Pelvic physiotherapy after surgical treatment for cervical cancer

Patients who undergo radical hysterectomy because of cervical cancer frequently experience (de novo) micturition and defecation symptoms after surgery. These symptoms are thought to mainly result from damage to autonomic nerve innervation during surgery. In the literature it has been stated that pelvic physiotherapy is effective in the management of pelvic floor symptoms, although this has not been proven to be true in patients treated for cervical cancer. The goal of our study is to find out whether pelvic physiotherapy gives a better pelvic floor related quality of life. This is evaluated with validated questionnaires. We also evaluate the bladder function with voiding diaries, uroflowmetry and measurement of the post-voiding residual volume. A secondary outcome is the health care consumption for pelvic floor problems in the first year after a radical hysterectomy. The measurements take place before the operation, 6 weeks, 3 months and 12 months after the operation.

Patients who received pelvic physiotherapy have a better quality of life related to miction, defecation and sexual problems and less problems with micturition defecation and sexual problems occur in this group.

01-Sep-2007 start inclusion;

01-Sep-2009 end of inclusion;

01-Sep-2010 end of receiving questionnaires.

Pelvic physiotherapy.