Quality of life in patients operated on for digestive neoplasia: a prospective study.

ABSTRACT

AIM: The aim of this study was to evaluate the quality of life in patients having surgery for a digestive neoplasm and to monitor how the patient's perception evolves during the first 6 months after surgery. METHOD: A prospective study was carried out on the pre and postoperative quality of life of patients undergoing surgery for a digestive system neoplasm between May 2009 and December 2010. Patients were asked to complete the Short Form (36) Health Survey questionnaire (SF-36; spanish version 1.4). RESULTS: The study included 80 patients. At 1 month after surgery there was a statistically significant improvement in some domains of the SF-36. At 6 months, a statistically significant improvement was seen in physical functioning, social functioning, mental health and in the two physical and mental domains. We also found statistically significant differences, with women having a worse quality of life. CONCLUSION: Comparison of quality of life before and 6 months after surgical intervention showed improvement in both the psychological and the physical elements. This can be attributed to the fact that the patients have had time to recover from the surgery.