Health‐related quality of life in patients with lower rectal cancer after sphincter‐saving surgery: a prospective 6‐month follow‐up study

This longitudinal descriptive study examined whether rectal cancer patients report changes in health‐related quality of life ( HRQOL ) over a 6‐month period after different types of sphincter‐saving surgery ( SSS ): intersphincteric resection ( ISR ), ultra‐low anterior resection ( ULAR ) and low anterior resection ( LAR ). It also compares HRQOL among the three groups of patients. Seventy‐three patients from two hospitals in Japan completed questionnaires on HRQOL and defecation symptoms immediately before surgery and 1 and 6 months afterwards. Results showed that ISR patients had significantly worse HRQOL scores than ULAR and LAR patients and more defecation symptoms that persisted during the 6 months post‐ SSS . Thus, patients undergoing ISR require psychological and social support, including skills in competent self‐management, during the early post‐operative period. Furthermore, defecation problems substantially influence HRQOL . The first month post‐ SSS is particularly challenging. The assumption that HRQOL is better after SSS compared to living with a permanent stoma might not be valid.