Calidad de vida tras la cirugía del schwannoma vestibular

Objetivo: Evaluar la calidad de vida (CV) tras la cirugía del schwannoma vestibular (SV) utilizando el Glasgow Benefit Inventory (GBI) y un cuestionario para el dolor. Material y método: Enviamos cuestionarios a 95 pacientes intervenidos en nuestro servicio. Analizamos la influencia de factores clínicos y epidemiológicos en la CV. Resultados: Contestó el 72 % de los pacientes. Considerando la CV general, en el 30 % mejoró, en el 56 % empeoró y en el 14 % no varió. No encontramos relación de la CV con el lado, el sexo, la edad, el tamaño tumoral, la preservación de la audición o la función facial. La CV se deteriora menos frecuentemente en pacientes con vértigo o compresión de tronco antes de la cirugía, y más en pacientes con dolor postoperatorio. Conclusiones: La CV se deteriora en un número considerable de pacientes. El paciente debe comprender que el principal objetivo de la cirugía es evitar complicaciones vitales.

Objetive: This study evaluates quality of life (QOL) in patients following surgery for vestibular schwannoma (VS) using the Glasgow Benefit Inventory (GBI), and a pain questionnaire. Material and method: The questionnaires were sent to 95 patients who had undergone surgery at our institution. The impact of several factors on self-assessed QOL was also evaluated. Results: The response rate was 72 %. Considering overall QOL, 30 % patients reported that QOL became better, 56 % patients said it was worse, and in 14 % patients it remained the same. No differences in postoperative QOL were found when comparing side, gender, age, tumor size, hearing preservation, or post-operative facial function. Deterioration of postoperative QOL was less frequent in patients with vertigo and brain stem compression before surgery. Post-operative pain was associated with poorer QOL. Conclusions: QOL becomes worse in several cases after surgery for VS. However, patients must understand that the main goal of VS surgery is to avoid life-threatening complications or death.