Journal
COLORECTAL DISEASE
Volume 8, Issue 7, Pages 575-580Publisher
WILEY
DOI: 10.1111/j.1463-1318.2006.01000.x
Keywords
rectal cancer; patient preferences
Categories
Ask authors/readers for more resources
Objective Literature data do not provide any evidence as to whether oncological outcome and quality of life after anterior resection (AR) are superior to those observed after abdominoperineal resection (APR) for low-lying rectal cancer. In view of this, patient preferences should play an important role in the process of decision making. The aim of this study was to investigate these preferences. Patients and methods A series of consecutive patients with rectal cancer (60 prior to surgery, 65 after APR and 124 after AR) who attended our outpatient clinic were asked to express their preference as to the type of surgery. The second part of the study was performed 4 years later; 30 patients evaluated before surgery, free of disease, were again asked to express their preference as to the type of treatment. Results Patient preferences as to performing APR, AR or as to leaving the decision to the surgeon were as follows: (i) the group prior to surgery - 5%, 30% and 65%, respectively, (ii) group after APR - 46%, 22% and 32%, respectively, and (iii) group after AR - 4%, 69% and 28%, respectively. Patients after AR pointed to the type of surgery that they had undergone more frequently than patients after APR (69%vs 46%, respectively, P < 0.001). Sixty per cent of patients evaluated twice had altered their initial preferences, usually choosing the type of surgery that they had undergone. Conclusions Our results suggest that the sequelae of AR are generally perceived as more acceptable than those of APR. Nevertheless, approximately half of the patients after APR prefer the type of surgery that they have undergone, which suggests the positive reappraisal of APR, once experienced.
Authors
I am an author on this paper
Click your name to claim this paper and add it to your profile.
Reviews
Recommended
No Data Available