Effect of Orem's Management Model on Patients Undergoing Percutaneous Nephrolithotomy for Kidney Calculi: A Multicenter Retrospective Trial.

Background: Percutaneous nephrolithotomy (PCNL) is the standard procedure for treating upper urinary tract calculi and complex kidney calculi >2 cm in diameter, though it has a high incidence of postoperative complications. This study aimed to investigate the effect of Orem's management model on patients undergoing PCNL.

Methods: This retrospective study included 465 patients who underwent PCNL from February 2022 to February 2023 from two tertiary hospitals. After excluding 16 patients based on exclusion criteria, 449 patients remained. The observation group (n = 227) received Orem's management model, while the control group (n = 222) underwent conventional surgical management. Primary outcomes included postoperative recovery time and the incidence of postoperative complications, while secondary outcomes such as postoperative pain levels (measured via a numerical rating scale) and self-care ability assessed through the exercise of self-care agency were obtained through medical records and physical examinations.

Results: Compared to the control group, the observation group achieved faster outcomes for the first anal exsufflation, first ambulation, and discharge, and a lower incidence of postoperative complications (p < 0.05). Post-management, the observation group had lower numerical rating scale scores and higher exercise of self-care agency scores (p < 0.001).

Conclusions: Orem's management model accelerates postoperative recovery, alleviates pain, and reduces postoperative complications in patients undergoing PCNL. Moreover, this model enhances self-care ability, though its effectiveness is limited to patients with non-recurrent renal calculi and normal renal function. Further exploration of its broader application is needed.