Two-thirds of the studies found that patients who suffered surgical complications had significantly worse postoperative psychosocial outcomes even after controlling for preoperative psychosocial outcomes , clinical and demographic factors .
Surgical complications appear to be a significant and often long-term predictor of patient postoperative psychosocial outcomes .
The results highlight the importance of attending to patients ' psychological needs in the aftermath of surgical complications
OBJECTIVE Surgical complications may affect patients psychologically due to challenges such as prolonged recovery or long-lasting disability .
Psychological distress could further delay patients ' recovery as stress delays wound healing and compromises immunity .
This review investigates whether surgical complications adversely affect patients ' postoperative well-being and the duration of this impact .
Quality of life improves within 30 days of surgery for Crohn's disease.
BACKGROUND The effect of surgery on quality of life ( QOL ) in the early postoperative period is important in Crohn 's disease because of the multiple surgical procedures that patients undergo and the acute QOL benefits that might occur as a result of modifications of medical treatment . Earlier studies of the effect of surgery on QOL have been retrospective and assessed changes 3 to 24 months after surgery . This study prospect ively assesses the effect of surgery on QOL in the early postoperative period . STUDY DESIGN Patients requiring surgical management of sequelae of Crohn 's disease were obtained from a prospect ively entered data base including data on QOL . Preoperative and 30-day postoperative QOL were determined in 82 patients using Clevel and Global Quality of Life ( CGQL ) scores ( range from 0 [ worst ] to 10 [ best possible ] QOL ) . Preoperative and postoperative scores were compared using a paired t-test to determine the significance of any change in QOL after surgery . The effect of other variables on change in QOL after surgery was assessed using the t-test or analysis of variance . Multifactor analysis of variance was used to assess the effect of several independent variables . RESULTS Eighty-two patients ( 41 women ) of 142 patients who had had surgery ( 58 % ) had complete preoperative and 30-day postoperative scores . The incidence of complications was 23 % ( 11 % were major ) . There was a significant improvement in QOL 30 days after surgery as measured by CGQL ( 0.6 + /- 0.2 preoperative to 0.7 + /- 0.2 postoperative ; mean + /- SD ; p < 0.001 ) . The mean preoperative CGQL was 0.56 + /- 0.24 and the mean improvement was 0.11 + /- 0.20 toward a better QOL . Female patients ( p < 0.05 ) and those who did not develop complications within 30 days of surgery ( p < 0.05 ) had a significantly greater improvement in CGQL after surgery than other groups . No other factor was predictive of improved outcomes . CONCLUSIONS QOL as measured by CGQL improves early after surgery ( 30 days postoperatively ) . Improvement in CGQL is greater in female patients and patients who do not develop complications in the postoperative period . It is not affected by other patient characteristics , nature of disease , indication , or procedure performed . Most patients who undergo surgery for Crohn 's disease feel that surgery has helped them and would undergo surgery again
Two-thirds of the studies found that patients who suffered surgical complications had significantly worse postoperative psychosocial outcomes even after controlling for preoperative psychosocial outcomes , clinical and demographic factors .
Surgical complications appear to be a significant and often long-term predictor of patient postoperative psychosocial outcomes .
The results highlight the importance of attending to patients ' psychological needs in the aftermath of surgical complications
OBJECTIVE Surgical complications may affect patients psychologically due to challenges such as prolonged recovery or long-lasting disability .
Psychological distress could further delay patients ' recovery as stress delays wound healing and compromises immunity .
This review investigates whether surgical complications adversely affect patients ' postoperative well-being and the duration of this impact .