Influencing Factors of Gastrointestinal Function Recovery after Gastrointestinal Malignant Tumor.

Gastric cancer is a malignant tumor with a high incidence in the world, and the incidence rate only increases every year. Because of the loss of mental property caused by surgery and postoperative recovery treatment, it has become a difficult problem for many families to solve. Exploring the factors affecting the recovery of gastrointestinal function after surgery to accelerate the recovery has become one of the important research topics of current medical experts and scholars. The purpose of this article is to explore the factors affecting the recovery of gastrointestinal function after gastrointestinal malignancies. In this paper, firstly through experimental investigation, the fasting time and operation method of patients undergoing gastrointestinal malignant tumor surgery are used as variables to conduct a controlled experiment, and the first defecation time, exhaust time, and bowel sound recovery of the experimental subjects after surgery are recorded. Changes in time and other indicators are compared to verify whether they affect the recovery of gastrointestinal function. Experimental data showed that the recovery time of bowel sounds was 29.10 ± 11.09 h in patients with fasting time less than or equal to 2 days after operation, the time of first exhaustion was 28.75 ± 27.80 h, and the time of first defecation was 54.70 ± 39.40 h. The recovery time of bowel sounds in patients with fasting time longer than 2 days was 40.47 ± 9.40 h, the first exhaust time was 71.40 ± 17.54 h, and the first defecation time was 98.30 ± 28.16 h. Therefore, resuming diet as soon as possible after operation is beneficial to the recovery of gastrointestinal function in patients with gastrointestinal malignancies.

1. Introduction

Gastric cancer is one of the malignant tumors with the highest mortality rate in our country. Restoring gastrointestinal function after surgery can allow the body to get enough nutrition as soon as possible and improve the recovery rate, reduce the economic expenses of the family, and shorten the length of hospitalization [1, 2]. Long-term inhibition of gastrointestinal function after gastrointestinal malignancies will increase the incidence of postoperative complications such as intestinal adhesions, abdominal contractions, anatomical leakage, and abdominal infections [3, 4]. Therefore, studying the influencing factors of gastrointestinal function recovery is of great significance for gastrointestinal treatment of patients. The incidence rate of gastric cancer is obviously different from that in the south. The incidence rate of distal gastric cancer is high in the long-term consumption of smoked and salted foods and is related to the high content of carcinogens or carcinogens in food such as nitrite, mycotoxins, and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons. The risk of gastric cancer in smokers is 50% higher than that in nonsmokers.

Many scholars at home and abroad have conducted in-depth research on the influencing factors of gastrointestinal function recovery. For example, Bozkurt Koseoglu et al. found through research that the ERAS concept can not only speed up the recovery of patients after surgery but also improve patients' recovery and quality of life [5]; Cao et al. found that moxibustion is better than Western medicine nursing treatment [6]; Hu et al. found through experiments that acupuncture and moxibustion are helpful for the early recovery of gastrointestinal function after surgery [7].

Note that ERAS is not a fixed operation process. It continuously optimizes the operation schemes in various diagnosis and treatment links such as i-door diagnosis and evaluation, preoperative preparation, intraoperative management, and postoperative rehabilitation and constantly tests the clinical effect. Because ERAS is an operation process gradually expanded on its core concepts (such as preoperative education and evaluation, avoiding intestinal preparation, preventing thrombosis and infection, perioperative anesthesia management, preventing intraoperative hypothermia, early pulling out of the gastric tube, early eating after operation, etc.), it can be observed that there are differences in operation processes between different diagnosis and treatment centers, but similar results can be achieved in the end [8, 9].

This article aims to study the factors affecting the recovery of gastrointestinal function after gastrointestinal malignancies. Firstly, the significance of postoperative gastrointestinal function recovery is explored, and on the second basis, it is combined with relevant research to analyze the factors that affect the recovery of gastrointestinal function. Then, through experiments, we observe whether the recovery of gastrointestinal function of different patients is related to the postoperative fasting time and the operation method and whether it can be used as an influencing factor, so as to reduce the patient's stress response to disease and surgical trauma and postoperative complications. It can help patients recover gastrointestinal function after surgery, prevent intestinal adhesions, anastomotic leakage, and other complications after radical resection of gastrointestinal malignancies, and promote the prognosis of the disease.

The main causes of gastric cancer include regional environment, diet and life factors, Helicobacter pylori (HP) infection, precancerous lesions, genetics, and genes. In addition, genetic and molecular studies have shown that the incidence rate of gastric cancer is 4 times higher than that of the control group. The carcinogenesis of gastric cancer is a multifactor, multistep, and multistage development process, involving the changes of oncogenes, tumor suppressor genes, apoptosis-related genes, and metastasis-related genes, and the forms of gene changes are also diverse.

2. Influencing Factors of Gastrointestinal Function Recovery after Gastrointestinal Malignant Tumors

2.1. Significance of Early Postoperative Recovery of Intestinal Function

After surgery, gastrointestinal dysfunction is prone to many factors such as anesthesia, invasive surgery, trauma and antitraumatic reactions, abdominal inflammation and anti-inflammatory reactions, and long-term tissue exposure. Therefore, the recovery of gastrointestinal function is a key link in the rapid recovery of patients with gastrointestinal malignant tumors. Recovering as soon as possible can help reduce the incidence of other symptoms after surgery, shorten the length of hospital stay, and reduce the suffering of patients. With the continuous innovation of surgical concepts, the ERAS concept and TCM acupuncture have been applied to postoperative gastric cancer, respectively, hoping to provide new ideas for clinical treatment.

Acupuncture is to insert a filiform needle into a certain acupoint of the patient's body and use acupuncture techniques such as twisting and lifting and inserting to treat diseases; moxibustion is to burn the burning moxa velvet on the skin according to certain acupoints and use thermal stimulation to treat diseases. Acupuncture consists of “needle” and “moxibustion,” which is one of the important components of traditional Chinese medicine. Its contents include acupuncture theory, acupoints, acupuncture technology, and related instruments. It can make the blocked meridians unobstructed and play its normal physiological role. It is the most basic and direct therapeutic effect of acupuncture and moxibustion.

Acupuncture and moxibustion improve the balance of yin and yang in the human body, which is the ultimate goal of acupuncture and moxibustion treatment. The mechanism of disease occurrence is complex, but on the whole, it can be summarized as the imbalance of yin and yang. The method of acupuncture and moxibustion harmonizing yin and yang is completed by improving the yin and yang attributes of meridians, the compatibility of meridians and points, and acupuncture techniques.

Operation time

According to the classification of disciplines, it can be divided into general surgery, orthopedic surgery, urinary surgery, thoracic surgery, cardiovascular surgery, cerebral nerve surgery, obstetrics and gynecology surgery, ophthalmic surgery, otolaryngology surgery, and plastic surgery. Due to the continuous development of surgical system science, the division of labor is more refined, and the types of operations are more and specialized. For example, general surgery is divided into head and neck, abdomen, tumor, burn, and organ transplantation; plastic surgery is also divided into functional plastic surgery and cosmetic surgery and even specific surgery divided by nose, eye, breast, and other organs.

After the operation, the body's metabolism and homeostasis are disrupted, which affects the patient's quality of life and postoperative recovery. The operation process is long, and the corresponding intraoperative blood loss will increase, resulting in the first exhaustion time and the subsequent postoperative hospital stay. Therefore, the operation time is an independent risk factor that affects the occurrence of abdominal infection after gastric cancer surgery.

Immersion disinfection: for sharp instruments, plastic, silicone products, or endoscopes, the commonly used solution is 0.1% Bromogeramine or chlorhexidine solution, which is used for knives, scissors, needles, and other instruments, and they can be soaked for 30 minutes. 0.5% medical sodium nitrite is added to prevent rust. They are soaked in 70% alcohol or 10% formaldehyde solution for 30 minutes. The instruments need to be soaked in the solution for 15 minutes. The formula is 20 g carbolic acid, 266 ml glycerol, 10 g sodium bicarbonate, 26 ml 95% alcohol, and 1000 ml distilled water. Steam fumigation: for plastic, plexiglass, and other medical instruments and sutures, 40% formaldehyde (formalin) solution is used, put under the volumetric steaming grid, potassium permanganate is added, and fumigated for 1 hour to achieve the purpose of disinfection.

Surgical method

Enhanced recovery after surgery (ERAS)

Only those who are highly suspected that the transverse colon is invaded by tumors and are planned to undergo combined organ resection and those who have chronic constipation before surgery are given a clean enema to prevent possible intraoperative abdominal infection or postoperative defecation difficulties [10, 11]. At the same time, the routine placement of nasointestinal tubes before and during the operation can irritate the patient's pharynx and cause discomfort; the ERAS concept advocates that nasointestinal tubes are not routinely placed and only preoperatively accompanied by pyloric obstruction or consideration of possible anastomotic leakage or bleeding after surgery places the risk. After the first ventilation, the patient can eat a semiliquid diet to promote the recovery of early gastrointestinal function and increase the body's nutritional intake [12]. After abdominal surgery, due to fear of pain and fear of the incision collapsed, staying in bed for a long time after the operation can easily cause related complications and delay the patient's hospital stay.

2.2. Influencing Factors

2.2.1. Surgical Factors

It should be pointed out that the ERAS concept is mainly used for patients with good general conditions and no serious underlying diseases; however, there are also some problems in its clinical application, such as whether the long-term survival rate and long-term quality of life of patients receiving ERAS concept management during the perioperative period of radical gastric cancer have been improved; whether there are differences in the benefits of patients with different stages of gastric cancer after the implementation of ERAS concept management; whether there are differences in benefits for patients of different ages; whether the ERAS concept conforms to the current national conditions of our country; and whether there are exact economic benefits. The problems of the ERAS concept in promoting the recovery of gastrointestinal function after gastric cancer surgery need to be continuously improved by further clinical application and research.

The diffusion and metastasis of gastric cancer have the following ways: direct infiltration, hematogenous metastasis, peritoneal implantation metastasis, lymphatic metastasis, and so on. Lymphatic metastasis is the main way of metastasis of gastric cancer. The rate of lymphatic metastasis in advanced gastric cancer is about 70%, and lymphatic metastasis can also be found in early gastric cancer. There was a positive correlation between the rate of lymph node metastasis and the depth of invasion of gastric cancer. Lymph node metastasis of gastric cancer is usually gradual, but jumping lymph node metastasis can also occur; that is, there is no metastasis at the first station and metastasis at the second station. End-stage gastric cancer can metastasize to the left supraclavicular lymph node through the thoracic duct or to the umbilicus through the round ligament of the liver.

3. Experimental Study on Influencing Factors of Gastrointestinal Function Recovery after Gastrointestinal Malignant Tumors

3.1. Purpose of the Experiment

This study aims to provide a reference for the evaluation of gastrointestinal function recovery by observing whether the recovery of gastrointestinal function in different patients is correlated with postoperative fasting time and surgical methods.

3.2. Research Methods

Laparoscopic surgery is guided by the Japanese gastric cancer treatment guidelines. After dissociating the anatomical structure of the stomach and surrounding tissues under the pneumoperitoneum environment, the laparoscopic instruments are withdrawn. An 8 cm incision was made in the midline of the upper abdomen, and the digestive tract was reconstructed in vitro according to the location of the tumor and the actual situation of the digestive tract during the operation. Open D2 radical operation makes a 15 to 20 cm midline incision around the umbilical abdomen in the upper abdomen. The main operation steps are similar to those of laparoscopic surgery. The two methods are basically the same in terms of the scope of surgery, the degree of lymph node dissection, and the sequence of surgery. Secondly, the two surgical methods use stapler technology to complete the operation in the reconstruction of the digestive tract, and at the same time, on the basis of the stapler suturing, continuous or intermittent embedding and suture are performed to make it firm.

3.3. Subjects

According to the inclusion and exclusion criteria, 60 patients who underwent gastrointestinal malignant tumor surgery in the Second Hospital of H City from October 2019 to September 2020 were collected, and questionnaire surveys were conducted to analyze the malignant gastrointestinal tract of the patients. Factors affecting the recovery of gastrointestinal function after radical tumor resection were analysed.

3.4. Data Management and Entry

After the research is over, a person should be required to enter the data to check whether the information filled in by the subject is complete and whether there are logical errors. If there is an error or the data are incomplete, the original data should be rechecked and reentered; data entry required three people to complete, and two independent personnel entered the data separately. When sorting out, it was found that the two input results were different. At this time, another third person was required to rearrange the entry and correction. Finally, the data were backed up, saved, and blinded.

3.5. Statistical Analysis of Data

According to the data obtained in the survey, we will organize statistics, use the SPSS software to analyze the survey results, and carry out the t-test. The t-test formula used in this article is as follows:

SPSS was used for statistical analysis, and the count data were tested by x2, and P < 0.05 indicated that the difference was statistically significant.

4. Experimental Data Analysis of Factors Affecting the Recovery of Gastrointestinal Function after Gastrointestinal Malignant Tumors

4.1. Postoperative Fasting Time

By recording the recovery of gastrointestinal function of patients under different fasting times after surgery, the results are obtained: the recovery time of bowel sounds in patients with fasting time less than or equal to 2 days after surgery is 29.10 ± 11.09 h, the first exhaust time is 28.75 ± 27.80 h, and the first defecation time is 54.70 ± 39.40 h. For patients with a fasting time of more than 2 days, the first exhaust time is 71.40 ± 17.54 h, and the first defecation time is 98.30 ± 28.16 h. The specific data are shown in Table 1:

Table 1

The effect of different fasting times on the recovery of gastrointestinal function after operation ().

Postoperative fasting time	Bowel sound recovery time (h)	First exhaust time (h)	Time of first bowel movement (h)	Abdominal pain should be scored	Gastrointestinal reaction score
≤2 days	29.10 ± 11.09	28.75 ± 27.80	54.70 ± 39.40	1.22 ± 0.64	1.43 ± 0.75
>2 days	40.47 ± 9.40	71.40 ± 17.54	98.30 ± 28.16	1.50 ± 0.70	1.60 ± 0.60
t	8.40	9.72	8.50	2.84	1.906
P	0.015	0.002	0.000	0.010	0.035

Observing Figure 1, it can be seen that the time required for all evaluation indicators of patients whose fasting time is less than or equal to 2 days after operation is shorter than that of patients whose fasting time is more than 2 days. Also, abdominal pain, bloating, and gastrointestinal reactions are less. Therefore, shortening the fasting time after surgery can help the recovery of gastrointestinal function after gastrointestinal malignancies.

Figure 1

The effect of different fasting times on the recovery of gastrointestinal function after operation.

4.2. Surgical Methods

By recording the postoperative gastrointestinal function recovery of patients using different surgical methods, the results are shown in Table 2: the first postoperative exhaust time for patients undergoing laparoscopic surgery is 43.64 ± 17.54 h, and the first defecation time 56.94 ± 28.16 h. For patients undergoing laparotomy, the time of first defecation after operation was 58.30 ± 27.80 h, and the time of first defecation was 82.10 ± 39.40 h.

Table 2

The influence of different surgical methods on postoperative gastrointestinal function recovery ().

Surgical approach	Bowel sound recovery time (h)	First exhaust time (h)	Time of first bowel movement (h)	Abdominal pain should be scored	Gastrointestinal reaction score
Open abdomen	36.35 ± 11.09	58.30 ± 27.80	82.10 ± 39.40	1.46 ± 0.64	1.60 ± 0.75
Cavity mirror	31.51 ± 9.40	43.64 ± 17.54	56.94 ± 28.16	1.12 ± 0.70	1.30 ± 0.60
t	2.40	3.04	3.64	2.651	1.478
P	0.015	0.002	0.000	0.010	0.035

Observing Figure 2 shows that compared with the open surgery, the time taken for the three indicators included in the observation of the laparoscopy group was shortened and the abdominal distension and pain reaction and gastrointestinal reaction of the laparoscopy group were less than those of the laparotomy group. Therefore, the operation method is an influencing factor for the recovery of gastrointestinal function after gastrointestinal malignancies.

Figure 2

The influence of different surgical methods on postoperative gastrointestinal function recovery ().

4.3. Data Analysis

4.3.1. Surgical Method

Experimental studies have found that patients with laparoscopic surgery have the following differences in the recovery time of bowel sounds after surgery, first exhaustion, shorter bowel movements, less abdominal distension, pain, and gastrointestinal reactions than those with open surgery. The statistical significance (P < 0.05) indicates that the operation method is the influencing factor of gastrointestinal function recovery after gastrointestinal malignant tumor operation. Laparoscopic surgery is beneficial to the rapid recovery of gastrointestinal function after gastrointestinal malignant tumor operation. This is because compared with open surgery, the abdominal cavity is still in a relatively closed state during laparoscopic surgery, and the gastrointestinal tract is almost not exposed during the operation; the operation is performed under direct vision, and the use of ultrasonic scalpels and staplers reduces the risk of damage. Excessive traction of the gastrointestinal tract and less bleeding, so the gastrointestinal function recovers quickly after the operation. It can be seen that laparoscopic surgery has many advantages, such as less trauma, less bleeding, fast exhaust, low infection rate, and fewer complications in radical malignant tumors of the gastrointestinal tract.

4.3.2. Postoperative Fasting Time

Experimental studies have found that compared with patients with a long postoperative fasting time, patients with a short postoperative fasting time have shorter first gas and first bowel movements, abdominal pain, bloating, and less gastrointestinal reactions. This is because early postoperative nutritional supplementation can improve the nutritional status of patients and reduce tumor growth and high catabolism caused by surgical trauma, and effective nutritional support can provide patients with sufficient energy and nutrients. Once the patient's nutritional status improves, the digested and absorbed nutrient substrate will enter the liver to promote the growth of the liver to synthesize protein and maintain the patient's postoperative nutrition, and the food is fed orally through the digestive tract mucosa to promote the development of the intestinal mucosa and stimulate the stomach. The intestinal peristalsis is restored, promotes the peristalsis of the small intestine, and promotes the patient's postoperative gas.

On the other hand, enteral nutrition can activate the endocrine system of the intestinal nerve, stimulate the synthesis and release of digestive juice and gastrointestinal hormones, and promote gastrointestinal peristalsis and gallbladder contraction; early nutritional support also promotes the growth of intestinal mucosal cells and maintains the small intestine. The integrity of structure and function ensures the tight cell junction and the height of villi, promotes the secretion of IgA from intestinal cells, enhances the body's resistance, and maintains the normal growth of intestinal flora.

5. Conclusions

Gastrointestinal dysfunction in patients after gastric cancer surgery has serious adverse effects on the patient's psychological and physical functions, prolongs the total number of days in the patient's hospitalization, and increases the overall cost of the patient's future hospitalization and the patient's radiotherapy and chemotherapy, thereby affecting the prognosis of gastric cancer. In this paper, the influencing factors of gastrointestinal function recovery after gastrointestinal tumor surgery were analyzed by experimental study. The experimental results showed that the time required for evaluation indexes was shorter in patients with postoperative fasting time less than or equal to 2 days than in patients with fasting time more than 2 days. The first exhaust time and first defecation time of laparoscopic surgery patients were 43.64 ± 17.54 h and 56.94 ± 28.16 h respectively. The time of first defecation after laparotomy was 58.30 ± 27.80 h and 82.10 ± 39.40 h. Compared with the open surgery group, the time required for all three measures was shorter in the laparoscopic group, and abdominal distention, pain, and gastrointestinal reactions were less in the laparoscopic group. These results suggest that laparoscopic surgery and early postoperative dietary recovery are beneficial to the recovery of gastrointestinal function in patients with gastrointestinal malignancy. Therefore, this study is helpful to reduce the stress response of patients to diseases and surgical trauma and the occurrence of postoperative complications and to prevent the occurrence of complications such as intestinal adhesion and anastomotic leakage after radical resection of gastrointestinal malignancies in order to provide a reference for the evaluation of gastrointestinal function recovery.