Objective To observe the effect of clinical nursing pathway management in thoracoscopic resection of small pulmonary nodules under CT guidance.

Methods A total of 120 patients with small pulmonary nodules were randomly divided into pathway group(n=60) and control group(n=60). All patients underwent thoracoscopic small pulmonary nodule resection under CT guidance. The control group was given perioperative nursing measures for thoracic surgery, while the pathway group implemented clinical nursing pathway management. The first time of getting out of bed, the indwelling time of thoracic drainage tube and the length of hospital stay were compared between the two groups. The self-care ability score (Barthel Index Rating Scale score), Self-rating Anxiety Scale (SAS), Self-rating Depression Scale (SDS) before and after intervention and Digital Pain Scale (NRS) scores at different time points were compared between the two groups.

Results The first time of getting out of bed, the indwelling time of thoracic drainage tube and the length of hospital stay in the pathway group were shorter than those in the control group (P < 0.05). Before intervention, there were no significant differences in self-care ability score, SAS score and SDS score between the two groups (P>0.05). After intervention, the self-care ability score of the pathway group was higher than that of the control group, and the SAS score and SDS score were lower than those of the control group (P < 0.05). At 12, 24 and 48 h after operation, the NRS scores of the pathway group were lower than that of the control group (P < 0.05).

Conclusion Nursing pathway management can effectively shorten the retention time of drainage tube, relieve postoperative pain and adverse emotions, and shorten the hospitalization time for patients undergoing thoracoscopic pulmonary nodule resection under CT guidance.