Purpose: To evaluate the changes in quality of life (QOL) over a 1-year follow-up period in patients submitted to laparoscopic colorectal resection for the treatment of deep endometriosis.
Methods: A prospective observational cohort study (Canadian Task Force Design Classification II) involving 40 women with intestinal deep endometriosis was conducted between June 2007 and September 2008 at the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Santa Casa Medical School, Sao Paulo, Brazil. Prior to the surgical procedure, all patients received magnetic resonance studies of the pelvis and rectal echoendoscopy, which suggested intestinal involvement of the disease in all cases. The patients received laparoscopic colorectal resections and treatment for other endometriotic lesions. The subjects completed the QOL SF-36 at 3 time points (T0 pre-operatively; T1 6 months post-operatively; and T2 1 year post-operatively).
Results: The physical functioning, role physical, social functioning and role emotional subscales evidenced the most substantial median increases for T0, T1 and T2. The pain, general health, vitality and mental health domains showed slight changes and increases in medians but did not increase to the same extent as the previous group. Significant improvements were observed in all domains of the SF-36 throughout the study period (p < 0.05). Physical health-related QOL domains showed greater improvement than mental health domains. Analyses of age, parity and body mass index as potential factors influencing the impact of surgery on QOL revealed no differences. Therefore, these factors were not used as prognostic indicators for the surgical procedure or for patient follow-up. In addition, we noted that the patients with poorest results on the initial QOL questionnaire showed the greatest improvements at the end point.
Conclusion: The study results showed that laparoscopic colorectal segment resection for endometriosis had a positive impact on QOL in this patient group. The positive effects persisted 1 year after surgery.