Prospective cohort study comparing quality of life and sexual health outcomes between women undergoing robotic, laparoscopic and open surgery for endometrial cancer.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate patient-reported outcomes (PROs) between women treated by laparoscopic, robotic and open approaches for endometrial cancer.

METHODS: Prospective cohort study comparing PRO at baseline, short- (1 and 3 weeks) and long-term (12 and 24 weeks) follow-up postoperatively. Quality of life (QOL) measures were the Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy (FACT-G), EuroQol Five Dimensions (EQ-5D), and Brief Pain Inventory (BPI). Sexual health measures were the Female Sexual Function Index (FSFI) and the Sexual Adjustment and Body Image Scale for Gynecologic Cancer (SABIS-G).

RESULTS: 468 eligible patients (laparotomy = 92, laparoscopy = 152, robotic = 224) were recruited. There were no significant differences between the laparoscopy and robotic groups for any PRO (P > 0.05). At short-term follow-up, patients who underwent minimally invasive surgery (robotic or laparoscopy) had significantly higher FACT-G (P < 0.0001) and EQ-5D (P < 0.0001) scores, with less pain (P = 0.02) and improved pain interference (P = 0.0008), than patients undergoing laparotomy. At long-term follow-up, there were sustained improvements in the FACT-G (P = 0.035) and the health state EQ-5D visual analogue scale (P = 0.022). Surgical approach had no impact on sexual health (P > 0.05); however the mean FSFI score for the entire cohort met clinical cut-offs for sexual dysfunction.

CONCLUSION: Minimally invasive approaches result in improved QOL beyond the short-term postoperative period, with benefits noted up to 12 weeks after surgery. This prolonged QOL advantage provides further evidence that MIS should be the standard surgical approach for women with early stage endometrial cancer.