The Surgical Recovery Index.

Area of Science:

• Surgical outcomes assessment
• Minimally invasive surgery evaluation
• Patient recovery metrics

Background:

• Surgical recovery is complex and lacks standardized measurement tools.
• The Surgical Recovery Index (SRI) was developed to quantify surgical recovery.
• The SRI's ability to differentiate between laparoscopic and open surgery was investigated.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop and validate the Surgical Recovery Index (SRI) for measuring surgical recovery.
• To assess the SRI's capability in distinguishing recovery patterns between laparoscopic and open surgical procedures.
• To provide a reliable tool for evaluating patient recovery post-surgery.

Main Methods:

• A self-administered questionnaire, the SRI, was constructed based on patient-reported recovery activities.
• The SRI includes subscales for pain and activity resumption, yielding total and subscale scores.
• Statistical analyses, including Chi-square, t-tests, and Kruskal-Wallis tests, were employed to compare patient groups.

Main Results:

• 149 patients (60 laparoscopic, 89 open) completed the SRI, demonstrating high internal consistency (Cronbach's alphas 0.91-0.97).
• Laparoscopic surgery patients reported significantly lower pain levels and faster return to activities across multiple time points and specific tasks (p < 0.05).
• Both SRI subscale scores (pain, activity resumption) and total scores were significantly lower for laparoscopic surgery patients, indicating superior recovery (p = 0.00).

Conclusions:

• The Surgical Recovery Index (SRI) demonstrates reliability and validity in measuring surgical recovery.
• Laparoscopic surgery is associated with a reduced time to full recovery, characterized by faster pain resolution and activity resumption.
• The SRI serves as a valuable tool for assessing the benefits of minimally invasive approaches in surgical recovery.