Nurses can use an audiotape containing preparatory information to improve outcomes for patients having coronary artery bypass grafts during the few weeks after discharge from hospital. Further studies are recommended to improve its effect on psychological distress.

From September 1994 to September 1999 patients underwent successful aortic valve reconstruction. Four were lost to follow-up, there were 2 early and 2 late deaths. The remaining 35 males and 11 females (mean age, 39.