Transanal Endoscopic Microsurgery (TEMS) for Rectal Cancer: Patient Decision-making, Postoperative Experience and Quality of Life

xlomafota13 shared this article with you from Inoreader Transanal Endoscopic Microsurgery (TEMS) for Rectal Cancer: Patient Decision-making, Postoperative Experience and Quality of Life Via In vivo (Athens, Greece) In Vivo. 2021 Mar-Apr;35(2):1235-1245. doi: 10.21873/invivo.12374. ABSTRACT BACKGROUND/AIM: Transanal endoscopic microsurgery (TEMS) is a form of minimally invasive surgery for selected rectal cancers. The aim of this study was to explore the factors affecting patients' decision-making concerning the choice of surgical treatment as well as to measure the Quality of Life (QoL) post-TEMS. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Thirty-four patients with rectal cancer stage T1/T2-N0-M0 that underwent TEMS were studied. The questionnaires used included the Short Form SF12v2, Wexner Score (CCF-FIS) and the Sexual Function Questionnaire (SFQ). The patients' views on experience and treatment decision were obtained with a custom-designed questionnaire. Questionnaires were completed at a mean of 6.9 years following treatment. RESULTS: The factors that influenced the patients' decisions were: experience satisfaction (p=0.003), postoperative bowel func tion (p<0.001), lower incontinence score (p=0.020) and agreement of TEMS experience with preoperative information (p=0.049). Treatment experience satisfaction was associated with family support (p=0.034) and agreement with preoperative information (p=0.047), better bowel function (p=0.026) and mental QoL (MCS) (p=0.003). CONCLUSION: factors important to patients when reflecting on treatment experience are adequate and reliable information, a good QoL and the presence of family support. Clinicians should incorporate those parameters in their practice when assisting patients in making a surgical treatment choice and provide informed consent on TEMS for rectal cancer. PMID:33622926 | DOI:10.21873/invivo.12374 View on the web Inoreader. Take back control of your news feed. Follow us on Twitter and Facebook.