Patient Attitudes to Sternotomy and Thoracotomy Scars[*]

Abstract

Background: There are no data comparing patient attitudes to sternotomy and thoracotomy scars following surgery for congenital heart disease (CHD). Methods: Two hundred and one patients with a scar from CHD surgery (105 sternotomy, 36 thoracotomy, and 60 both scars) had a structured interview to explore attitudes to their scar. Results: Comparable proportions of each group reported that they did not like or hated their scar (23/105 [22 %] sternotomy, 9/36 [25 %] thoracotomy, 17/60 [28 %] both scars). Significantly more patients stated that they where embarrassed by and/or their choice of clothing was affected by a thoracotomy scar (20/36, 56 %) than those with a sternotomy scar (36/105, 34 %), p = 0.04. This was also seen when comparing sternotomy alone with both scars (36/105 [34 %] vs. 34/60 [57 %], p = 0.008). Conclusions: Adults who have undergone surgery for CHD are more likely to have a negative attitude to a thoracotomy than a sternotomy scar. Before a change in surgical approach is considered based on patient preferences, the acceptability and psychological impact of the different scars following surgery needs formal study.

Key words

Congenital heart disease - scar - thoracotomy - sternotomy

1 Abstract presentation: As poster at the Association for European Paediatric Cardiology, Munich, 19 - 22 May 2004, Abstract number P98

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1 Abstract presentation: As poster at the Association for European Paediatric Cardiology, Munich, 19 - 22 May 2004, Abstract number P98