title: The meaning of heart-valve surgery to the patient.
abstract: Observations are presented about patients' psychological reactions to the experience of having a heart valve replaced or repaired. The importance of the patient's conceptualization of the cardiac valve and the surgical procedure is discussed. By understanding what such a procedure may mean to the patient, the medical staff can help make a terrifying experience more bearable.
mesh_terms: D001007:Anxiety; D001294:Attitude to Health; D006348:Cardiac Surgical Procedures; D005239:Fear; D005260:Female; D006350:Heart Valve Prosthesis; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D013315:Stress, Psychological