Preoperative preparation for colon cancer surgery

The purpose of preoperative preparation for colon cancer surgery is to enable patients to safely go through the operation period and reduce the incidence of postoperative complications.

1. Gastrointestinal tract preparation

(1) Preoperative diet: For general patients, a low-residue, high-protein, high-calorie diet can be started after hospitalization, and fasting for more than 6 hours before surgery is required. For patients with incomplete intestinal obstruction, a liquid diet should be given, and attention should be paid to correcting water and electrolyte disorders, and surgery should be performed as soon as possible. For patients with complete intestinal obstruction, fasting should be performed immediately after diagnosis.

(2) For patients who are estimated to need intestinal anastomosis, a nasogastric tube should be placed on the morning of surgery. Postoperative gastrointestinal decompression can reduce postoperative abdominal distension and avoid vomiting.

2. Infection prevention measures

There are many measures to prevent infection, including preoperative skin preparation, intestinal preparation, and the use of antibiotics.

3. Enhance surgical tolerance and control concomitant diseases

Increasing the patient's tolerance for surgery mainly refers to the treatment measures for those diseases that affect the patient's surgery. Patients with severe anemia should be given blood transfusions before surgery. Patients with diabetes should control their blood sugar according to the severity of their condition. Surgery can only be performed after the diabetes is under control.

4. Preoperative doctor-patient communication

It is very important to communicate with the patient and his/her family before the operation. The patient and his/her family should be informed of the necessity of the operation, the purpose of the specific measures or plans, the impact of the operation on the patient during and after the operation, and the details of the safety of the operation and the purpose of the corresponding preoperative preparation. The purpose is to enhance the confidence of the operation and gain the trust of the patient and his/her family and their close cooperation in the treatment.

5. Others

For rectal cancer and anal canal cancer located below the peritoneal fold, if the lesion is closely related to the prostate, bladder or vagina, preparations should be made for full pelvic or posterior pelvic organ resection, including understanding the condition of the bladder, ureter and kidney. For cases requiring vaginal and hysterectomy, vaginal medication, vaginal washing and disinfection should be performed before surgery. In addition, a urinary catheter should be placed before surgery for all patients undergoing colorectal cancer surgery to facilitate intraoperative pelvic exposure, drainage and monitoring of urine during and after surgery, etc.