Quality of life after laparoscopic and abdominal hysterectomy: a randomized controlled trial.

OBJECTIVE: To report the 4-year follow-up quality-of-life data of a randomized controlled trial between abdominal and laparoscopic hysterectomy and to investigate whether any difference in quality of life would remain long-term.

METHODS: Patients scheduled for hysterectomy for benign indications were randomized and received the Dutch version of the Short Form 36 questionnaire. The Short Form 36 consists of eight domains in which 100 points can be obtained. Higher scores denote a higher quality of life. A linear mixed model was used to study the differences between the two groups up to 4 years after surgery for each of the domains and the total Short Form 36 score separately.

RESULTS: Fifty-nine patients were randomized (27 to laparoscopic hysterectomy and 32 to abdominal hysterectomy). Median follow-up after surgery was 243 weeks (range, 188-303 weeks). The overall response rate on the Short Form 36 questionnaire after 4 years was 83% (49 of 59 patients). Total Short Form 36 questionnaire scores were significantly higher in patients after laparoscopic compared with abdominal hysterectomy up to 4 years after surgery (overall mean difference 50.4 points [95% confidence interval 1.0-99.7] in favor of laparoscopic hysterectomy). Higher scores were also found on the domains physical role functioning, social role functioning, and vitality.

CONCLUSION: With a follow-up of 4 years, patients who underwent laparoscopic hysterectomy reported a better quality of life compared with abdominal hysterectomy. Therefore, patients in whom vaginal hysterectomy is not possible should be able to have a laparoscopic hysterectomy, if feasible, in terms of uterine size.

CLINICAL TRIAL REGISTRATION: ISRCTN Register, www.controlled-trials.com/isrctn, ISRCTN15214439.