Quality of Life and Severity of Symptom Differences Between Post Open Colectomy and Laparoscopic Colectomy in Colorectal Cancer Patients

Background Worldwide, colorectal cancer is the third most common cancer in men and the second in women. The main surgical methods for colorectal cancer patients include a conventional open colectomy and laparoscopic-assisted colectomy. Laparoscopic-assisted colectomy is associated with less blood loss, faster recovery of bowel function, and shorter hospital stays. Objective The aim of this study was to compare the quality of life and symptom severity in patients with colorectal cancer 1 month after conventional open colectomy or laparoscopic-assisted colectomy. Methods A comparative cross-sectional study design was conducted from September 2015 to May 2016. Participants were recruited through convenience sampling from the surgical outpatient department of a medical center in Northern Taiwan; 33 patients underwent each type of surgery. Results The laparoscopic-assisted colectomy group scored 9.39 points higher in quality of life and lower in symptom severity by 14.88 points than the conventional open colectomy group (P = .03 and P = .05, respectively). Both groups reported low symptom severity; "changes in bowel habits" was the symptom with the highest severity. The conventional open colectomy group had higher insomnia and worried about their future more than did the laparoscopic-assisted colectomy group. Conclusions Patients who received the laparoscopic-assisted colectomy procedure reported a better quality of life and lower symptom severity than those who received the conventional open colectomy surgical method. Implications for Practice Patients who will have a conventional open colectomy will likely need enhanced management of symptoms and attention to their quality of life.