Health-related quality of life after robotic surgery for endometrial cancer: a prospective longitudinal one-year follow-up study.

PURPOSE: This study aimed to explore how patients treated for endometrial cancer (EC) with robotic surgery are affected in symptoms of anxiety and depression and HRQoL in the long term. METHODS: Women scheduled for primary robotic surgery for EC were included (n = 64), in this single-center study. Socioeconomic variables were obtained at baseline. The European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancers Quality of Life Questionnaire Core 30 (QLQ-C30), its module for EC (EN24), the Generalized Anxiety Disorder Scale (GAD-7), and the Patient Health Questionnaire Depression Scale (PHQ-9) were followed prospectively from baseline to 2 weeks, 3 months and 1 year postoperatively. RESULTS: The number of patients scoring above the clinical threshold for anxiety decreased from 17 (27.0%) at baseline to 4 (7.0%) at 2 weeks (p = 0.012). Depressive symptoms were reported in 20% of patients at baseline and did not change significantly during the one-year follow-up (p = 0.58). A significant decrease in Global health status was seen at 2 weeks (from 69.8 to 62.7; p = 0.048), with return to baseline levels after 3 months (68.5; p = 0.32) and stable at 1 year. Unemployment, low income, and adjuvant therapy correlated with lower Global health status at 3 months. CONCLUSION: The significant proportion of patients with anxiety symptoms preoperatively reduced prompt after surgery, while the proportion with depression remained constant, indicating that the primary treatment has no long-term negative effect on patients' mental health. At 3 months, there is no obvious remaining negative impact on patients' HRQoL, and these results are consistent after 1 year.

Long-term survival in obese patients after robotic or open surgery for endometrial cancer.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate surgical outcomes and survival after primary robotic or open surgery in obese women with endometrial cancer (EC). METHODS: The study included obese women (BMI ≥ 30 kg/m2) with EC who underwent primary surgery before and after the introduction of robotics between 2006 and 2014. Data on complications, survival, and recurrence was obtained through the National Cancer Registry and medical files. Survival curves were calculated for overall (OS), relative (RS) and disease-free survival (DFS). Cox proportional hazards regression models to assess OS and DFS. RESULTS: In total, 217 patients were identified, 131 robotic and 86 open surgical procedures. Significantly lower estimated blood loss, surgical time and hospital stay were found in the robotic group and the relative risk ratio of complications grades II-V, using the Clavien Dindo classification, was 0.54 (95% CI 0.31-0.93) for the robotic compared to the open group. A significant difference in OS (p = 0.029) and RS (p = 0.024) in favor of robotics was shown in the univariable survival curves, using log rank tests. No difference was seen for DFS. The 5-year RS was 96.2% (95% CI 89.7-103.3) for the robotic and 81.6% (95% CI 72.1-92.3) for the open group. Multivariable analysis showed high risk histology to be an independent risk factor, for both OS (HR 2.90; 95% CI 1.42-5.93; p < 0.05) and DFS (HR 2.74; 95% CI 1.45-5.17; p < 0.05). Robotic surgery was not found a significant independent factor for survival. CONCLUSIONS: Robotic surgery in obese women with EC had equivalent long-term and disease-free survival compared to open with significantly less complications, lower estimated blood loss, shorter surgical time and hospital stay.

Robotic vs Open Surgery for Endometrial Cancer in Elderly Patients: Surgical Outcome, Survival, and Cost Analysis.

OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to compare robotic and open surgery in elderly women diagnosed as having endometrial cancer, in terms of costs, survival, surgical outcome, and operating time. METHODS: Women 70 years or older undergoing open and robotic surgery for endometrial cancers were included consecutively before and after the introduction of robotic surgery at a tertiary center. Costs were calculated using the case-costing system, cost per patient, including the first 30 postoperative days. Relative and overall survival outcomes were obtained from the Swedish National Cancer Registry and analyzed using the Kaplan-Meier method. Surgical outcomes including operating and anesthesia times, estimated blood loss, hospital stay, and intraoperative and postoperative complications were reviewed. RESULTS: In all, 137 and 141 women 70 years or older were identified to have undergone open and robotic surgery, respectively. The groups showed similar body mass index, comorbidities, and tumor characteristics. No statistically significant differences were seen in costs (robotic &OV0556;11,874 vs open &OV0556;11,521, P = 0.463) or 5-year survival outcomes (robotic 94% [95% confidence interval {CI}, 84-105] vs open 87% [95% CI, 78-98], P = 0.529). Robotic surgery was associated with significantly lower estimated blood loss (P < 0.001) and shorter hospital stay (P < 0.001) but longer anesthesia time (186 vs 174 minutes; P < 0.05) and operating theater time (205 vs 190 minutes; P < 0.05). There were no significant differences in intraoperative complications, but robotic surgery resulted in fewer postoperative Clavien-Dindo grade II complications. CONCLUSIONS: Elderly women can safely undergo robotic surgery for endometrial cancer and could be offered this technique to the same extent as younger patients. They may benefit from shorter hospital stay, decreased blood loss, and postoperative complications, without resulting in higher costs to the health care system or jeopardizing their survival.

A prospective, comparative study on robotic versus open-surgery hysterectomy and pelvic lymphadenectomy for endometrial carcinoma.

OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to compare surgical outcome, patient recovery, and costs between robot-assisted laparoscopy and laparotomy in women undergoing hysterectomy, bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy (BSOE), and pelvic lymphadenectomy for endometrial carcinoma. METHODS: Women undergoing hysterectomy, BSOE, and pelvic lymphadenectomy for endometrial carcinoma, according to regional guidelines, were prospectively, concurrently, and consecutively included from September 2010 to December 2012. Surgical outcomes such as operative time, estimated blood loss (EBL), number of lymph nodes retrieved, and complications were analyzed together with hospital stay, days until normal active daily living was retrieved, patient satisfaction with the length of the hospital stay, and cost per patient. Robot-assisted laparoscopy was performed on all cases at the Sahlgrenska University Hospital, and laparotomy was performed on all cases at 3 regional hospitals. RESULTS: Forty women underwent robot-assisted laparoscopy, and 48 underwent laparotomy. There were no differences in age, body mass index, histology, or retrieved lymph nodes. Operative time was significantly shorter in the robot-assisted laparoscopy group (P < 0.0001). The EBL was lower and hospital stay was shorter in the robot-assisted laparoscopy group (P < 0.0001). There was no statistical difference in complications between the groups, and both groups found hospital stay duration satisfactory. In the robot-assisted laparoscopy group, active daily living was normal within 5 days postoperatively, compared with 14 days in the laparotomy group (P < 0.0001). Calculated costs per treated patient did not differ statistically between the groups. CONCLUSIONS: Compared with laparotomy and robot-assisted laparoscopic hysterectomy, BSOE pelvic lymphadenectomy for endometrial carcinoma was associated with significantly shorter operative time, hospital stay, and lower EBL. Patients recovered more quickly after robot-assisted laparoscopy, with equal costs number of retrieved lymph nodes, compared with laparotomy.