Nursing Management of Post-Operative Colorectal Cancer

Colorectal cancer is a malignant tumor arising in the epithelial tissue of the colon / rectum.

Colorectal tumors are generally adenocarcinomas that develop from adenoma polyp.

Cause of Colorectal Cancer is not known for certain, but there are predisposing factors consisting of:

• Age over 40 years
• Family history
• History of cancer in other parts of the body
• Benign polyps, colorectal polyps, adenomatous polyps, or adenomas villus
• Ulcerative colitis is more than 20 years
• Sedentary Life style, smoking, obesity.
• Eating habits of high cholesterol / fat and protein (meat) and low in fiber / Refined Carbohydrates that cause changes in faecal flora and the change of bile salts degradation or breakdown products of protein and fat which are carcinogenic.

Post-Operative of Colorectal Cancer

1. Routine care for the surgical client. Monitor vital signs and intake and output, including gastric and other drainage from the wound drain. Assess bleeding from abdominal and perineal incision, colostomy, or anus. Evaluation of the other wound complications and maintain the integrity of psychology.
2. Monitor bowel sounds and abdominal distension degrees. Surgical manipulation of the intestinal peristaltic manghentikan, cause ileus. Absence of bowel sounds and passage of flatus indication of the return of peristaltic.
3. Drugs reduce pain and provide a sense of comfort as checking the position change
4. Assess respiratory status, prop abdomen with a blanket or pillow to help cough
5. Assess the position and patency of NGT, linkage suction. When folded hoses, irrigation with sterile saline carefully.
6. Assess the color, number, and the smell of drainage and colostomy (if any) noted various changes or clot or bleeding bright red.
7. Avoid mounting rectal temperature, rectal suppository or other procedure might damage the anal suture line, causing bleeding, infection or impaired healing.
8. Maintain intravenous fluids when they do naso gastric suction
9. Giving antacid, histamine 2 receptor antagonists and antibiotic therapy is recommended. Depending on the procedure performed. Antibiotic therapy to prevent infection due to contamination of the abdominal cavity with bowel contents.
10. Encourage ambulation to stimulate peristaltic
11. Began teaching and discharge planning. Consult with a nutritionist for diet instructions and menus, give reinforcement teaching.

The purpose of post-operative care:

1. Wound care
2. Client education and home care considerations
3. Positive body image
4. Monitoring and management of complications

Read More : http://screware.blogspot.com/2013/06/nursing-management-of-colorectal-cancer.html