Heart transplantation: psychosocial correlations in the postoperative period

Heart transplantation offers not only increased quantity but also highly improved quality of life. Nevertheless, it should not be seen as a panacea. Postoperatively the patients and their spouses face and have to overcome profound psychosocial problems. In this paper the five most important phases i...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Published inPraxis (Bern. 1994) Vol. 84; no. 31-32; p. 866
Main Author Bunzel, B
Format Journal Article
LanguageGerman
Published Switzerland 02.08.1995
Subjects
Adaptation, Psychological
Graft Rejection - psychology
Heart Transplantation - psychology
Humans
Interpersonal Relations
Marriage
Postoperative Period
Social Support
Online AccessGet more information

Cover

More Information
Summary:Heart transplantation offers not only increased quantity but also highly improved quality of life. Nevertheless, it should not be seen as a panacea. Postoperatively the patients and their spouses face and have to overcome profound psychosocial problems. In this paper the five most important phases in the emotional adjustment to heart transplantation are discussed as to their significance for the patient, the patient's relationship to his/her partner and in view of the care by the medical team. These phases are a. the early postoperative period, b. rejection episodes, c. the postoperative inpatient phase, d. discharge and e. the first postoperative year. The paper highlights the difficulty of and the necessity for psychological care of heart transplant patients to reassure them emotionally and support them during phases of psychological instability.
ISSN:1661-8157