Patients Undergoing Laparoscopic Surgery Recover Faster

Surrey, UK – Previous research concludes that there is no significant difference between health-related quality of life (HRQoL) outcomes from open and laparoscopic colorectal surgery, but few studies have focussed on the early post operative recovery period when differences between open and laparoscopic surgery are potentially greatest.

The paper, “Quality of Life in the First 6 Weeks Following Laparoscopic and Open Colorectal Surgery,” published in Value in Health, reports the findings from a study in a district general hospital in England that collected HRQoL measurements from patients following laparoscopic and open colorectal surgery during the first six weeks post surgery. The study sought to identify any HRQoL benefits that the faster healing following laparoscopic surgery might bring.

This was the largest single institution study comparing the recovery of patients following laparoscopic versus open colorectal resection, and the first to focus heavily on outcomes in the first six weeks post surgery through frequent HRQoL measurements. The patients’ recovery was assessed using two widely used and validated HRQoL questionnaires (SF-36 and EQ-5D). The findings demonstrate a significantly improved HRQoL in the laparoscopic group compared to the open group during the first six weeks after surgery. The results were consistent across both HRQoL measures. The HRQoL findings were further validated by self-reported data showing an earlier return to normal activities and driving in the laparoscopic group.

Lead author, Dr. Heather Gage, PhD from the Department of Economics at the University of Surrey, UK, states, “This paper provides new evidence that confirms that laparoscopic surgery gives most cancer patients a better recovery from colorectal resection than open approaches.”