Patients' body image after open abdominal surgery of abdominal aortic aneurysm - Perceptions and experiences.
Monica Pettersson, Erney Mattsson, Ingegerd Bergbom
PMID 35482535WHAT IT FOUND
After open aortic aneurysm repair, patients often pictured the graft as a separate tube or spare part, feared it might fail, and felt powerless yet trusting.
Their drawings showed gaps in understanding.
Key findings
01In their drawings, most patients showed the graft as a tube that seemed separate from the rest of the body, like a spare part rather than a vital blood vessel.
02Patients described feeling obliged to accept surgery and temporarily handing control of their bodies to healthcare staff, while showing great trust in the doctor.
03Patients worried the graft might fail, and severe fatigue affected mobility and could lead to depression.
STILL TO COME
How it was doneWhat they foundWhat it means for RNs
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What it does not show
Only 12 patients were interviewed at one Swedish hospital, all Swedish speakers and all had open repair, so findings may not apply to endovascular repair, other languages, or other settings. Interviews were one month after surgery, so later recovery, long-term body image, and long-term worries were not captured. One author had long experience caring for patients after AAA surgery, which could influence interpretation, although the author was not the nurse in charge of participants. The study describes patients' experiences and perceptions; it does not test whether drawings, information, or nurse-led discussion improve understanding, anxiety, mobility, or recovery.
Declared interests
No conflict of interest was declared by the authors.
The easy way to misread this
Do not read this as evidence that drawing or nurse-led discussion improves understanding, anxiety, or recovery. It describes 12 patients' experiences one month after open aortic aneurysm repair and tested no intervention.