Nurses’ role in caring for patients with Thyroid Eye Disease receiving the Orbital Decompression

Abstract

Thyroid Eye Disease (TED) is a severe ocular complication arising from an autoimmune disorder, directly impacting patients' vision, psychological well-being, and overall quality of life of patients. Orbital decompression surgery serves as a crucial standard treatment to prevent visual impairment. The in-depth nursing practice guidelines for ward nurses by integrating knowledge from pathophysiology, clinical assessment, and psychological impacts. It primarily focuses on evidence-based integrated care combined with a holistic patient care approach. The role of the nurse in caring for TED patients undergoing orbital decompression encompasses the preoperative phase, which emphasizes clinical assessment and pre-anesthetic readiness evaluation. During the postoperative phase, the utmost priority is placed on the vigilant monitoring of critical complications, particularly retrobulbar hemorrhage and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) leakage alongside psychological nursing care and discharge planning. By applying a transitional care model integrated with the teach-back method, the approach emphasizes a seamless care delivery system, strictly advocates for absolute smoking cessation, and provides psychological support to restore long-term quality of life. The integration of this clinical knowledge enhances nurses' competencies in risk assessment, minimizes complications, and effectively promotes holistic treatment outcomes, ultimately enabling patients to resume a high-quality of life.