Comparison of depression, anxiety and long-term quality of health in patients with a history of either primary closure or Limberg flap reconstruction for pilonidal sinus.

OBJECTIVE: Pilonidal sinus is characterized by high operative morbidity mainly due to wound problems. We aimed to compare the quality of health, comfort and psychological status in patients who underwent surgery for pilonidal sinus. METHODS: A total of 205 pilonidal sinus patients operated on with either primary closure or Limberg flap reconstruction were compared in terms of depression, anxiety, and long-term quality of health by using Short Form 36, Beck Depression Inventory, and Beck Anxiety Inventory scales. RESULTS: There were 107 patients in the primary closure group with a mean follow-up of 29.6 ± 7.7 months and 98 patients in the Limberg flap group with a mean follow-up of 34.1 ± 7.3 months. In the SF-36 analysis, the mental health and bodily pain scores (59 ± 6 and 56 ± 11 in the primary closure group and 62 ± 8 and 61 ± 10 in the Limberg flap group) were significantly higher in the Limberg flap group (p = 0.014 and p = 0.002, respectively). The mean Beck Depression Inventory (19 ± 6.13 vs. 16 ± 4.90 p<0.001) and Beck Anxiety Inventory (19 ± 6.27 vs. 16 ± 4.90 p<0.001) scores were lower in the Limberg flap group. CONCLUSION: Limberg flap reconstruction produced better quality of health scores according to the SF 36, especially in terms of mental health and bodily pain. There was a higher tendency towards anxiety and depression in the primary closure group.

Comparison of depression, anxiety and long-term quality of health in patients with a history of either primary closure or Limberg flap reconstruction for pilonidal sinus

OBJECTİVE: Pilonidal sinus is characterized by high operative morbidity mainly due to wound problems. We aimed to compare the quality of health, comfort and psychological status in patients who underwent surgery for pilonidal sinus. METHODS: A total of 205 pilonidal sinus patients operated on with either primary closure or Limberg flap reconstruction were compared in terms of depression, anxiety, and long-term quality of health by using Short Form 36, Beck Depression Inventory, and Beck Anxiety Inventory scales. RESULTS: There were 107 patients in the primary closure group with a mean follow-up of 29.6±7.7 months and 98 patients in the Limberg flap group with a mean follow-up of 34.1±7.3 months. In the SF-36 analysis, the mental health and bodily pain scores (59±6 and 56±11 in the primary closure group and 62±8 and 61±10 in the Limberg flap group) were significantly higher in the Limberg flap group (p = 0.014 and p = 0.002, respectively). The mean Beck Depression Inventory (19±6.13 vs. 16±4.90 p<0.001) and Beck Anxiety Inventory (19±6.27 vs. 16±4.90 p<0.001) scores were lower in the Limberg flap group. CONCLUSION: Limberg flap reconstruction produced better quality of health scores according to the SF 36, especially in terms of mental health and bodily pain. There was a higher tendency towards anxiety and depression in the primary closure group. .

Tamoxifen and gallstone formation in postmenopausal breast cancer patients: retrospective cohort study.

Tamoxifen is being used successfully in breast cancer patients as adjuvant hormonal therapy. The aim of this retrospective cohort study is to evaluate the impact of tamoxifen on gallstone formation in postmenopausal breast cancer patients. A total of 3165 patients who were treated for invasive breast cancer between 1990 and 1997 were reviewed. The data were collected from four university hospitals in a population-based registry. Among these patients, 2462 were excluded from the study owing to improper follow-up and other reasons. Premenopausal patients were also excluded. Of the 703 patients included in the study, 457 had received adjuvant therapy including tamoxifen, and the other 246 had not. Gallstone formation was assessed by annual abdominal ultrasonography. The mean follow-up period was 4.6 years (range 1-7 years). There were no significant differences between the groups of breast cancer patients treated with or without tamoxifen regarding the age of the patients at the time of breast cancer diagnosis, the age at menopause, the duration between the onset of menopause and the time the breast cancer was diagnosed, the presence of diabetes, and the body mass index. At the end of 5 years the incidence of gallstone formation in tamoxifen-treated patients was 37.4%, whereas it was 2.0% in patients who did not receive tamoxifen ( p < 0.0001). The incidences of gallstones being detected in 171 tamoxifen-treated patients were 0.4%, 3.7%, 24.4%, 33.1%, and 37.4% cumulatively during the first, second, third, fourth, and fifth years, respectively. Hence adjuvant tamoxifen therapy leads to gallstone formation in postmenopausal breast cancer patients and is most apparent after 3 years of treatment.