How the evaluation of the quality of life changes in patients who underwent a surgery of the abdominal aortic aneurysm?

Introduction: The term “quality of life” appeared in the American medical dictionary after the second world war and its meaning was gradually evolved ever since. Taking into consideration the results of the examination of the quality of life, consecutive experiences following its measurement, seem to contribute gradually to developing more effective diagnostic and treatment methods. This, as a result, should lead to a better understanding of the factors determining the quality of life which depends on the condition of the patient undergoing treatment.
Objectives: The objective of this research was to evaluate the quality of life in abdominal aortic aneurysm patients before and after surgery.
Material and methods: The research was conducted among 70 patients with a diagnosed abdominal aortic aneurysm who underwent a planned reconstructive operation of the abdominal aorta (group I), and also among 70 other patients with a small nonoperative abdominal aortic aneurysm (group II). The research was conducted in the department of General and Vascular Surgery in the Medical University of Lodz from 1st July 2002 to 31st March 2004.
The evaluation of the quality of life was conducted by means of a universal questionnaire SF 36.
The necessary calculations were done by means by followings packets: Statistica 7.1 and Excel 2008.
Results: The analysis of the results of particular scales revealed that in the majority of patients the average parameters defining the quality of life decrease slightly immediately after the operation. Those differences could be statistically ignored (p > 0.05), except the assessment of pain tolerance. In this case there appeared a statistically significant drop in the average evaluation (p < 0.001). An average assessment of health increased slightly but it was not a statistically significant increase (p > 0.05).
Comparing the results before the surgery with those obtained 3-4 months after the surgery, we observed a statistically significant increase in the average assessment of physical activity (p < 0.001), in psychological well-being (p < 0.01), pain tolerance (p < 0.001) and physical health (p < 0.001). What statistically dropped was the average stamina (p < 0.01). The other parameters did not change substantially.
In the research we also observed in the periods immediately after the surgery and 3-4 months afterwards statistically significance changes in the assessment of particular scales: physical activity (p < 0.001), social activity (p < 0.01), improvement in mental health (p < 0.01), increase in pain tolerance (p < 0.001) and general health (p < 0.001).
Conclusions:
1. The abdominal aortic aneurysm surgery is connected with considerable disturbances in experiencing the quality of life.
2. In the early postoperative period a considerable drop in all components of the quality of life was observed.
3. The parameters of the quality of life in patients operated for abdominal aortic aneurysm increases only 3-4 months after the surgery.
4. The abdominal aortic aneurysm patients should avail themselves of psychological assistance both before and after the surgery.