Nursing methods for pancreatic cancer with intestinal obstruction

The cause of pancreatic cancer is still unclear, but it is found that environmental pollution and changes in dietary structure are factors that affect it. Scientific and effective nursing care for pancreatic cancer patients plays an important auxiliary role in the treatment of pancreatic cancer. The main nursing diagnoses and nursing measures for pancreatic cancer complicated with intestinal obstruction are:

1. Fear and anxiety:

(1) Welcome patients warmly and provide them with a comfortable, quiet and fresh-air hospitalization environment.

(2) Provide patients with the opportunity to explain the cause of their fear and take appropriate measures to alleviate their fear.

(3) Provide patients with knowledge related to the disease.

(4) Explain to the patient the necessity of the surgery, the anesthesia method, and the simple surgical process to enhance the patient’s confidence in the surgery.

(5) Distract attention and reduce the patient's susceptibility to fear.

2. Pain:

(1) Listen patiently to the patient's complaints and teach him/her coping skills.

(2) Fasting reduces gastrointestinal decompression, reduces gastrointestinal secretions, and reduces irritation to the intestinal wall.

(3) Assist the patient to change to a comfortable position, such as a semi-recumbent position, to relax the body, localize inertial exudates, and relieve pain.

(4) Use analgesics as prescribed by your doctor to relieve intestinal smooth muscle spasms and relieve pain.

3. Insufficient body fluids:

(1) Record skin elasticity and mucous membrane conditions.

(2) Record urine specific gravity and color.

(3) Record the amount and color of vomitus and drainage fluid.

(4) Monitor vital signs and determine whether blood volume is insufficient.

(5) Record the water inflow and outflow for 24 hours.

(6) During the fasting period, replenish fluids and draw blood regularly to check blood biochemistry to maintain water and electrolyte balance.

4. Clearing the respiratory tract is ineffective:

(1) Patiently explain the importance of coughing up respiratory secretions.

(2) Encourage the patient to cough up phlegm effectively and assist the patient to press the wound with his hands or bandage it with a belly band to prevent the wound from splitting.

(3) Give ultrasonic nebulization inhalation 2-3 times a day to reduce respiratory mucosal edema, dilute sputum, and facilitate coughing.

5. Changes in comfort: related to abdominal distension and obstruction of drainage tube.

(1) Assess and record the degree of abdominal distension.

(2) Insert a gastric tube to drain gastric contents and fluid out of the body to relieve abdominal distension

(3) Maintain effective negative pressure suction.

(4) If the obstruction is caused by abdominal surgery, hot water bags can be used to warm the abdomen and antispasmodic drugs can be injected into the muscles.

(5) Observe the patient’s condition and check whether he or she has anal flatulence or bowel movements. If so, remove the gastric tube and administer a liquid diet.

6. Changes in oral mucosa:

(1) Explain to the patient the importance of maintaining oral hygiene.

(2) Provide oral care twice a day while in bed.

(3) Guide patients or their families to learn oral care methods.

(4) If the patient is dry, apply a wetting agent such as paraffin oil.