Nursing Care for Patients Undergoing Surgery for Oral and Jaw Cysts

Abstract

Background and Objective: The Odontogenic Keratocyst (OKC) is a lesion with a high recurrence rate, complicating postoperative care, especially in adolescent patients who often experience concurrent anxiety. However, there is a scarcity of case studies demonstrating the systematic application of the nursing process in the Thai context. This case study aimed to present the application of the nursing process by integrating Orem's Self-Care deficit Theory, Kolcaba's Comfort Theory, and NANDA-I diagnoses in the care of an adolescent female patient undergoing enucleation of an OKC.

Method: This was a descriptive case study of one adolescent female patient who underwent surgery at the Dental Hospital, Faculty of Dentistry, Mahidol University. Data were collected retrospectively from medical and nursing records, then were analyzed to assess Self-Care deficits and establish nursing diagnoses.

Results: Six key nursing diagnoses were identified: 1) Anxiety, 2) Acute Pain, 3) Risk for Bleeding, 4) Risk for Infection, 5) Risk for Falls, and 6) Deficient Knowledge. Nursing interventions, utilizing Kolcaba's Comfort Theory for pain and anxiety management along with Orem's nursing systems, resulted in the patient being safe from complications and adequately prepared for self-care upon discharge.

Conclusion: The systematic application of the nursing process, guided by a clear theoretical framework, effectively managed the complex problems of an adolescent OKC patient. This case study can serve as a concrete reference for nursing personnel to improve treatment outcomes for this patient population.