Hysterectomy for gynaecological cancer: a follow-up study of subjective and objective outcome.

Aims: To evaluate morbidity and subjective outcome associated with hysterectomy either with or without pelvic or pelvic and para-aortic lymphadenectomy for gynaecological cancer.

Methods: Ninety-nine patients who underwent hysterectomy with lymphadenectomy (n = 38) or simple hysterectomy (n = 61) for ovarian, endometrial and cervical cancer in Turku University Hospital, Turku, Finland, were followed-up prospectively to determine the incidence of complications during a 1-year period after operation. Subjective outcomes were assessed using two questionnaires, 6 weeks and 1 year after operation. Hospital records of the patients were reviewed up to 6 years after operation.

Results: During their hospital stay 58% of patients in the hysterectomy with lymphadenectomy group and 56% in the simple hysterectomy group experienced some type of complication. Serious complications occurred in four patients (10.5%) in the former group and in two patients (3.3%) in the latter group. In the study population overall, the incidence of subjective complaints increased from 18% of respondents 6 weeks after operation to 55% 1 year after operation. Most patients (95 and 92%, respectively) remained satisfied with the operation at both times of evaluation.

Conclusions: More than half of the patients experienced morbidity related to surgical treatment for gynaecological cancer. The incidence of complications and subjective complaints were unaffected by the type of operation.