Abstract

Background: Quality of life after surgery is an important indicator in evaluating the effectiveness of treatment for rectal cancer. For upper rectal cancer, tumor-specific mesorectal excision is an alternative to total mesorectal excision. Objective: To describe selected clinical characteristics, surgical characteristics, and evaluate quality of life in patients with upper rectal cancer after laparoscopic tumor-specific mesorectal excision. Methods: This was a prospective study of patients with upper rectal cancer treated by laparoscopic tumor-specific mesorectal excision at Da Nang Oncology Hospital from January 2023 to December 2024. The study variables included patient characteristics and surgical characteristics. Quality of life was assessed at 6 and 12 months after surgery using the EORTC QLQ-C30 and EORTC QLQ-CR29 questionnaires. 146 TẠP CHÍ Y DƯỢC HUẾ - HUE JOURNAL OF MEDICINE AND PHARMACY ISSN 3030-4318; eISSN: 3030-4326 Results: The study included 41 patients. The mean age was 62.19 ± 9.33 years, and males accounted for 53.7%. The postoperative complication rate was 9.8%, including anastomotic leakage in 2.4% and surgical site infection in 7.4%. Adjuvant treatment after surgery was administered to 82.9% of patients. The global health status score according to the EORTC QLQ-C30 increased from 65.77 ± 12.18 at 6 months to 78.45 ± 10.54 at 12 months. Most quality-of-life indicators according to the EORTC QLQ-C30 and EORTC QLQ-CR29 improved at 12 months compared with 6 months. Postoperative adjuvant treatment affected quality of life at 6 months, but this effect was no longer evident at 12 months. Conclusion: Quality of life in patients with upper rectal cancer after laparoscopic tumor-specific mesorectal excision was good and improved over time.