Abstracts Posters SICOT-SOF meeting Gothenburg 2010 _2_

Poster
Topic: Spine
Abstract number: 23991
POST-OPERATIVE ORAL INTAKE REGIME FOLLOWING LUMBAR
DECOMPRESSION-FUSION SURGERY
Rajeshkumar KAKWANI, Yogesh PARASHAR, Shashi ROYSAM, Anthony CROSS
Sunderland Hospital, Newcastle Upon Tyne (UNITED KINGDOM)
Introduction: Lumbar decompression-fusion surgery involves extensive surgery in
prone position and is associated with significant post-op ileus. We compared the
post-operative oral intake regimes of our two spinal firms over a 6 months period.
Methods and materials: The post operative oral intake was commenced as soon as
the bowel sounds started in one firm. In the other firm, the oral intake was started
only after the patient passed wind. There were 28 patients in the first group (bowel
sounds) and 27 patients in the second group (passage of wind). The two groups
were comparable for age and sex distribution. The average age was 69 yrs, and the
male: female ratio was 1.2:1. Results: The bowel sounds were found to start on an
average of 8.5 hours (6-16 hours) post-operatively. The average time between the
operation and the patient passing wind was 26 hours (18-73 hours). The patients
who were on Patient Controlled Analgesia (PCA) were found to have a delayed
passage of wind. There was no significant correlation between the number of fusion
levels or the operative time and commencement of bowel sounds/ passage of wind.
Discussion: The patient satisfaction rate was much better when the oral intake was
commenced as soon as the bowel sounds start, although they had more bloating of
the abdomen. The incidence of nausea / vomiting was significantly less in the group
in which the oral intake was commenced following patient passing wind.
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