Patterns in current perioperative practice: survey of colorectal surgeons in five northern European countries
BMJ 2005; doi: https://doi.org/10.1136/bmj.38478.568067.AE (Published 23 May 2005) Cite this as: BMJ 2005;:bmj;bmj.38478.568067.AEv1Data supplement
Responses to questionnaire on perioperative care in colonic resections in five northern European countries. Values are numbers (percentages)
Responses
Scotland
Netherlands
Sweden
Norway
Denmark
Response rate
55/76 (72.4)
36/43 (83.7)
43/63 (68.3)
38/41 (92.7)
28/40 (70.0)
For an elective left sided* hemicolectomy for cancer, would bowel preparation be administered?
No
2/52 (3.8)
6/33 (18.2)
1/38 (2.6)
2/37 (5.4)
5/26 (19.2)
Yes, oral purg
44/52 (84.6)
17/33 (51.5)
36/38 (94.7)
33/37 (89.2)
16/26 (61.5)
Yes, enema
2/52 (3.8)
4/33 (12.1)
0
1/37 (2.7)
4/26 (15.4)
Yes, both
4/52 (7.7)
6/33 (18.2)
1/38 (2.6)
1/37 (2.7)
1/26 (3.8)
Is nasogastric decompression tube routinely left in place for more than four hours after surgery?
No
39/52 (75.0)
8/36 (22.2)
35/42 (83.3)
31/38 (81.6)
23/27 (85.2)
Until next morning
6/52 (11.5)
13/36 (36.1)
7/42 (16.7)
7/38 (18.4)
3 /27 (11.1)
Two days or more
6/52 (11.5)
6/36 (16.7)
0
0
0
Until bowel movement
1/52 (1.9)
9/36 (25.0)
0
0
1/27 (3.7)
Is epidural analgesia used routinely postoperatively after transfer to general ward? (Not high dependency ward/intensive care unit)
Yes
6/55 (10.9)
30/36 (83.3)
40/43 (93.0)
33/37 (89.2)
26/27 (96.3)
No
49/55 (89.1)
6/36 (16.7)
3/43 (7.0)
4/37 (10.8)
1/27 (3.7)
Are there any restrictions on routine intravenous clear fluid administration in the first 72 hours after surgery?
Yes
13/55 (23.6)†
5/35 (14.3)
2/43 (4.7)
3/38 (7.9)
1/28 (3.6)
No
42/55 (76.4)
30/35 (85.7)
41/43 (95.3)
35/38 (92.1)
27/28 (96.4)
Are there any restrictions on routine intravenous sodium administration in the first 72 hours after surgery?
Yes
14/54 (25.9)†
5/35 (14.3)
0
3/38 (7.9)
2/28 (7.1)
No
40/54 (74.1)
30/35 (85.7)
43/43 (100.0)
35/38 (92.1)
26/28 (92.9)
How long would a patient be "nil by mouth" (less than 450 ml clear fluid) postoperatively?
0 days
18/48 (37.5)
21/36 (58.3)
30/42 (71.4)
31/37 (81.6)
27/28 (96.4)
1-2 days
22/48 (45.8)
14/36 (38.9)
11/42 (26.2)
7/37 (18.4)
1/28 (3.6)
3-4 days
8/48 (16.7)
1/36 (2.8)
1/42 (2.4)
0
0
When would patients be allowed to resume oral intake at will for fluids (drink freely)?
Operating day
9/49 (17.6)
7/35 (20.0)
11/43 (25.6)
15/37 (40.5)
20/27 (74.1)
Postoperative day one
23/49 (45.1)
18/35 (51.4)
25/43 (58.1)
20/37 (54.1)
7/27 (25.9)
At bowel sounds
7/49 (13.7)
3 /35 (8.6)
3/43 (7.0)
1/37 (2.7)
0
At passage of gas
10/49 (19.6)
2/35 (5.7)
1/43 (2.3)
1/37 (2.7)
0
Bowel movement
2/49 (3.9)
5/35 (14.3)
3/43 (7.0)
0
0
When would patients be allowed to resume oral intake at will for solids (eat freely)?
Operating day
5/48 (10.4)
1/35 (2.9)
5/41 (12.2)
3/38 (7.9)
11/27 (40.7)
Postoperative day one
8/48 (16.7)
15/35 (42.9)
13/41 (31.7)
17/38 (44.7)
12/27 (44.4)
At bowel sounds
6/48 (12.5)
4/35 (11.4)
9/41 (22.7)
2/38 (5.3)
0
At passage of gas
21/48 (43.8)
6/35 (17.1)
11/41 (26.8)
12/38 (31.6)
4/27 (14.8)
Bowel movement
8/48 (16.7)
9/35 (25.7)
3/41 (7.3)
4/38 (10.5)
0
To patients who are not obviously malnourished preoperatively, do you routinely give nutritional support within the first five postoperative days (not counting clear intravenous glucose)?‡
No
39/52 (75.0)
25/36 (69.4)
26/45 (57.8)
23/39 (60.0)
10/29 (34.5)
Yes, sip feed
8/52 (15.4)
8/36 (22.2)
11/45 (24.5)
10/39 (25.6)
12/29 (41.4)
Yes, naso-enteral tube
3/52 (5.8)
2/36 (5.6)
0
0
6/29 (20.7)
Yes, parenteral
2/52 (3.8)
1/36 (2.8)
8/45 (17.8)
6/39 (15.4)
1/29 (3.4)
Results are percentages after exclusion of missing or ambiguous responses (overall 2.55% excluded). Percentage is of the total numbers of responses to that question.
*The only question in which colonic resection was further specified.
†Scottish centres declaring a fluid/sodium restricting routine allowed maximum values of 3000 ml water and 154 mmol sodium per 24 hours (median).
‡As some centres used more than one feeding modality, the total may exceed the number of respondents.
Related articles
- Editorial Published: 16 June 2005; BMJ 330 doi:10.1136/bmj.330.7505.1401
- Paper Published: 06 October 2001; BMJ 323 doi:10.1136/bmj.323.7316.773
- This Week In The BMJ Published: 16 June 2005; BMJ 330 doi:10.1136/bmj.330.7505.0-b
See more
- Choosing a core surgical training interview skills courseBMJ August 08, 2017, 358 j3779; DOI: https://doi.org/10.1136/bmj.j3779
- Whole brain radiotherapy for brain metastasesBMJ December 05, 2016, 355 i6483; DOI: https://doi.org/10.1136/bmj.i6483
- Seven days in medicine: 23-29 November 2016BMJ December 01, 2016, 355 i6433; DOI: https://doi.org/10.1136/bmj.i6433
- Preserving fertility in girls and young women with cancerBMJ November 30, 2016, 355 i6145; DOI: https://doi.org/10.1136/bmj.i6145
- Overdiagnosis of thyroid cancerBMJ November 30, 2016, 355 i6312; DOI: https://doi.org/10.1136/bmj.i6312