Perceptions and feelings of patients after cardiac surgery in an intensive care unit

Abstract

Considering that the ICU is a place were assistance and health complications can happen unexpectedly, this research aimed to identify the patient’s feeling and perceptions during the cardiac surgery post-operative period concerning the environment. This is a descriptive and exploratory research with a quantitative approach. Data were collected from July to August of 2004 through interviews with closed questions. The sample is a group of 15 patients registered into a large Philanthropic Hospital. The participants signed a free will and consciousness document. Results showed that 67% said that the worst distress was backache and insertion of drainage tubes, 46,9% complained about the communication problems due to the endotracheal tube. It was observed that external factors such as bright light and people talking loud also caused distress, and 46,9% showed fear.