Anterior Resection (AR) versus Abdominoperineal Resection (APR) Technique in Patients Undergoing Oncogenic Resection of the Rectum for Quality of Life (QOL) Assessment: A Retrospective, SingleCentre, Observational Study

Abstract

Introduction: The prevalence of rectal cancer is very high and it is the third most common cancer in male and second in women. Objective: The present study aimed to compare Quality of life (QOL) parameters in patients who had undergone oncogenic resection of the rectum with three different surgical techniques i.e., Abdominoperineal Resection (APR), High Anterior Resection (HAR) and Low Anterior Resection (LAR) of the rectum. Methods: Patients were given the Short Form 36 (SF-36), The European Organization for Research and Treatment of CancerQuality of Life Questionnaire (EORTC QLQ)C30 and C29 to fill at three-time points in their treatment (before surgery, 3 months and 6 months following surgery). The prospectively collected questionnaires were analyzed retrospectively. Results: On comparing the SF-36 questionnaire, there was no significant difference between patients who underwent all three types of surgeries except for general health which was better in patients undergoing APR and HAR. While comparing EORTC-30 questionnaire, patient undergone APR did well in terms of physical functioning and emotional well-being, while those undergone HAR did well in terms of GI-related complaints. On Comparing EORTC-29 questionnaire, micturition complaints and perception of body image were worst for the patient undergoing APR as compared to LAR. Conclusion: Quality of life as against assumption to be better in patients who had undergone AR, but after overcoming the trauma of surgery and its immediate implications, patients who underwent APR behaved almost equivalent to patients who underwent AR.