Prospective quality of life outcomes following robotic surgery in gynecologic oncology

Jeremie Abitbol; Susie Lau; Agnihotram V Ramanakumar; Joshua Z Press; Nancy Drummond; Zeev Rosberger; Sylvie Aubin; Raphael Gotlieb; Jeffrey How; Walter H Gotlieb

doi:10.1016/j.ygyno.2014.04.052

Prospective quality of life outcomes following robotic surgery in gynecologic oncology

Gynecol Oncol. 2014 Jul;134(1):144-9. doi: 10.1016/j.ygyno.2014.04.052. Epub 2014 May 4.

Authors

Affiliations

¹ Divison of Experimental Medicine, Department of Medicine, McGill University, Montreal, Canada.
² Division of Gynecologic Oncology& Lady Davis Research Institute, Segal Cancer Center, Jewish General Hospital, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada.
³ Division of Cancer Epidemiology, Department of Oncology, McGill University, Montreal, Canada.
⁴ Louise Granofsky-Psychosocial Oncology Program and Division of Psychology, Segal Cancer Center, Jewish General Hospital, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada.
⁵ Division of Gynecologic Oncology& Lady Davis Research Institute, Segal Cancer Center, Jewish General Hospital, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada. Electronic address: walter.gotlieb@mcgill.ca.

PMID: 24796633
DOI: 10.1016/j.ygyno.2014.04.052

Abstract

Purpose: To characterize the health-related quality of life (HRQL) of patients undergoing robotic surgery for the treatment of gynecologic cancers.

Methods: 211 patients completed a quality of life questionnaire before surgery. Postoperative questionnaires, consisting of the same assessment with the addition of postoperative questions, were given at 1 week, 3 weeks, 3, 6, and 12 months after surgery. The Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy-General (FACT-G) and its subscales were used to evaluate HRQL. Patient-rated body image was evaluated using the Body Image Scale. Statistical significance was measured by the Wilcoxon signed-rank test. Minimally important difference (MID) values were analyzed to evaluate clinical significance.

Results: Overall HRQL and body image decreased at 1 week after surgery and returned to baseline by 3 weeks. Physical and functional well-being decreased at 1 week after surgery and returned to baseline by 3 months after surgery. However, using MID criteria, physical well-being returned to baseline by 3 weeks. Social well-being did not change significantly. Emotional well-being increased immediately by 1 week after surgery.

Conclusion: Patient reported HRQL outcomes following robotic surgery for the treatment of gynecologic cancers suggests a rapid return to pre-surgery values.

Keywords: Robotic surgery; body image; outcome; quality of life.

MeSH terms

Adult
Aged
Aged, 80 and over
Body Image
Female
Genital Neoplasms, Female / psychology
Genital Neoplasms, Female / surgery*
Gynecologic Surgical Procedures / methods*
Gynecologic Surgical Procedures / standards
Humans
Middle Aged
Prospective Studies
Quality of Life
Robotics / methods*
Robotics / standards
Surveys and Questionnaires
Treatment Outcome
Young Adult