Os significados de ter o coração transplantado: a experiência dos pacientes

Abstract

Os significados de ter o coração transplantado: a experiência dos pacientes Experiencing heart transplantation: the patients' perspective Abstract Objective: For patients with heart failure, heart transplantation represents the possibility of survival and improvement in their quality of life. Thus, the awareness and participation of patients in the follow-up work by the healthcare team after transplantation are important. This study aimed at understanding the experience of heart transplantation based on the descriptions of patients. Method: Twenty male and six female patients, whose ages ranged from 13 to 71 years old, were interviewed. The similarities of their accounts illustrated shared feelings which described their experiences. Results: The patients re-experienced the transplantation phases and compared heart failure symptoms with the improvement achieved after transplantation. Some felt healthy whereas others reported the persistence of rejection and complications as well as the onset of other pathologies. However, all of them noted the improvement in their quality of life. Each one brought his own views concerning the experience itself, their relatives and the professionals who participated in their experience. They expressed their expectations regarding work and family achievements. Conclusion: The contribution of this descriptive study lies in unveiling new perspectives of understanding such patients' needs, thus helping professionals who assist them to respond more effectively to their individual necessities. Descriptors: Heart transplantation. Quality of life. Adaptation, psychological. Resumo Introdução: O transplante cardíaco representa, para pacientes com falência cardíaca, a possibilidade de sobrevivência e melhorias na qualidade de vida. Para tanto, faz-se necessária a conscientização e a participação do paciente no trabalho de acompanhamento da equipe de saúde, póstransplante. O objetivo do estudo foi compreender a experiência do transplante cardíaco, partindo da descrição dos pacientes. Método: Foram entrevistados 26 pacientes, 20 homens e seis mulheres, entre 13 e 71 anos. As convergências dos depoimentos levaram às verdades gerais, que descrevem a experiência vivida. Resultados: Os participantes revivem as fases do transplante. Comparam sintomas da falência cardíaca com os progressos que conseguiram após transplante. Alguns se sentem saudáveis. Outros relatam persistência da rejeição e complicações; e surgimento de outras afecções. Porém, todos STOLF, NAG ET AL-Experiencing heart transplantation: the patients' perspective

Qualidade de vida de pacientes submetidos ao transplante cardíaco: aplicação da escala Whoqol-Bref

“…Our data are similar to results of other studies, which portray the quality of life of transplant patients, showing the variation in the patients' emotional state in some periods of their life 1 . Patients often become depressed and find it difficult to overcome obstacles in their lives after the transplant 17 .…”

“…Heart transplant is the first option of treatment for heart failure and it represents a significant increase in the survival rate and quality of life of transplant patients 1 …”

Coping strategies after heart transplantation: psychological implications

“…A heart transplant requires lifestyle changes, so that the individual may cope with the demanding postoperative protocol and side effects of the drugs used [3][4][5]. The patient is also confronted with feelings that are roused by the constant threat of rejection, uncertainty of long-term prognosis, ambivalent psychological acceptance of the transplanted organ and influence of the cultural symbolism of the heart [3][4][5].…”

Qualidade de vida dos candidatos a transplante de coração

“…In this phase, the only therapeutic option to revert the status and improve QL is heart transplant (HT). Classic signs of refractory cardiac insufficiency are described by several authors [3,6,9].…”