Effects of Nursing Care Using a Fast-Track Surgery Approach in 49 Patients with Early-Stage Hepatocellular Carcinoma Undergoing First-Line Treatment with Radiofrequency Ablation: A Retrospective Study

BACKGROUND Fast-track surgery (FTS), also known as enhanced recovery after surgery (ERAS), includes a coordinated perioperative approach to patient care that aims to facilitate postoperative recovery. The role of nursing care is central to the concept of FTS. This retrospective study aimed to evaluate the effects of nursing care using an FTS approach in 49 patients with early-stage hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) undergoing first-line treatment with radiofrequency ablation (RFA). MATERIAL AND METHODS A retrospective analysis was made of 49 patients with early-stage hepatocellular carcinoma who underwent first-line treatment with radiofrequency ablation in the Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery in our hospital from January 2020 to December 2021. The nurses have been nursing the patients in accordance with the requirements of FTS from 2021. Compared with the data of patients receiving traditional nursing, the detailed differences in postoperative recovery, pain score, complication rate, liver and kidney function, and nursing satisfaction were analyzed. RESULTS After applying the FTS nursing model, the patients had significantly shorter time to first flatus, infusion, postoperative hospital stay, and lower total hospitalization expenses (P<0.05). Moreover, the Numerical Pain Rating Scale score was lower than that in the control group, the postoperative complications in the 2021 group were lower than those in the 2020 group, and the nursing satisfaction was also better than that of the 2020 group (P<0.05). CONCLUSIONS Nursing care using a fast-track surgery approach with early-stage hepatocellular carcinoma patients undergoing first-line treatment with radiofrequency ablation is better than conventional nursing, and improves recovery of patients.