OBJECTIVETo assess the quality of life in patients with rectal cancer after laparoscopic colectomy.

METHODSFrom Sep.2004 to Dec. 2005, 51 patients with rectal cancer were recruited in this prospective, non-randomized study.Twenty-three patients underwent laparoscopic colectomy (LC), 28 patients had open colectomy (OC). EORTC QLQ-C30 and QLQ-CR38 questionnaire were applied to evaluate quality of life baseline, discharging and 3 months after operation.

RESULTSBefore operation,the median score of role functioning in LC group was lower. However, LC group patients complained less financial difficulties. The differences were of statistical significance (P<0.05), but not of clinical significance. The median scores of other function domains and symptom domains were similar between two groups (P>0.05). Postoperatively, the most median scores of function domains and symptom domains between two groups were similar (P>0.05). The only score with statistically significant difference was the pain when patients left hospital (U=218.5, P=0.042). However, the difference was not of clinical significance, too.

CONCLUSIONOnly minimal benefits in short-term postoperative quality of life are found with laparoscopic colectomy in patients with rectal cancer compared with open colectomy.