BACKGROUND: Transanal Endoscopic Microsurgery (TEM) is a minimal invasive procedure for the treatment of rectal tumors. Nowadays there has been an increasing medical interest regarding quantitative measurements pertaining quality of life. AIM: To evaluate life quality of patients submitted to TEM at Hospital de Clínicas of the Federal University of Paraná in the Department of Surgery of the Digestive Tract. METHODS: A prospective observational cohort study was done to evaluate the quality of life after TEM. Thirty-four patients answered a questionnaire composed of 14 questions concerning postoperative and labor issues. Questions concerned primarily about: informed consent; pain felt after surgery; patients capacity to walk during the postoperative state; period of return to normal activities; satisfaction regarding the absence of postoperative scars; postoperative incontinence, as well as the recommendation of this surgery to family members or friends. RESULTS: All thirty-four patients claimed to be adequately informed about the procedure. The absence of postoperative pain was observed in 82.5 %, and all demonstrated the capacity to walk in the first postoperative day. In average, returning to normal activities began after the seventh day of surgery. Only five patients (14.70%) experimented transitory fecal incontinence, enduring no longer than a week. Three patients (8.82%) were later readmitted to the hospital: two with residual tumors and the other for tumor recurrence. Two patients (5.88%) complained about temporary modification in his/her sexual life after the surgery, and 97.05% would indicate TEM for his/her family members or friends. The average time period of admission was of three days. CONCLUSION: Patients presented a good evolution, with little postoperative pain, and a low complication index, demonstrating satisfactory and adequate quality of life after TEM.
Microsurgery, Endoscopy, Gastrointestinal; Quality of life; Post-operative pain; Rectal Neoplasms
