Quality-of-life assessment in gynecologic surgery

More than 90% of gynecologic surgery is performed for nonmalignant conditio ns, with a major objective of improving the patient's health-related qualit y of life (QOL). Clinical studies and patient surveys demonstrate that fati gue, diminished energy levels, increased need for rest, delayed time to ret urn to work, difficulty performing daily routines, and difficulty caring fo r family and home persist for weeks to months or move following surgery. Ti le social and economic implications of these outcomes provide a rationale f or improving the QOL of gynecologic patients in the early weeks of recovery from surgery. Persistent and debilitating fatigue, which can lend to dimin ished QOL, is even more common than pain following hysterectomy. Global and specific subjective self-assessment instruments have been developed to mea sure fatigue as well as QOL parameters in postoperative gynecologic surgery patients. In addition, a QOL instrument combining both of hemoglobin, hema tocrit and muscle strength has been validated in postoperative orthopedic p atients and may also have application in gynecologic surgery patients. Coll ectively, these various instruments may be useful in the assessment of recu perative power and vitality during early postoperative recovery in patients undergoing gynecologic surgery.