Nursing Care of Patients Undergoing Operation for Diabetic Retinopathy

As people's living standards improve, the incidence of diabetes is also increasing year by year. Diabetic retinopathy is one of the common complications of diabetes, which seriously affects the quality of life of patients. For patients with diabetic retinopathy who need surgical treatment, the importance of nursing work is self-evident.

1. Preoperative care

1. Psychological care: Since most patients with diabetic retinopathy are elderly, have a long course of disease, and have severe vision loss, coupled with concerns about the effectiveness of surgery and postoperative recovery, they are often prone to negative emotions such as anxiety and depression. Nursing staff should understand the patient's psychological condition through communication, counseling, health education, etc., provide appropriate psychological support, help patients build confidence, and actively cooperate with treatment.

2. Eye preparation: Before the operation, the eyes should be examined, including vision, intraocular pressure, fundus, etc., in order to understand the patient's eye condition. At the same time, the eyes should be kept clean to avoid eye infection.

3. General preparation: Before surgery, the patient should undergo a comprehensive physical examination, including blood sugar, blood pressure, electrocardiogram, etc., in order to understand the patient's general condition. For patients with underlying diseases such as hypertension and diabetes, active treatment should be given to control the condition.

4. Dietary care: Patients should be guided to eat a reasonable diet before surgery and avoid eating foods high in sugar, fat, salt, etc. to reduce the incidence of postoperative complications.

2. Intraoperative Care

1. Patient preparation: Patients should take off contact lenses, jewelry and other items and change into surgical gowns before entering the operating room. Nursing staff should check the patient's identity information, inform the patient of surgical precautions, and comfort the patient.

2. Eye protection: During the operation, the patient's eyes must be protected to avoid compression or damage. At the same time, the patient's vital signs and eye conditions must be closely observed, and any abnormalities must be reported to the doctor in a timely manner.

3. Cooperate with the doctor: During the operation, the nursing staff should actively cooperate with the doctor to ensure the smooth progress of the operation.

3. Postoperative Care

1. Observation of the condition: After surgery, the patient's vital signs and eye condition, including vision, intraocular pressure, wound healing, etc., should be closely observed so that abnormal conditions can be discovered and handled in a timely manner. At the same time, nursing records should be kept to keep track of changes in the patient's condition at any time.

2. Diet care: After surgery, patients should be guided to eat a reasonable diet and maintain a balanced nutrition. It is recommended to eat more foods rich in antioxidants such as vitamin C, E, and β-carotene to promote wound healing. At the same time, avoid consuming irritating foods and drinks to avoid affecting wound healing.

3. Activity and rest: After surgery, patients should be given appropriate activities and rest according to their specific conditions. It is recommended that patients rest in the early postoperative period, and appropriate activities will help blood circulation and wound healing. However, strenuous exercise and heavy physical labor should be avoided to avoid affecting wound healing and vision recovery.

4. Eye protection: After surgery, the patient's eyes should be protected to avoid external impact or pressure. At the same time, avoid prolonged use of the eyes and excessive fatigue to avoid affecting the recovery of vision. Use eye drops or ointments under the guidance of a doctor to keep the eyes clean and dry.

5. Prevention and treatment of complications: Postoperative complications should be actively prevented and treated. Common complications include infection, bleeding, and increased intraocular pressure. Patients with infection should be given anti-infection treatment in a timely manner; patients with bleeding should be given timely hemostasis; patients with increased intraocular pressure should be given intraocular pressure-lowering drugs or surgical treatment in a timely manner.

4. Discharge Guidance

When a patient meets discharge criteria and is ready to leave the hospital, nursing staff need to give detailed discharge instructions to ensure that the patient can properly care for themselves at home.

1. Eye care: Instruct patients on how to clean their eyes properly to avoid eye infections. Emphasize that water should not be flushed directly into the eyes when washing the face. At the same time, patients should go to the hospital for regular eye examinations to detect and deal with any abnormalities in a timely manner.

2. Dietary guidance: Emphasize the importance of healthy diet, pay special attention to controlling sugar intake to prevent blood sugar fluctuations. Patients are advised to eat more foods rich in fiber, vitamins and minerals to maintain a balanced nutrition.

3. Exercise and rest: Guide the patient to do appropriate exercise to enhance physical fitness and promote blood circulation. At the same time, ensure adequate rest and avoid excessive fatigue. Pay attention to protecting the eyes during exercise to avoid injury.

4. Drug treatment: remind patients to take medicine on time and in the right dosage, and do not change the dosage or stop taking the medicine without authorization. If adverse drug reactions occur or the effect is not obvious, go to the hospital for treatment in time.

5. Follow-up and re-examination: Inform the patient to go to the hospital for regular follow-up and re-examination so that the doctor can adjust the treatment plan in time according to the changes in the condition. Remind the patient to keep the operation records and examination results for use during the follow-up.

Through the above detailed preoperative, intraoperative, postoperative and discharge guidance nursing plan, we can provide comprehensive nursing services for patients undergoing diabetic retinopathy surgery, promote their recovery and improve their quality of life. At the same time, it can also help patients better understand and cooperate with treatment, enhance their self-care ability and reduce the incidence of complications. ( Feng Yi, Hezhou People's Hospital, Guangxi )