Effects of comprehensive nursing intervention on the postoperative gastrointestinal function and complications in...

This study aimed to investigate the effect of comprehensive nursing intervention on postoperative gastrointestinal function and complications in patients undergoing endoscopic polypectomy.

This study was a prospective randomized controlled trial (The name of the registry of clinical trial: the impact of comprehensive nursing intervention on the postoperative gastrointestinal function and complications in patients undergoing endoscopic polypectomy; clinical triathe trial number: ChiCTR2000034984; the trial URL: https://www.chictr.org.cn/index.html). 77 patients were randomly divided into a control group (n=38, traditional conventional nursing) and an experimental group (n=39, comprehensive nursing intervention). The following outcome measures were compared: general baseline data, total compliance rate, laboratory biomarkers (inflammatory factors, nutritional indicators, gastrointestinal hormone levels), gastrointestinal symptom scores, postoperative recovery indicators, clinical risks (venous thromboembolism [VTE] and falls), adverse event rates (total adverse reactions, polyp recurrence, postoperative complications), and patient-centered outcomes (life comfort, quality of life, and nursing quality, and nursing satisfaction).

After nursing interventions, the experimental group showed significant improvements across multiple metrics compared to the control group (all P<0.05). Key findings included reductions in inflammatory markers (procalcitonin, C-reactive protein, interleukin-17), faster postoperative recovery (shorter times to bowel sound recovery, first exhaust, and first bowel movement, and hospitalization), and lower clinical risks (VTE and fall scores, total incidence rate of adverse reactions and postoperative complications, and recurrence rate of polyps). Concurrently, the experimental group exhibited enhanced nutritional status (higher albumin and hemoglobin levels), improved gastric physiology (elevated pepsinogen I [PGI], PGI/PGII ratio, and lower PGII and gastrin-17), and superior patient-reported outcomes (general comfort questionnaire and gastrointestinal quality of life index scores), and nursing evaluations (quality and satisfaction).

Comprehensive nursing intervention could promote the recovery of gastrointestinal function in patients undergoing endoscopic polypectomy, and reduce the occurrence rate of postoperative complications.