Robotic-assisted laparoscopic hysterectomy for women with endometrial cancer - complications, women´s experiences, quality of life and a health economic evaluation

This thesis contains four studies all focusing on women with endometrial cancer undergoing robotic-assisted laparoscopic hysterectomy (RALH). Women with endometrial cancer are typically elderly with co-morbidities. RALH is a relatively new treatment option which has been introduced and adopted over the last decade without randomised controlled trials (RCTs) to prove superiority over other surgical alternatives. The purpose of the thesis was to explore and describe patient and health economic outcomes of RALH for women with endometrial cancer using different research approaches. The first study was a retrospective descriptive cohort study with 235 women. The aim was to explore types and incidence of post-operative complications within 12 months after RALH reported with the Clavien-Dindo scale. We found that 6% had severe complications and that women with lymphadenectomy did not have an increased rate of complications. Urinary tract and port site infections were the most frequent complications. The second study was a qualitative interview study where we explored the experience of undergoing RALH. Using content analysis, we analysed semi-structured interviews with 12 women who had undergone RALH on average 12 weeks earlier. The women were positive towards the robotic approach and felt recovered shortly after. They expressed uncertainty with the normal course of bleeding and bowel movement post-operatively as well as with the new anatomy. The third study was an economic evaluation; an activity-based costing study including 360 women comparing total abdominal hysterectomy (TAH) to RALH. This study showed that for women with endometrial cancer, RALH was cheaper compared to TAH, mainly due to fewer complications and shorter length of stay (LOS) that counterbalanced the higher robotic expenses. When including all cost drivers the analysis showed that the RALH procedure was more than 9.000 Danish kroner (DKK) cheaper than the TAH. Increased age and Type 2 diabetes appeared to increase costs. The fourth study was a prospective cohort study of 139 women who were followed four months after surgery with the aim to assess short term changes in health-related quality of life (HRQoL), symptoms and function after RALH. Both a general and an illness specific HRQoL questionnaire were used. The preoperative baseline measurement was compared with measurements at one and five weeks and four months post-operatively. The women also selfreported their level of activity once a week for the first five weeks after surgery. We found that HRQoL was back to baseline level at five weeks post-operatively for the majority of women. Fatigue, constipation, gastrointestinal symptoms, pain, appetite and change of taste were negatively affected short-term. At five weeks the mean level of physical activity resumed was 84%. Together, the studies indicate that RALH is a well-tolerated surgical treatment for women with endometrial cancer, and post-operative complications appear fewer and less severe compared to previous open surgery. This points towards RALH being clinically and economically efficient. The women experienced that RALH was easy to overcome and they felt recovered shortly after. However, they expressed uncertainty about the normal post-operative cause and reported changes in functions and symptoms short term after surgery. These changes should be addressed in the preoperative information and at the post-operative follow-up. It is difficult imagining a RCT of robotic-assisted laparoscopic hysterectomy being conducted in the future due to reluctance towards randomisation to open surgery. However, it would be advisable continuously to monitor relevant surgical and patient-reported outcomes as indications for robotic surgery may alter, experiences may develop and further technical advances may change robotic surgery for women with endometrial cancer in the future.