Management of pain and nausea in outpatient surgery.
The cost associated with surgical procedures has been dramatically decreased by the ability to perform these procedures on an outpatient basis. Pain and nausea, two common symptoms after anesthesia and surgical procedures, are among the greatest concerns for patients and their family members. As a result of the distress and sequelae associated with these symptoms, clinicians have attempted to determine the optimal intraoperative and postoperative symptom management for patients. The purpose of this quality improvement project was to describe the incidence of these symptoms and their management in patients who underwent planned outpatient surgical procedures in a cancer center. A sample of 39 patients were accrued at a comprehensive cancer center over a 3-month period. Data were collected at three specific time points (i.e., preoperatively, at 24 hours and at 7 days postoperatively). Postoperative pain and nausea were generally well managed, but improvement was needed in preoperative patient teaching, including the topics of drug and nondrug interventions. The methods used in this project have potential application for the measurement of other clinical outcomes after outpatient surgical procedures.
Juarez
Gloria
G
Department of Nursing Research and Education, City of Hope National Medical Center, Duarte, CA 91010, USA. gjuarez@coh.org
Cullinane
Carey A
CA
Borneman
Tami
T
Falabella
Andres
A
Ferrell
Betty R
BR
Wagman
Lawrence D
LD
Lew
Michael
M
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000556:Ambulatory Surgical Procedures / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000451:nursing / Q000523:psychology / Q000592:standards*; D001294:Attitude to Health; D002173:Cancer Care Facilities; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D020380:Needs Assessment; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000451:nursing / Q000523:psychology / Q000601:surgery; D015403:Nursing Evaluation Research; D015404:Nursing Methodology Research; D017063:Outcome Assessment, Health Care; D010149:Postoperative Pain / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000523:psychology; D010353:Patient Education as Topic / Q000592:standards; D019990:Perioperative Care / Q000451:nursing / Q000523:psychology / Q000592:standards*; D020250:Postoperative Nausea and Vomiting / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000523:psychology; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D017749:Total Quality Management