Bowel management post major joint arthroplasty: results from a randomised controlled trial. Issue 2 (May 2015)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Ross-Adjie, Gail M.; Monterosso, Leanne; Bulsara, Max
• Is Part Of: International journal of orthopaedic and trauma nursing. Volume 19:Issue 2(2015:May)
• Page Start: 92
• Page End: 101
• Publication Date: 2015-05
• Subjects: Orthopedic nursing -- Periodicals; Wounds and injuries -- Nursing -- Periodicals; 616.7023105
• DOI: 10.1016/j.ijotn.2014.04.002
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1878-1241

Abstract

<abstract abstract-type="author" id="ab0010"> <title id="st0010">Abstract</title> <sec> <title id="st0015">Aim</title> <p id="sp0010">To evaluate the effect of a new post-operative bowel protocol in total hip and total knee replacement patients.</p> </sec> <sec> <title id="st0020">Background</title> <p id="sp0015">Up to 65% of total hip and total knee replacement patients experience some degree of constipation post-operatively. A lack of robust evidence to guide bowel management and reduce constipation in this cohort was the impetus for this study.</p> </sec> <sec> <title id="st0025">Design</title> <p id="sp0020">A multisite cluster randomised trial in private secondary and tertiary hospitals.</p> </sec> <sec> <title id="st0030">Methods</title> <p id="sp0025">In total 331 patients were recruited across seven Australian hospitals over 13 months. Control participants (<italic>n</italic> = 171) received routine bowel management whilst intervention participants (<italic>n</italic> = 160) received bowel management as per the trial protocol.</p> </sec> <sec> <title id="st0035">Results</title> <p id="sp0030">Intervention patients took 6 days less than controls to return to normal bowel function, and were more than seven times more likely to return to normal bowel function by day 5 post operatively. Age, gender and length of pre-operative fasting had no effect on these outcomes.</p> </sec> <sec> <title id="st0040">Conclusion</title> <p id="sp0035">These results support the use of the Murdoch Bowel Protocol<sup>®</sup> for hip and knee replacement patients and may be relevant for other patient groups who experience opioid induced bowel dysfunction.</p> </sec> </abstract>