Author(s)

Sayf Gazala, Jeffrey A. Johnson, James D. Kutsogiannias, Eric L. R. Bédard

Department of Medicine, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Canada.
Department of Surgery, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Canada.
School of Public Health, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Canada.

Background: Surgical resection is the main treatment for early stage lung cancer; the benefits of surgery, however, need to be weighed against possible complications and patients’ quality of life. Methods: We performed a cohort study following patients after video assisted thoracoscopic lobectomy at our tertiary care center. Before surgery, health related quality of life was assessed using the SF-36, the QLQ30, QLQ13 and EQ5D questionnaires. Post-operatively health related quality of life was assessed at regular intervals (2, 4, 8 and 12 weeks). A research team assessed post-operative complications on a daily basis during the patients’ hospital stay. Based on the Clavien classification system, the cohort was classified as experiencing high-grade (i.e., grade III or IV) complications or not. Changes in quality of life scores over the follow-up period were compared using linear regression with generalized estimating equations. Results: Between March and September 2011, 44 eligible patients were recruited into the study. The mean age was 65 (SD 8.7) years; 55% were male. The majority (n = 31; 71%) had no or low-grade complications. Patients experiencing high-grade complications reported significantly worse outcomes in the following domains of the SF-36: Global Health, Vitality, and Physical Functioning (p < 0.05 for all). On the QLQ 30 and QLQ 13, patients with high-grade complications had worse outcomes in the dyspnea, emotional function and cognitive function scales, as well as worse shoulder and chest pain, and financial difficulties (p < 0.05 for all). Conclusions: The severity of post-operative complications after video assisted thoracoscopic lobectomy negatively impacts patient centered outcomes post-operatively.

VATS; Quality of Life; Lung Cancer Surgery

Gazala, S. , Johnson, J. , Kutsogiannias, J. and Bédard, E. (2014) Effect of Surgical Complications on Quality of Life after Thoracoscopic Lobectomy for Lung Cancer. World Journal of Cardiovascular Surgery, 4, 25-34. doi: 10.4236/wjcs.2014.43005.