Perioperative nursing for colorectal cancer

The occurrence of colorectal cancer has a lot to do with our lifestyle and diet. If we do not pay attention to our diet, it will bring great difficulties to the treatment and care in life. Patients need to master some precautions in life to be able to ensure the rapid recovery of the body.

For patients with colorectal cancer, due to the lower position of the tumor, some cannot retain the anus and need to have an ostomy and an artificial anus. After the operation, family members should help the nurses observe and care for the patient's condition. For example, observe whether the wound after the operation is bleeding and keep the dressing clean and dry. Observe the recovery of intestinal function, when the abdominal distension disappears, and the nature of the fluid drained from the stoma. It is also necessary to help the patient take care of the fistula. For example, from the third day after the operation, the fistula should be flushed with warm water or saline, and eating should be regular and quantitative to help control the activity of the intestine; in addition to flushing, the anus should be dilated with fingers once a day. The skin around the stoma should be kept dry, and the patient should be helped to use protective agents such as zinc oxygen oil. When the sutures of the surgical incision have been removed and the incision has healed completely, you can take a bath, either a tub bath or a shower. Clothes should be soft, loose, and elastic. Natural fabrics such as cotton and linen are preferred. The belt should not be too tight.

Moderate exercise, such as walking, doing radio gymnastics, and Tai Chi, can promote physical recovery, as well as promote metabolism and increase immunity. Exercise every day to maintain a healthy body, and people with stomas are no exception. Choose some exercises within your ability based on your preoperative hobbies and physical tolerance, but avoid strenuous exercise, such as boxing and weightlifting. The amount of daily activity should be planned and adjusted according to your own tolerance, such as planning to walk twice a day, 10 to 15 minutes each time, and gradually increase after adaptation. When you are unwell, you should reduce your exercise relatively and don't rush it. When the patient's physical strength has recovered, he or she can resume his or her previous work, but heavy physical labor should be avoided.

Whether before or after surgery, it is very important for patients with colon cancer to observe changes in bowel movements. First of all, you should develop good bowel habits, that is, defecate regularly every day, and do not wait for the stool to be too dry and hard. Dry and hard stools will make defecation difficult and accumulate too many toxins in the intestines, and will also affect the recovery of postoperative wounds. You should also observe the color of your stool frequently. If there is blood or mucus in the stool, you should pay close attention. If you have abdominal pain, bloating, cessation of defecation and other abnormal conditions, you should seek medical attention in time.

As the saying goes, 30% of the disease is treated and 70% is taken care of. Therefore, after suffering from colorectal cancer, some daily living habits play a decisive influence in the treatment process. I hope that patients can master the above-mentioned precautions, which can help patients achieve unexpected results in the process of coping.