Abstract
To understand the meanings for the process of living, for patients undergoing myocardial revascularization surgery, and to construct an explanatory theoretical model. Grounded Theory was used, with data collection undertaken between October 2010 and May 2012, in a health institution which specializes in cardiac surgery, located in the south of Brazil. Thirty-three subjects were interviewed (patients, health care professionals and family members), distributed in four sample groups. The explanatory theoretical model was comprised of 11 categories and the central phenomenon. The specialized service and the cardiac rehabilitation program formed the context, the discovery of the cardiac disease and the feelings experienced during the perioperative period were the cause and intervening conditions in the process of experiencing the myocardial revascularization surgery. The strategies were relying on the family's support, having faith and hope, and participating in the rehabilitation program. This process's main consequences were the confrontation of the changes and the resulting limitations, difficulties and adaptations to the new lifestyle after surgery. The process of experiencing the myocardial revascularization surgery constitutes an opportunity for maintaining the patient's life associated with the needs for confronting the significant changes in lifestyle.
Highlights
The lack of beds, equipment and staff all stand out, leading to queues and significant impacts for the patient, as one health care professional’s statement describes: The reason for the slowness in attending patients is the shortage of beds, not just coronary unit intensive care unit (ICU) beds but beds in the department. [...] The structure should be scrapped
In the first hours after the MRV surgery, on waking, the patient sees that he or she has the orotracheal tube in place, has drains and pains, and identifies noises which worsen the feeling of discomfort
The excessively-lengthy waiting period for the surgery, which creates anxiety and discomfort for the patient and their family, according to research undertaken in a Rio de Janeiro public teaching hospital, may be explained by the lack of beds in the post-operative phase, a condition which explains the postponing of cardiac surgery and, an increase in the patients’ time of hospitalization(10)
Summary
Diseases of the circulatory system have a high incidence in both the Brazilian and global context, being considered the principal cause of death and disability in Brazil and in the rest of the world(1). The surgical procedure is sometimes perceived by the patient as an event related to incapacity and/ or alteration of body image(5), and – because it is an atypical, stressful situation for the patients – makes them vulnerable, both in the pre- and post-operative periods, harming their recuperation. That this procedure has an important impact on the cardiac patient’s process of living may be noticed through the doubts and uncertainties presented by the patients, regarding nutritional education, practice of physical exercise, returning to work, practice of daily activities, difficulties with the surgical incisions, practice of sexual activity, alcohol consumption, and use of medications(6). Nursing can act by offering/exercising care which is personalized, creative and comprehensive, covering the totality and complexity of the human being(8)
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
