Post Operative Patients
Conditions
Keywords
recovery after abdominal surgery, ileus, return of bowel function, eras protocol
Brief summary
The goal of this clinical trial is to learn if exposure to food related visual stimuli during the postoperative period can improve gastrointestinal recovery after abdominal surgery in adult patients.The main questions it aims to answer are: 1. Does structured exposure to food related television programming shorten the time to return of bowel function after surgery? 2. Does exposure to food related visual stimuli reduce postoperative ileus and improve recovery related outcomes such as hospital length of stay, appetite, patient satisfaction, and medication use? Researchers will compare patients receiving structured food related programming during meal periods with patients receiving standard postoperative care to see if food related visual stimulation improves postoperative gastrointestinal recovery. Participants will: * Be randomly assigned to either a food-programming group or a standard care group * Watch food-related television programming for at least 15 minutes during scheduled meal-time periods if assigned to the intervention group * Have daily collection of routine postoperative information, including bowel function, medication use, and diet progression * Complete brief optional questions regarding appetite and satisfaction during hospitalization
Detailed description
Postoperative ileus and delayed return of gastrointestinal function remain common complications following abdominal surgery and contribute to patient discomfort, prolonged hospitalization, and increased healthcare utilization. Despite advances in perioperative management and implementation of enhanced recovery protocols, impaired bowel function after surgery continues to affect recovery. Early enteral stimulation has been associated with improved gastrointestinal recovery; however, many patients experience appetite suppression or difficulty tolerating oral intake during the immediate postoperative period. Digestive activity is influenced by the cephalic phase response, a physiologic process in which sensory cues associated with food can activate neural pathways involved in digestion prior to food consumption. Visual food cues have been shown to affect appetite and physiologic responses related to feeding behavior, suggesting a potential mechanism through which noninvasive sensory stimulation could influence postoperative gastrointestinal recovery. This study evaluates a structured behavioral intervention using food-related television programming during peri-meal periods as an adjunct to routine postoperative care. Participants will be prospectively randomized to receive either scheduled exposure to food-related visual stimuli or standard postoperative care. The intervention is designed to provide a simple, low-cost, non-pharmacologic strategy that can be implemented using existing hospital resources without altering routine clinical management. The findings from this study may provide insight into whether sensory stimulation through visual food exposure can enhance postoperative recovery and serve as a scalable adjunct to current perioperative care practices
Interventions
BEHAVIORALFood Related Visual Stimuli Exposure
This intervention consists of a structured, non-pharmacologic behavioral exposure to food related visual stimuli delivered during predefined peri-meal periods throughout the postoperative hospitalization. Participants will view food centered television programming (e.g., cooking, baking, or food preparation shows) for a minimum of 15 minutes during each designated meal window: breakfast (7:00-9:00 AM), lunch (12:00-2:00 PM), and dinner (5:00-7:00 PM). Unlike standard television viewing or unrestricted media use, the intervention uses scheduled exposure to food-specific visual content intended to provide cephalic phase sensory stimulation during times corresponding with routine eating periods. The intervention is delivered using existing hospital television resources and does not involve medications, dietary modification, invasive procedures, or additional medical devices. Adherence will be assessed through participant self-report and periodic study team monitoring.
Sponsors
Casey Morehouse, DO
Prisma Health-Midlands
Study design
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Intervention model
PARALLEL
Primary purpose
SUPPORTIVE_CARE
Masking
NONE
Eligibility
Sex/Gender
ALL
Age
18 Years to No maximum
Healthy volunteers
No
Inclusion criteria
* Adult patients aged ≥18 years * Undergoing abdominal surgery (including general, colorectal, trauma, or surgical oncology procedures) requiring inpatient post operative admission * Able to participate in the intervention, including engaging with television based stimuli * Able to follow simple instructions in the postoperative period
Exclusion criteria
* Critical illness requiring ICU-level care beyond the immediate postoperative period * Mechanical ventilation (intubated patients) * Requirement for high-level non-invasive ventilation (BiPAP for respiratory failure) * Hemodynamic instability requiring vasopressor support * Life support measures, including continuous renal replacement therapy (CRRT) or ECMO * Altered mental status impairing participation (delirium requiring restraints) * Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) \< 13 or inability to follow commands
Design outcomes
Primary
| Measure | Time frame | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Incidence of postoperative ileus | Until hospital discharge, can vary from 2-10 days | — |
| Return of bowel function | from enrollment to the end of admission, can vary from 2-10 days | measured by time to first flatus and/or time to first bowel movement; |
Countries
United States
Contacts
CONTACTCasey M Morehouse, DO
Outcome results
None listed