Preoperative information and recovery of open-heart surgery patients

Postoperatively, 19 adult open-heart surgery patients were interviewed as to information, included or not included in preoperative instruction, they identified as important to recovery. It was found that subjects desired details of all aspects of their conditions and treatment--preoperatively, operatively, and postoperatively. They had the greatest difficulty with pulmonary aspects of their care postoperatively. Subjects indicated a specific need for more information about the endotracheal tube, the ventilator, mucus, suctioning, deep breathing and coughing, and chest tube removal. Subjects experienced transient, primarily depressive, nonpsychotic postoperative mood changes unrelated to preoperative information, physical manifestations, and/or behavioral manifestations. Subjects regarded the nurse as an important provider of information and found the content of preoperative information satisfactory but wanted more individualization of instruction. They also indicated a need for more family involvement in preoperative instruction to provide them with information of the patient's progress throughout hospitalization. Questions and hypotheses for future research were generated.