Effect of rapid rehabilitation nursing on improving clinical outcomes in postoperative patients with colorectal cancer

Abstract

BACKGROUND Surgical resection is the cornerstone treatment for colorectal cancer. Rapid rehabilitation care predicated on evidence-based medical theory aims to improve postoperative nursing care, subsequently reducing the physical and mental traumatic stress response and helping patients who undergo surgery recover rapidly. AIM To assess the effect of rapid rehabilitation care on clinical outcomes, including overall postoperative complications, anastomotic leaks, wound infections, and intestinal obstruction in patients with colorectal cancer. METHODS We searched the PubMed, Web of Science, Embase, Elsevier Science Direct, and Springer Link databases from January 1, 2010, to January 1, 2024, to screen eligible studies on rapid rehabilitation care among patients who underwent colorectal cancer surgery. Patients were screened based on the inclusion and exclusion criteria. RevMan 5.4 software was used for statistical analysis of the data. RESULTS Twelve studies were enrolled, which included 2420 patients. The results showed that rapid rehabilitation care decreased the incidence of overall postoperative complications (OR: 0.44, 95%CI: 0.26–0.74, P = 0.002), anastomotic leaks (OR: 0.68, 95%CI: 0.41–1.12, P = 0.13), wound infections (OR: 0.45, 95%CI: 0.29–0.72, P = 0.0007), and intestinal obstruction (OR: 0.54, 95%CI: 0.34–0.86, P = 0.01) compared to conventional care. Further trials and studies are needed to confirm these results. CONCLUSION Rapid rehabilitation care decreased the occurrence of postoperative complications, anastomotic leaks, wound infections, and intestinal obstruction compared to conventional care in patients who underwent colorectal surgery. Therefore, promoting the application of rapid rehabilitation care in clinical practice cannot be overemphasized.