Huashan Perioperative Nursing Program for Stroke Patients Undergoing Contralateral Seventh Cervical Nerve Transfer

Abstract Background: The previous investigation regarding contralateral seventh cervical nerve transfer (CC7) revealed a novel and effective approach to improve arm function in patients with chronic spastic paralysis. The patients who underwent both CC7 and standard rehabilitation showed greater functional improvements and spasticity reductions than did the control group who underwent rehabilitation only. Additional efforts are needed to maximize the benefits in patients and establishing a supporting nursing program is a promising way of achieving this goal.Methods: The present Huashan nursing program was established in consideration of the following elements, that were the routine perioperative care, ensuring surgical safety and improving patient cooperation. Before surgery, psychiatric nursing, health education and risk control were stressed. After surgery, in addition to routine nursing and positioning, special attention was needed for the targeted nursing of postoperative adverse events. In addition, we performed descriptive statistical analysis on the clinical data of patients receiving the Huashan nursing program, focusing on postoperative adverse events. Totally 85 patients were included in the study, and postoperative adverse events occurred in 10 patients, including severe pain (5, 5.88%), neck hematoma (2, 2.35%), dyspnea (2, 2.35%) and hoarseness (1, 1.18%). The above adverse events were alleviated under the targeted nursing guided by the Huashan program.Discussion: This article introduces the Huashan nursing program, which is based on preoperative evaluations, educational sessions, postoperative monitoring and targeted nursing, for patients undergoing CC7. The present nursing program helped the promotion and provided the opportunity to maximize the benefits of CC7.