Comfort, Targeted Nursing Boost Recovery in Colorectal Surgery

Patients with colorectal cancer (CRC) undergoing laparoscopic surgery experienced faster recovery, less pain, and higher satisfaction when comfort nursing was combined with targeted operating room care, according to a new study.¹ Moreover, researchers found the dual nursing approach lowered stress markers, shortened hospital stays, and improved long-term quality of life compared with standard nursing practices.

This retrospective study is published in Annali Italiani di Chirurgia.

Combining perioperative comfort care with targeted operating room nursing reduces stress, pain, and recovery times in patients with colorectal cancer, according to one study. | Image credit: Tyler Olson - stock.adobe.com

“Our study indicates that the application of comfort nursing combined with targeted operating room nursing during [the] perioperative period significantly reduces postoperative stress response in patients undergoing colorectal cancer surgery,” wrote the researchers of the study.

Laparoscopic surgery is a minimally invasive approach that offers several advantages over traditional open procedures, including smaller scars, less pain and discomfort, reduced infection risk, shorter hospital stays, and faster recovery times.² For patients with CRC, laparoscopic colectomy is often an effective option, depending on factors such as overall health, medical history, the stage and location of the cancer, and the surgeon’s expertise. During the procedure, carbon dioxide gas is used to gently inflate the abdomen, creating space for the surgeon to operate. A laparoscope provides real-time video to monitors, allowing the surgeon to guide instruments with precision. The tumor-containing portion of the colon or rectum is then removed through a slightly larger incision, helping patients return more quickly to their normal activities.

In this study, clinical data were collected from 165 patients who underwent laparoscopic CRC surgery between February 2022 and February 2024.¹ Patients were assigned to 2 groups based on the perioperative nursing method received: the control group (n = 80) received routine operating room nursing, while the experimental group (n = 85) received perioperative comfort nursing in addition to targeted operating room nursing. Outcomes were compared between groups, including surgical recovery indicators, stress response markers (serum amyloid A [SAA], interleukin-6 [IL-6], and C-reactive protein [CRP]), postoperative pain measured by the Visual Analog Scale, nursing satisfaction, and long-term follow-up measures such as Barthel index, Quality-of-Life Questionnaire Core 30, Hamilton Anxiety Scale, and Self-Rating Depression Scale.

Patients receiving comfort nursing combined with targeted operating room care had shorter postoperative times to first flatus, ambulation, oral intake, length of hospital stay, and anastomotic healing, and a lower infection rate (P < .05). On postoperative days 1 and 2, levels of SAA, IL-6, and CRP were elevated in both groups compared with preoperative levels, and the experimental group showed significantly lower stress marker levels (P < .05).

Additionally, pain scores were significantly lower on days 1, 3, and 7 after surgery in the experimental group (P < .05), and nursing satisfaction was higher (P < .05). At 6 months and 1 year post surgery, these patients also demonstrated better long-term outcomes, indicating improved functional recovery, quality of life, and psychological well-being (P < .05).

However, the researchers acknowledged some study limitations, including a small sample size and conducting their analysis at a single hospital center. Additionally, varying patient backgrounds, such as comorbid conditions and risk factors of postoperative complications, were not examined.

Despite these limitations, the researchers believe the study encourages the combined use of comfort nursing and targeted operating room nursing to improve surgical outcomes, reduce stress, alleviate postoperative pain, enhance nurse satisfaction, and promote patient recovery after laparoscopic surgery.

“Ultimately, the synergistic interaction between effective nursing care and consistent surgical performance plays a crucial role in improving postoperative recovery,” wrote the researchers.

References

1. Zeng Q, Yang J, Jiang L, et al. The impact of perioperative comfort nursing combined with targeted operating room nursing on postoperative stress response and nursing satisfaction in colorectal cancer patients. Ann Ital Chir. 2025;96(8):1089-1102. doi:10.62713/aic.4112

2. What is laparoscopic surgery? Colorectal Cancer Alliance. Accessed August 18, 2025. https://colorectalcancer.org/treatment/types-treatment/surgery/surgical-methods/laparoscopic-surgery