A Literature Review of Benefits of Postoperative Ambulation in Patients Over Age 65
Abstract
Postoperative ambulation (walking) is an intervention performed by nurses in the healthcare setting to promote the recovery process after surgery. Elderly patients that undergo surgery are more at risk for developing postoperative complications compared to the younger population. Complications can include pneumonia, urinary retention, ileus, blood clots, and surgical site infections. Such complications can be deadly. When patients experience postoperative complications, they have prolonged hospital stays which lead to unexpected and costly medical expenses and slow their recovery process. Postoperative complications especially impact elderly patients as their overall health may decline. Ambulation techniques are a key intervention in preventing these complications. These techniques include the distance that patients ambulate, number of ambulation occurrences, and length of time between surgery and first ambulation. Finding ways to inform nurses’ practices in prioritizing early ambulation in postoperative elderly patients may decrease poorer health outcomes and prevent the use of unnecessary resources. We are conducting a review of the literature surrounding the topic of the benefits of postoperative ambulation in patients over age 65. The importance of this review is to evaluate the efficacy of postoperative ambulation in relation to length of hospital stay or rehabilitation admission. The aim of this review is to explore published research on current practices around ambulation techniques. Using the PRISMA technique for this literature search, we are examining research findings on early ambulation after surgery within the elderly patient population and its effect, if any, on the length of stay in the hospital or rehab admission. Our review is currently in process.
A Literature Review of Benefits of Postoperative Ambulation in Patients Over Age 65
CNS Atrium
Postoperative ambulation (walking) is an intervention performed by nurses in the healthcare setting to promote the recovery process after surgery. Elderly patients that undergo surgery are more at risk for developing postoperative complications compared to the younger population. Complications can include pneumonia, urinary retention, ileus, blood clots, and surgical site infections. Such complications can be deadly. When patients experience postoperative complications, they have prolonged hospital stays which lead to unexpected and costly medical expenses and slow their recovery process. Postoperative complications especially impact elderly patients as their overall health may decline. Ambulation techniques are a key intervention in preventing these complications. These techniques include the distance that patients ambulate, number of ambulation occurrences, and length of time between surgery and first ambulation. Finding ways to inform nurses’ practices in prioritizing early ambulation in postoperative elderly patients may decrease poorer health outcomes and prevent the use of unnecessary resources. We are conducting a review of the literature surrounding the topic of the benefits of postoperative ambulation in patients over age 65. The importance of this review is to evaluate the efficacy of postoperative ambulation in relation to length of hospital stay or rehabilitation admission. The aim of this review is to explore published research on current practices around ambulation techniques. Using the PRISMA technique for this literature search, we are examining research findings on early ambulation after surgery within the elderly patient population and its effect, if any, on the length of stay in the hospital or rehab admission. Our review is currently in process.