FACTORS PREDICTING BOWEL FUNCTION RECOVERY IN PATIENTS AFTER OPEN COLORECTAL RESECTION SURGERY

Abstract

Objective: To study factors predicting bowel function recovery in patients after open colorectal resection surgery. Methods: This study is a descriptive research design. The sample group consisted of 104 patients who were operated with open colorectal resection technique at 4 tertiary hospitals in Bangkok, Thailand, from May to December 2012. The data were collected by using the demographic data form, the first feeding and ambulatory record form, the State Anxiety Inventory, and the bowel function recovery score. Descriptive statistics, Pearson’s Product Moment Correlation, and Hierarchical regression were utilized for data analysis. Results: The results of the study showed that preoperative serum albumin and anesthetic technique had positive relationship with bowel function recovery (r = .407 and r = .556, p < .01). Age and operative time had negative relationship with bowel function recovery (r = -.535 and r = -.592, p < .01). In addition, the time for beginning oral diet and first ambulation after operation had a significant and negative relationship with bowel function recovery (r = -.215 and r = -.230, p < .05), whereas preoperative anxiety was not related with bowel function recovery (r = .072, p > .05). Finally, operative time, age, time for beginning oral diet, anesthetic technique, time for first ambulation, and preoperative serum albumin could predict bowel function recovery in patients after open colorectal resection surgery, accounting for 58% of the variance (R2 = .580, p < .01). Conclusion: The data of age, preoperative serum albumin, anesthetic technique, and duration of operation can be used as a basic data for patient care. Particularly, the early postoperative oral feeding and ambulation can promote the recovery of bowel function.