The effect of surgery on the quality of life in patients with endometriosis

N. Gică, G. Peltecu

Rezumat: Endometriosis is a chronic disease which affects 10% of women in reproductive age. In recent years, laparoscopic surgery is considered the standard method for the treatment of endometriosis. The present study represents a literature review, aiming to evaluate the effect of laparoscopic surgery on the quality of life in patients with endometriosis. The following databases were searched: PubMed/Medline, Cochrane Clinical Trials, using as keywords ‘surgery’, ‘quality of life’ and ‘endometriosis’. Initially, we selected 13 studies, published between 2004 and 2014 of whom only 6 satisfied the inclusion criteria. The selected studies used SF-12, SF-36 and EHP-5 questionnaires, which evaluate the quality of life in patients with endometriosis after surgery. Patients answered the questions which evaluated the quality of life prior to surgery and after surgery (at 6, 12, 24 or 36 months, depending on the study). Our review demonstrates an improvement in the quality of life scores with a significant drop in mean scores from 50 pre-surgery to 25 post-surgery. Many studies showed a decrease in symptomatic endometriosis after laparoscopic surgery, reducing dysmenorrhea, dyspareunia, pelvic pain and rectal pain with minimal complications after surgery. The present review confirms the important impact of laparoscopic surgery on quality of life in patients with endometriosis, especially on mental, social and work wellbeing. In conclusion, laparoscopic surgery significantly improves general health and psycho-emotional status of patients with endometriosis. The best method to assess the quality of life in patients with endometriosis, prior to surgery and thereafter, needs to be defined in further studies.
Cuvinte cheie: endometriosis, quality of life, laparoscopic surgery.