Some aspects of social and working rehabilitation of patients with gastrointestinal tumors after radical operations

The results of follow‐up of 143 patients with malignant gastrointestinal tumors (stomach, 63 patients; colon, 13 patients; rectum, 67 patients) who have undergone radical operations are analyzed. The number of men and women among the examined patients was approximately equal, the age range was from 32 to 61 years, the length of follow‐up was from three months to one and one‐half years. The patients were regularly examined and questioned at the inpatient and outpatient departments by a surgeon and a psychiatrist. The analysis revealed marked psychogenic reactions, having different clinical forms, in patients of the oncological clinics in connection with a severe stress situation. In most of the cases these reactions were extremely extensive, and the patients were in need of specialized medical assistance (participation of a psychiatrist in their treatment). It is expedient to identify patients with marked psychogenic reactions for special treatment at the time of their acceptance to the clinic. The postoperative period of such patients was accompanied by complications in 58.5% of cases, in comparison with 12.5% in patients with mild psychogenic reactions. After discharge 31 of 62 patients found themselves in a conflict family situation, 24 patients were rather limited in their social contacts; the majority of these patients were not working after the operation. These findings indicate the need for psychotherapeutic support in oncology, plus psychopreventive measures and medical educational propaganda among the population as important components of rehabilitation programs.