Bowel symptoms and self-care strategies of survivors in the process of restoration after low anterior resection of rectal cancer

Lishi Yin,Chao Zhang,Renfu Tan,Yanhong Zou,Fenglin Jiang,Yaowen Zhang,Ling Fan,Guifang Zhang,Guangjing Yang,Jun Ma,Yamei Wang,Yang Yan

doi:10.1186/s12893-018-0368-5

Lishi Yin, Chao Zhang + Show 10 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.1186/s12893-018-0368-5

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Abstract

BackgroundThe purpose of this research is to identify the bowel symptoms and self-care strategies for rectal cancer survivors during the recovery process following low anterior resection surgery.MethodsA total of 100 participants were investigated under the structured interview guide based on the dimensions of “symptom management theory”.Results92% of participants reported changes in bowel habits, the most common being the frequent bowel movements and narrower stools, which we named it finger-shaped consistency stools. The 6 most frequently reported bowel symptoms were excessive flatus (93%), clustering (86%), urgency (77%), straining (62%), bowel frequency (57%) and anal pendant expansion (53%). Periodic bowel movements occurred in 19% participants. For a group of 79 participants at 6 to 24 months post-operation, 86.1% reported a significant improvement of bowel symptoms. Among 68 participants of this subgroup with significant improvements, 70.5% participants reported the length of time it took was at least 6 months. Self-care strategies adopted by participants included diet, bowel medications, practice management and exercise.ConclusionsIt is necessary to educate patients on the symptoms experienced following low anterior resection surgery. Through the process of trial and error, participants have acquired self-care strategies. Healthcare professionals should learn knowledge of such strategies and help them build effective interventions.

Highlights

The purpose of this research is to identify the bowel symptoms and self-care strategies for rectal cancer survivors during the recovery process following low anterior resection surgery
The purpose of this article is to explore the bowel symptoms and self-care strategies for survivors of rectal cancer during low anterior resection (LAR) postoperative recovery using a structured interview guideline based on the “Symptom Management Theory” dimension
Enrolled 100 patients. 69 of the respondents participated in the telephone interview and 31 participants participated in a face-to-face interview

Summary

Introduction

The purpose of this research is to identify the bowel symptoms and self-care strategies for rectal cancer survivors during the recovery process following low anterior resection surgery. With the overall 5-year overall survival rate of rectal cancer increasing, more and more researches focus on the resection of tumor and on postoperative quality of life (QOL) after surgery. Following SPS, bowel dysfunction, called low anterior resection syndrome, is a common and trouble problem. It is characterized by frequency, urgency, incontinence, and clustering (another bowel movement within one hour of last bowel movement), affecting more than 90% of patients who undergo a low anterior resection (LAR) [2]. Risk factors for developing bowel dysfunction are low-level anastomosis, end-to-end anastomosis, anastomotic leakage, acute or chronic inflammation, surgical autonomic denervation, loss of the rectal reservoir

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