Does Extended Surgery Influence Health-Related Quality of Life in Patients With Rectal Cancer?

BACKGROUND: In locally advanced rectal cancer, an extended resection peripheral to the mesorectal fascia is needed to achieve a radical resection. The influence of extended resections on health-related quality of life is unclear. OBJECTIVE: Differences in health-related quality of life and sexuality between patients receiving standard surgery and patients receiving extended surgery were examined, with a focus on age. DESIGN: Patients operated on for rectal cancer between 2000 and 2010 were selected from a database and invited to complete the European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer quality-of-life questionnaires (C30 and ColoRectal 38). SETTINGS: All patients were treated at the Catharina Hospital, Eindhoven, the Netherlands. PATIENTS: All patients received total mesorectal excision surgery or extended surgery for rectal cancer. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Health-related quality of life and sexual activity was compared between patients treated with total mesorectal excision surgery and extended surgery and further stratified by age at the time of surgery (= 70). RESULTS: Two hundred twenty-nine (64.1%) patients with standard surgery and 128 (35.9%) patients treated with extended resections responded. Extended surgery in patients = 70 years had lower sexual function and more male sexual dysfunction than patient