Quality of life after laparoscopic and open resection of colorectal cancer
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Updated: Apr 27, 2026
Clinical Application of Single-Surgeon, Three-Port, Laparoscopic Resection for Colorectal Cancer with Natural Orifice Specimen Extraction
Published on: March 24, 2023
Peter Ihnát1, Lubomír Martínek, Marcel Mitták
1Department of Surgery, University Hospital Ostrava, Ostrava, Czech Republic.
Background:
The aim of the study was to evaluate quality of life (QOL) outcomes after colorectal surgery for cancer from a 6-month perspective at a single institution.
Methods:
Cohort study to prospectively assess postoperative QOL in patients who underwent elective colorectal resection at the University Hospital Ostrava. QOL was assessed using the validated Short Form 36 (SF-36v2™) questionnaire at fixed time points.
Results:
A total of 148 patients were enrolled in the study (83 and 65 patients underwent laparoscopic and open colorectal resection, respectively). Operative time was significantly longer (161 vs. 133 min; p = 0.0073) and length of hospital stay was significantly shorter (10.7 vs. 13.1 days; p = 0.0451) in the laparoscopic group. Overall 30-day morbidity rates were lower in the laparoscopic group, but the difference was not significant (27.7 vs. 33.8%; p = 0.2116). QOL scores were comparable in both study groups before surgery (p ≥ 0.05). QOL was statistically significantly lower 2 days and 1 week after open colorectal surgery compared with laparoscopic surgery. One month and 6 months after surgery, there were no statistically significant differences between groups.
Conclusion:
The present study suggests a higher postoperative QOL during the first month after laparoscopic colorectal resection could be one of the benefits of laparoscopy.
