Whole-process nursing management for laparo-gastroscopic esophagectomy.

Background: Advances in surgical, anesthesia, and nursing techniques have allowed the development of laparo-gastroscopic esophagectomy (LGE) as a minimally invasive treatment of esophageal cancer. This study summarizes the experience of patient whole-process nursing management for patients who received LGE.

Methods: The implementation of LGE at Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, was initiated in June 2020. The procedure is indicated for patients with thoracic conditions that can compromise the outcomes of traditional surgical procedures, and is performed coordinately by thoracic surgeons and endoscopists. A whole-process nursing protocol covering peri-operative patient management was proposed based on the LGE procedure. The operative outcomes were analyzed in this study.

Results: The data of 10 consecutive patients who received LGE and the whole-process nursing protocol were analyzed, and all patients were compliant with the nursing protocol. Intra-operatively, there were no complications or conversions to other surgical methods. Post-operatively, pulmonary complications occurred in 2 cases [1 patient experienced aspiration, underwent preventive tracheotomy, and was discharged on postoperative day (POD) 10; 1 patient developed a left pleural effusion requiring puncture and drainage, and was discharged on POD 7]. The 30-day mortality was not recorded from the primary LGE cohort.

Conclusions: The whole-process nursing protocol showed safety and feasibility for patients who underwent LGE. In the future, more specialized and whole-process nursing management will be carried out for patients undergoing such operations.