In their own words: recovery after emergency general surgery in the older patient.
emergency general surgery
recovery
Journal
Trauma surgery & acute care open
ISSN: 2397-5776
Titre abrégé: Trauma Surg Acute Care Open
Pays: England
ID NLM: 101698646
Informations de publication
Date de publication:
2023
2023
Historique:
received:
09
03
2023
accepted:
11
05
2023
medline:
21
6
2023
pubmed:
21
6
2023
entrez:
21
6
2023
Statut:
epublish
Résumé
Emergency general surgery (EGS) conditions, such as perforated intestines or complicated hernias, can lead to significant postoperative morbidity and mortality. We sought to understand the recovery experience of older patients at least 1 year after EGS to identify key factors for a successful long-term recovery. We conducted semi-structured interviews to explore recovery experiences of patients and their caregivers after admission for an EGS procedure. We screened patients who were aged 65 years or older at the time of an EGS operation, admitted at least 7 days, and still alive and able to consent at least 1 year postoperatively. We interviewed the patients, their primary caregiver, or both. Interview guides were developed to explore medical decision making, patient goals and expectations surrounding recovery after EGS, and to identify barriers and facilitators of recovery. Interviews were recorded and transcribed, and we used an inductive thematic approach to analysis. We performed 15 interviews (11 patients and 4 caregivers). Patients wanted to return to their prior quality of life, or 'get back to normal.' Family was key in providing both instrumental support (eg, for daily tasks such as cooking, driving, wound care) and emotional support. Provision of temporary support was key to the recovery of many patients. Although most patients returned to their prior lifestyle, some also experienced depression, persistent abdominal effects, pain, or decreased stamina. When asked about medical decision making, patients expressed viewing the decision for having an operation not as a choice but, rather, the only rational option to treat a severe symptom or life-threating illness. There is an opportunity in healthcare to provide better education for older patients and their caregivers around instrumental and emotional support to bolster successful recovery after emergency surgery. Qualitative study, level II.
Identifiants
pubmed: 37342818
doi: 10.1136/tsaco-2023-001138
pii: tsaco-2023-001138
pmc: PMC10277530
doi:
Types de publication
Journal Article
Langues
eng
Pagination
e001138Informations de copyright
© Author(s) (or their employer(s)) 2023. Re-use permitted under CC BY-NC. No commercial re-use. See rights and permissions. Published by BMJ.
Déclaration de conflit d'intérêts
Competing interests: None declared.
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