Patients’ expectation of postoperative course and satisfaction following cardiac surgery

INTRODUCTION: In patients undergoing cardiac surgery, preoperative concerns, expectations of the impact of surgery, anticipated recovery timelines, and pre- and postoperative education, which impact recovery and quality-of-life, are not well documented. These factors are important with the increase in virtual consultations, the availability of internet-based information and increased use of minimally invasive surgical procedures. METHODS: Patients who underwent cardiac surgery between January 2016 and December 2019 took part in an online survey examining preoperative concerns, information provision, use of digital channels, satisfaction with surgery, impact on health and resumption of daily activity. 80 patients completed the survey. RESULTS: There was a high rate of overall post-surgical satisfaction (86%); 71% of respondents reported an improvement in physical health, 45% in mental health and 70% in their quality-of-life. The usefulness of information provided by the National Health Service varies across different stages of the patient experience. Although approximately 90% of respondents found the information provided at each stage at least 'somewhat' helpful, the proportion who found the information 'very' helpful was lower (68% for pre-procedure; 55% for post-discharge). The majority (79%) said that they felt prepared for their operation. Survey responses highlighted areas of lower understanding, including survival rate, levels of postoperative pain, duration of hospital stay and when the patient could return to normal physical activity. CONCLUSIONS: Levels of satisfaction with the outcomes of heart surgery are high, and the majority of patients report positive health outcomes. However, there is room for improvement in patients' understanding of survival rate and level of pain post-procedure. There is also a clear desire among patients for a more surgical team-based face-to-face consultation.