Health-related quality of life after laparoscopic hysterectomy following Enhanced Recovery After Surgery (ERAS) or a conventional recovery protocol.

Abstract Study Objective To compare the health-related quality of life (HRQoL) and psychological distress after laparoscopic hysterectomy (LH) following enhanced recovery after surgery (ERAS) and conventional recovery protocols. Design A secondary analysis of a single-center randomized controlled trial Setting University hospital. Patients Women assigned to laparoscopic hysterectomy were randomly divided into two groups: the intervention (enhanced recovery protocol) group (IG; n = 60) and the control (conventional protocol) group (CG; n = 60). Intervention Women in the intervention group were treated according to the ERAS protocol. Measurements and Main Results The primary outcome was a change in HRQoL assessed by the 15D questionnaire and a change in psychological distress assessed by the GHQ12 questionnaire at baseline before surgery and one month later. One month after surgery, the HRQoL was clinically and statistically better compared to baseline, but with no difference between groups. Following the ERAS protocol, the improvement of HRQoL was clinically greater, the difference in the dimension of sleeping was statistically better (p Conclusion The HRQoL improved after LH with no significant difference between ERAS and the conventional recovery protocols. However, clinically the change of HRQoL was greater and the dimensions of sleeping, discomfort and symptoms, depression, distress and vitality were better after ERAS. Psychological distress was equal in both groups. ERAS seems to have a positive impact on recovery after LH.