Postoperative complications have little influence on long-term quality of life in Crohn's patients.

PURPOSE

The purpose of the study was to determine the influence of postoperative complications on long-term quality of life in patients after abdominal operations for Crohn's disease.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

From 1996 to 2002, 305 Crohn's patients underwent abdominal surgery, and 66 patients developed postoperative complications. Quality of life was studied using a standardized questionnaire and four quality of life instruments. Sixty-six Crohn's patients with uneventful postoperative course matched for age, and follow-up time served as controls.

RESULTS

Forty-eight patients (81%) in the complication group (32 major and 16 minor) and 43 patients (75%) in the control group answered the questionnaire. Postoperative follow-up time was 42 (10-94) and 41 months (13-94; median (range)). Quality of life was comparable between groups, except on the subscale "physical functioning" of the Short-form 36 on which patients with minor and major complications showed impaired quality of life compared to controls (67+/-6, 69+/-4, and 84+/-2%; mean+/-standard error of the mean; both p<0.05 vs controls). The incidence of Crohn's disease-related symptoms at follow-up was unaffected by complications (minor 63%, major 56% vs controls 70%; both not significant).

CONCLUSION

Postoperative complications after abdominal operations for Crohn's disease do not impair long-term quality of life in general but may affect specific dimensions of quality of life like patients' physical function.