European Journal of Biomedical and Pharmaceutical Sciences

DIFFERENCES IN THE LONG-TERM QUALITY OF LIFE FOLLOWING DIFFERENT SURGICAL APPROACHES IN THORACIC SURGERY

Qsous Ghaith*, Downes Amber, Carroll Beata, Rowe Sinead, Manoj Santy, Tolan Michael and Healy David G.

ABSTRACT

Objective: To assess the long-term quality of life, more than 6 months after surgery, across different surgical techniques in thoracic surgery. Methods: Data was collected on 141 patients retrospectively, each having a thoracic surgery procedure more than 6 months prior to invitation to participate in the study. Patients were divided into three groups based on the surgical approach: open approach; video assisted thorascopic surgery (VATS) and robot assisted thorascopic surgery (RATS). The EQ-5D-5L questionnaire was used to estimate the utility score of quality of life: mobility; self-care; usual activities; pain/discomfort and anxiety/depression. Results: Mobility, self-care and usual activities were not significantly different between the three groups. Pain, or discomfort, was significantly higher in the open approach group, with only 36.8% reporting no pain, compared to 51.3% and 62.7% in the RATS and VATS approaches, with a P-value of 0.037. Likewise, self-described anxiety and depression were more common among the open approach group, with a P-value of 0.022. Conclusion: Patients who underwent a minimally invasive approach in Thoracic Surgery have better long-term quality of life, with less pain and less feelings of anxiety post-operatively, compared to those who underwent an open approach. Accordingly, a minimally invasive approach should be adopted where possible in Thoracic Surgery.

Keywords: Thoracic surgery, quality of life, minimally invasive, pain.