Abstract:
This Quasi-experimental research aims to: 1) compare abdominal distension among open appendectomy patients between treatment and control groups 2) compare time to first bowel movements, time to first defecation and the length of hospital stay after an appendectomy. Thirty patients who underwent an open appendectomy at Vajira Hospital during June 2013 June 2014 were recruited to this study. Data were collected by using a patient information form, time to bowel movement record form, postoperative ileus assessment and a related outcomes form. These instruments were developed by the researcher based on the literature review. The program consisted of gum chewing , early ambulation, and early feeding. The study revealed that 1) at 24, 48 and 72 hours after the surgery, abdominal distention was at a low level in both groups with average scores of 37.07 (SD=24.23), 22.67 (SD=16.99) and 9.40(SD=16.99) in the control group and 36.47 (SD=24.25), 21.93 (SD=18.42) and 8.00(SD=14.03) in the treatment group. There were no statistical differences at a significance level of p < 0.05. The number of patients who reported abdominal distention at 24, 48 and 72 hours after surgery were similar in both groups with the number of 14(93.33%), 12(70%) and 9(60%), respectively. 2) the average post-operative time to first bowel movement was 14.54 (SD=6.47) hour in the control group and 15.78 (SD=6.95) hour in the treatment group, the average post-operative time to first defecation was 6.72 (SD=21.88) hour in the control group and 55.20 (SD=20.15) hour in the treatment group. The average length of hospital stay was 57.47(SD=15.04) hour in the control group and 45 (SD=16.48) in the treatment group with no statistical difference at a significance level of p < 0.05.