and BP (84 vs 55.5, p = 0.01). Compared to preoperative values, open mesh hernioplasty patients showed improved scores in PF (70 vs 92.5, p = 0.03) and MH (72 vs 84, p = 0.05). Laparoscopic hernioplasty did not produce improved scores compared to either preoperative values or open hernioplasty. CONCLUSIONS: Laparoscopic surgery has demonstrably better quality-of-life outcomes than open surgery for cholecystectomy, splenectomy, and esophageal surgery. However, open hernioplasty has at least as good, if not better, health status outcomes than laparoscopic repair.     

Quality of life in adult transplant recipients more than 15 years after kidney transplantation

BACKGROUND: With continuously rising survival rates following renal transplantation, health-related quality of life (HQOL) of long-term transplant survivors becomes increasingly important. METHODS: Recipients more than 15 years after successful renal transplantation were studied retrospectively. HQOL in 139 long-term transplant recipients was assessed using the SF-36 and the disease-specific kidney transplant questionnaire (KTQ-25). RESULTS: Long-term transplant recipients revealed satisfactory HQOL that was comparable to the healthy population in four of eight SF-36 categories (role physical, social functioning, role emotional and mental health). Other SF-36 categories such as physical functioning, physical pain, general health, and vitality were reduced. Among the study population, disease-specific HQOL was comparable or even improved to that of patients awaiting transplantation. In contrast to retired or unemployed patients, employed recipients revealed a highly significant improved HQOL in numerous SF-36 categories such as physical functioning (P<0.001), physical pain (P<0.001), general health (P<0.001), vitality (P<0.001), social functioning (P<0.005), and mental health (P<0.001), as well as for the KTQ-dimensions physical symptoms (P<0.001), fatigue (P>0.001), uncertainty/fear (P<0.01), and emotions (P<0.05). Other factors positively correlating with improved HQOL in certain dimensions were living situation, systolic blood pressure, and recipient age. CONCLUSIONS: More than 15 years after renal transplantation, recipients present satisfactory HQOL comparable to the general healthy population or at least to pretransplant patients. Vocational rehabilitation following renal transplantation is of highest importance among long-term survivors and is associated with improved HQOL.