Evaluation of perioperative standard of care among patients with peripheral arterial occlusive disease

Assurance of professional nursing care among patients with atherosclerosis is one of the most important conditions of effective surgical treatment. Implementation of a standard of care increases efficacy of nursing activities and medical care quality.
Aim: The aim of the study was to determine the degree of nursing activities among patients with atherosclerosis of lower limbs during the perioperative period.
Material and methods: Fifty patients were included in the study; mean age 61.5 years (range 45-79 years). All patients were hospitalized in the Department of Surgery of Biziel Memorial Hospital in Bydgoszcz, Poland. All patients underwent surgical procedure due to lower limb atherosclerosis.
Results: The majority of patients, 31 (62%), obtained high degree of standard realization (75-100%) of nursing activities. Level of realization of individual activities varied dependently on the perioperative period. Differences were statistically significant with p<0.05. Nursing activities were focused on: on the first and second day before the procedure on assurance of proper position which decreased the level of pain (95% realization); during the procedure day on monitoring of life parameters and drug administration (100% realization); and during subsequent postoperative days on drug administration and proper position assurance (about 97% realization).
Conclusions: Results of the study indicate that care standard implementation assures high level of nursing care realization. The degree of realization of individual nursing care activities was dependent on the phase of treatment and associated state of the patient – higher levels of standard realization were observed during the postoperative period.