Congress Abstracts 2006

315

MULTIDISCIPLINARY CARE OF THE PATIENT RECEIVING A HEMIPELVECTOMY. Carol Allgeyer, RN, OCN^® , Patricia Sanders, RN, BSN, OCN^® , and Polly James, BSN, MSN, CNS, OCN^® , James Cancer Hospital and Richard J. Solove Research Institute, Columbus, OH.

The incidence of bone and soft tissue sarcomas is low compared with other malignant tumors. When these tumors involve the sacrum and pelvis and hip joint, hemipelvectomy is often required in order to achieve cure for the patient. If the tumor has metastasized, this surgery is generally not an option. This surgery requires surgical removal of the affected parts of the pelvis along with the involved lower extremity. The nurse plays a key role in coordinating and providing assessment, symptom management, education, emotional support and motivation both pre and post operatively. It is vital that the nurse has a working knowledge of all issues involved with patient care delivery in order to achieve positive patient outcomes.

The purpose of this presentation is to raise the awareness and prepare nurses to care for patients requiring surgical intervention with external hemipelvectomy.

Nurses and other multidisciplinary team members were provided a Power Point presentation and educational packet utilizing the Nursing Grand Rounds format. Patient needs determine necessary contracted services including, but not limited to, physical therapist, occupational therapist, dietician, enterostomal therapist, social worker, mental health clinical nurse specialist, respiratory therapist, pharmacist, pain care practitioners, patient care resource managers, in patient rehabilitation facility, and home care. Interdisciplinary care conferences are conducted weekly and prn in order to better coordinate care.

The goal is that the patient will progress along the continuum of care with minimal delays/complications. Comprehensive education of staff, together with coordination of patient care, facilitates timely interventions, shorter hospital stays and positive patient outcomes.

It is important for the oncology nurse to understand the treatment, management and guidelines in caring for patients with external hemipelvectomy. Regaining independence is often a slow and painful process. The multidisciplinary care encompasses pain control issues including phantom limb pain, mobility, nutrition, wound care, management of ostomies, psychological and social issues. These patients face radical changes in lifestyle and self-image. Experienced nurses providing care for the hemipelvectomy patient are vital to positive patient outcomes in the timely transition of patients from the in patient setting to out patient setting.