Rapid rehabilitation nursing in postoperative patients with colorectal cancer and quality of life

This study investigated the application of rapid rehabilitation nursing in postoperative patients with colorectal cancer (CRC) and its effect on quality of life (QOL). A prospective analysis was performed on 154 patients with CRC, after radical resection in The Central Hospital of Wuhan from February 2011 to April 2015. During the perioperative period, 96 patients (study group) received fast-track surgery (FTS) and 58 patients (control group) received routine surgery. The postoperative data of patients in the two groups were analyzed in terms of the first anus exhaustion time, the first time getting out of bed, first time eating liquid food, first defecation time, the time of drainage tube removal, time of gastric tube removal, time of suture removal, hospital stay and surgical expenses. Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) was used to assess postoperative pain. The re-hospitalization rate, the incidence of complications 30 days after operation, the survival and QOL scores were analyzed. After discharge patients were followed up for 3 years to observe the 3-year overall survival (OS). VAS scores were lower in the study group than that in the control group at 6, 12, 24, 48 and 72 h after operation (P<0.05). The re-hospitalization rate and incidence of complications 30 days after operation were lower in the study group than those in the control group (P<0.05). Before nursing, there was no statistically significant difference in QOL score between the two groups (P>0.05), whereas after 3 and 12 months of nursing, QOL score was significantly higher in the study group than that in the control group (P<0.05). QOL score in the two groups increased with time, and there were differences between the two groups at each time-point (P<0.05). There was no significant difference in the 3-year OS between the two groups (P>0.05). In conclusion, effectively improving patients' psychological state, reducing complications and relieving pain, the FTS during the perioperative period of CRC surgery promotes postoperative rehabilitation, reduces economic pressures and improves QOL.