Quality of Life (QOL) and Laparoscopic Treatment of Intestinal Deep Infiltrating Endometriosis (DIE): A Brazilian Report

Abstract

Study Objective: This study aims to evaluate, by means of the SF36 questionnaire, the quality of life status of patients with rectosigmoid DIE and the impact of laparoscopic surgical treatment of the disease in the QOL of these patients. Design: Cohort study (Canadian Task Force Classification II-1), of 40 patients with DIE submitted to laparoscopic segmental resection of the rectosigmoid and all visible DIE lesions from June 2007 to April 2008. Setting: University Hospital - Santa Casa Misericordia SP/Brazil. Patients: Forty consecutive patients with rectosigmoid DIE. Intervention: All patients were submitted to a clinical interview and application of the SF-36 QOL during the hospitalization period, six months and a year after the procedure. Measurements and Main Results: The 8 aspects of SF 36 QOL were densely affected in the pre operatory evaluation and showed a significantly improved after 6 months and a year evaluation – the medians observed in a Raw Scale (from 0 – worst – to 100 – best QOL) were: Functional capabilities (25/82/100), physical aspects (0/87/100), pain evaluation (31/74/82), general health status (37/72/82), vitality (25/65/75), social aspects (37/75/87), emotional aspects (0/66/100) and mental health (36/60/68). Conclusion: The impact of severe endometriosis on the QOL of women can be easily observed by the data collected in this study. Before the surgery all items of the SF 36 QOL were densely affected. After the surgery all these items have been improved. The final statistically analysis demonstrate a significantly difference between all items of the QOL (p <5) in the different moments of the interview, showing the great impact of the procedure in the life of these women.