Lived experience, enhanced recovery and laparoscopic colonic resection

Area of Science:

• Surgical Patient Experience
• Enhanced Recovery Programs
• Colorectal Surgery

Background:

• Laparoscopic colonic resection is a major surgery.
• Enhanced recovery programmes aim to optimize patient recovery.
• Patient expectations may not align with actual recovery experiences.

Purpose of the Study:

• To explore the lived experiences of patients undergoing laparoscopic colonic resection.
• To understand patient perspectives on enhanced recovery programmes.
• To identify factors influencing recovery post-surgery.

Main Methods:

• Qualitative study utilizing hermeneutical-phenomenological interpretation.
• Interviews conducted with eleven patients 14-16 days post-discharge.
• Focus on patient narratives of their recovery journey.

Main Results:

• Patients actively engaged in enhanced recovery programmes but found recovery took longer than anticipated.
• Decreased nursing presence with increasing patient independence led to unmet psychological needs.
• Minimally invasive surgery created expectations of lesser physical and psychological impact.

Conclusions:

• Nurses must address both physical and emotional needs throughout the enhanced recovery programme, including up to discharge.
• Improved patient preparation for post-discharge expectations is essential.
• Enhanced recovery requires holistic patient support.