Deep sternal wound infection after cardiac surgery - A phenomenological-hermeneutic study of
patients’ experiences with negative pressure wound therapy
Sammanfattning
Deep sternal wound infection is one of the most serious complications after
cardiac surgery, and it is treated with negative pressure wound therapy, NPWT.
In Denmark the incidence rate for postoperative infections are at 3.5%. The aim
of the study is to explore how patients with deep sternal wound infection after
cardiac surgery experience NPWT. The study had an explorative design, were
in-depth semi-structured interviews were performed. Seven men were given the
opportunity to narrate their experiences. The analysis was conducted within a
phenomenological hermeneutic framework based on the French philosopher
Paul Ricoeur’s text interpretation theory. Four themes were developed: «Being
affected by having an infection of the heart», «Needing time on your own»,
«Feeling difficulties understanding the hospitalisation» and «Needing
professionals to go through the hospitalisation with you». Conclusively,
patients treated with NPWT after cardiac surgery experience being
psychologically affected during the process. The participants describe both the
infection and the following hospitalisation as reasons for changes in their
psychological state. Furthermore the participants call for more contact given by
only a few nurses to improve their hospitalisation.