Whole-process nursing management for laparo-gastroscopic esophagectomy.

Background: Advances in surgical, anesthesia, and nursing techniques have allowed the development of laparo-gastroscopic esophagectomy (LGE) as a minimally invasive treatment of esophageal cancer. This study summarizes the experience of patient whole-process nursing management for patients who received LGE. Methods: The implementation of LGE at Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, was initiated in June 2020. The procedure is indicated for patients with thoracic conditions that can compromise the outcomes of traditional surgical procedures, and is performed coordinately by thoracic surgeons and endoscopists. A whole-process nursing protocol covering peri-operative patient management was proposed based on the LGE procedure. The operative outcomes were analyzed in this study. Results: The data of 10 consecutive patients who received LGE and the whole-process nursing protocol were analyzed, and all patients were compliant with the nursing protocol. Intra-operatively, there were no complications or conversions to other surgical methods. Post-operatively, pulmonary complications occurred in 2 cases [1 patient experienced aspiration, underwent preventive tracheotomy, and was discharged on postoperative day (POD) 10; 1 patient developed a left pleural effusion requiring puncture and drainage, and was discharged on POD 7]. The 30-day mortality was not recorded from the primary LGE cohort. Conclusions: The whole-process nursing protocol showed safety and feasibility for patients who underwent LGE. In the future, more specialized and whole-process nursing management will be carried out for patients undergoing such operations.

The effect of a novel slow-flow irrigation drainage tube on anastomotic leakage and empyema after the resection of esophageal or gastroesophageal junction cancer.

BACKGROUND: Anastomotic leakage with empyema is one of the most severe complications of esophagectomy. We invented a new type of slow-flow irrigation drainage tube to improve the smooth pleural drainage, which contributed to the recovery of anastomotic leakage. METHODS: In this study, 42 patients, from 2012 to 2019, who underwent esophagectomy and postoperative anastomotic leakage with persistent empyema, were enrolled and distributed into irrigation drainage tube group (I+) or non-irrigation drainage tube group (I-). In (I+) group, the slow-flow irrigation drainage tube was placed along the primary pleural drainage tube into the empyema cavity, irrigated with normal saline. Clinicopathological features and perioperative complications of all patients were collected and compared to determine the differences between the two groups with statistical analysis. RESULTS: All 20 patients were distributed into (I+) group and 22 into (I-) group. The two groups were comparable in clinicopathological features. When compared with (I-) group, patients in (I+) group achieved significantly shorter healing duration and postoperative hospital stay. The complications resulting from anastomotic leakage in (I+) group were relatively fewer than those in (I-) group, including postoperative bleeding (0 vs. 1) and pulmonary complications (7 vs. 13). Moreover, 5 reoperations for rescuing bleeding or severe thoracic infection were performed in (I-) group, while none in (I+) group. CONCLUSIONS: The slow-flow irrigation drainage tube is a safe and effective treatment of anastomotic leakage and empyema. Additional prospective study is required to furtherly determine the improvement of drainage and extended application in deep infections located in thorax.

Clinical outcome of standardized oxygen therapy nursing strategy in COVID-19.

BACKGROUND: Novel coronavirus pneumonia (COVID-19) has become a global pandemic. However, a technical standard for oxygen therapy nursing, as well as how this would improve clinical outcomes and symptoms, is yet to be explored. METHODS: From February 9, 2020, to March 31, 2020, 58 patients of confirmed COVID-19 were admitted to the 20th ward of the Eastern Branch, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University. Fifteen patients who did not receive oxygen therapy and 13 patients who were transferred from other hospitals were excluded. The rest of the 30 patients that received standardized oxygen therapy in our unit were included in the study. Baseline characteristics, symptoms, and finger pulse oxygen saturation were collected during hospitalization. RESULTS: Clinical outcomes of the 30 patients were as follows: 27 patients (90.00%) were cured and discharged; 3 patients (10.00%) who continued to stay in hospital were stabilized with symptoms relieved. The fingertip oxygen saturation was 94.80%±3.49% at ICU admission and 97.8%±1.27% when transferred out of ICU after standardized oxygen therapy (P<0.005). The symptoms of dyspnea, fatigue, and muscle aches of the patients were improved when transferred out of ICU, compared with their condition when admitted to ICU (P<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: The standardized oxygen therapy nursing strategy for patients with COVID-19 emphasizes the nursing measurement, which focuses on the patient's oxygenation. It is led by nurses and starts oxygen therapy at an earlier stage. It not only improves the clinical outcomes of critical patients but also effectively reduces the infection risk of medical staff while emphasizing nursing quality management.