Postoperative wound infections after a proctectomy-Patient experiences

• Published in: International journal of qualitative studies on health and well-being Vol. 11; no. 1; pp. 30393 - 9
• Main Authors: Hassel, Karin, Andersson, Kristin, Koinberg, Inga-Lill, Wennström, Berith
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States Taylor & Francis 01-01-2016; Taylor & Francis Ltd; Co-Action Publishing; Taylor & Francis Group
• Subjects: Activities of daily living; Age; Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Cancer therapies; Chemotherapy; Clinical medicine; Clinical nursing; Colon; Colorectal cancer; colorectal surgery; Communication; Content analysis; Disease; Empirical Study; Female; Funding; Healing; Hospitalization; Hospitals; Humans; Infections; Interviews; Lesions; Male; Middle Aged; Nursing; Ostomy; Pain; patient experiences; Patients; Perineal surgery; Perineum - surgery; Postoperative care; postoperative infections; Postoperative morbidity; Qualitative research; Quality of life; Recovery; Rectal Neoplasms - surgery; Retrospective Studies; Self care; Studies; Surgeons; Surgery; Surgical Wound Infection - therapy; symptoms; Womens health; Wound healing; Sweden; symptoms; colorectal surgery; patient experiences; Nursing; postoperative infections
• ISSN: 1748-2631; 1748-2623; 1748-2631
• DOI: 10.3402/qhw.v11.30393

Poor perineal wound healing and infections after proctectomy surgery cause a significant proportion of physical and psychological morbidities, such as pain, leakage, and abscesses. In the long run, some of these symptoms will lead to extended periods of hospitalization. These kinds of postoperative complications are also associated with delays in possible chemotherapy treatment. The aim of this study was to describe patient experiences of perineal wound infections following proctectomy due to rectal cancer, and the importance of the communication with and the self-care support from the nurse for these patients. Five women and five men (61-87 years, median age 71 years) were included and interviewed. A qualitative content analysis of the interviews was carried out and the following main categories emerged: "Managing postoperative complications," "Being independent," "Feeling safe," and "Accepting the situation." A perineal wound infection after a proctectomy is devastating for the individual patient. The limitations and changes to the patients' lives turn into new daily routines, which force them to find new ways to live and to accept the situation. For many of them, the infections remained for several months and, sometimes, for years. The ability to lead an independent life is drastically reduced, but through continuity in care it is possible to create a feeling of safety. Information, communication, and self-care support are all important and valuable factors for recovery. Specialized care containing an action plan is therefore needed in clinical practice to reduce the number of perineal wound infections postoperatively and should be initiated when the patient is discharged from the ward and continue until recovery.