Effects of preoperative walking on bowel function recovery for patients undergoing gynecological malignancy laparoscopy

Abstract

To investigate effects of preoperative walking on bowel function recovery for patients after gynecological malignancy laparoscopy. The 156 patients with gynecoligical cancers after laparoscopy in Jiangsu from June 2020 to September 2021 were selected as research subjects, who were randomized into an experimental group (n = 78) and a control group (n = 78). Both of the groups received routine nursing care during the study. In addition, the experimental group underwent low‐moderate intensity walking exercise 1 week before surgery. The bowel function (including the time of first defecation, the time of first passage of flatus/”gas‐out time” and the recovery time of bowel sound), adverse events (nausea, vomiting abdominal distension and abdominal pain), as well as postoperative complications (ileus symptoms, deep venous thrombosis, infections and etc.), were measured daily. The time of first defecation, the time of first passage of flatus and the recovery time of bowel sound in experimental group were less than the control group after treatment (p < .05). Repeated measures analysis of variance showed that the adverse reactions (nausea, vomiting, abdominal distension, abdominal pain, and ileus symptoms) of the experimental group were weaker than those of the control group at different time points after the intervention (p < .05). Walking before surgery can effectively promote the recovery of bowel function and reduce the adverse reactions, as well as the risk of ileus related to gynecological malignancy laparoscopy.