Changes in quality of life after pulmonary resection.

This article assesses the impact of pulmonary resection on quality of life by means of a systematic quantitative review of the available literature. Perioperative changes in quality of life scales were measured by the Cohen's effect size method (mean change of the variable divided by its baseline standard deviation). After lobectomy, most quality-of-life scales differed slightly from preoperative values but tended to recover from the first evaluation time point up to 12 months after surgery. After pneumonectomy, most scales showed a stable or declining trend from the first evaluation up to 12 months after surgery.