Effect of high-quality nursing care on postoperative complications and quality of life for patients undergoing common bile duct exploration.

Abstract

Background: Complications following common bile duct exploration for managing gallstones or choledocholithiasis negatively impact patients' quality of life. Occasionally, high-quality nursing care is necessary to either improve the outcome or to avoid life-threatening consequences.

Aim: This study aimed to evaluate the effect of high-quality nursing care on postoperative complications and quality of life for patients who underwent common bile duct exploration.

Patients and method: A quasi-experimental research design was utilized. The study was conducted in the Hepatobiliary Surgical unit at Al-Rajhi Liver Hospital and the general surgery department at Assiut University Hospital. A purposive sample of sixty adult patients, whose ages ranged from 20 to 65 years, who underwent common bile duct exploration were included in the study. Patients were randomly divided into two equal groups (study and control) 30 patients for each.

Tools: Tool (I): patient's assessment form, Tool (II): Postoperative complications evaluation record, and Tool (III): Abdominal surgery impact scale.

Results: Wound infection and T -Tube problems demonstrated a statistically significant difference between the two groups on follow-up as it occurred in (36.7%, and 26.7%) of the control group compared to (6.7%, and 3.3%) of the study group. Also, there was a significant improvement in total mean scores of QoL among the study group as it increased from 54.4 ± 22.11 on pre-intervention to 77.8 ± 6.15 post (P.value 0.001**).

Conclusion: High-quality nursing care proved to be effective in reducing the incidence of postoperative complications and improving quality of life among the study group compared to the control group.

Recommendations: Nevertheless, high-quality nursing care is crucial and should serve as the basis for routine nursing care for patients undergoing common bile duct exploration.