[Pre- and postoperative psychosexual status of heart patients]

Discussing the changed quality of life following open heart surgery the psychosexual status of 100 pre- and postoperative patients (aortocoronary bypass operation vs valve replacement) was assessed by standardized interviews. The preoperative interview showed only 9% of the patients having sexual intercourse during the last six months while 91% were sexually abstinent. As main reasons for the latter the patients named voluntary abstinence due to their illness (14%), negative advice of their doctor (22%) and no desire for sexual activity (33%). One year postoperatively the situation changed clearly. Within the last six months 47% of the former patients were sexually active, while 52% remained inactive. The open heart operation which improves life physically can also be seen as improving quality of life in respect to the psychosexual life of the patients. The interview data moreover show the great importance of medical advice in questions relating to sexuality which ought to be an absolutely necessary part of the dialogue with cardiological patients.