[Is psychoprophylaxis a valid approach for heart surgery in children?].
OBJECTIVE
To validate the hypothesys that a psycological preparation for children who will undergo cardiac surgery may improve the outcome.


METHODS
Sixty patients, with ages ranging between 3 and 10 years, submitted to heart surgery for treatment of congenital heart defects, were evaluated. They were divided in 2 groups: experimental and control. A questionnaire was designed for collecting data about psychological and clinical aspects of each patient.


RESULTS
The following data was found to be of statistical significance: acceptance of peripheral vein puncture in the surgical group (chi 2 = 11.59, p < 0.05), calm awakening following general anesthesia (chi 2 = 9.64 p < 0.05), cooperation with the physiotherapy staff (chi 2 = 13.30, p < 0.05), coping with parents absence (chi 2 = 9.64, p < 0.05), acceptance of fluid restriction (chi 2 = 17.78, p < 0.05) and cooperation with removal of stitches and pacemaker electrodes (chi 2 = 19.20, p < 0.05). There was not statistical significance on demand of sedation, cooperation at removal of the orotracheal tube and during examination, necessity of reintubation and occurrence of clinical complications. However, the prepared group showed a slight tendency to have less postoperative complications (20%) than the control (27%).


CONCLUSIONS
It was found that children who had adequated psychologic preparation prior to the correction of congenital heart defects had better psychological results with the imposed trauma.
Pereira Ruschel
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P
Instituto de Cardiologia do Rio Grande do Sul/Fundação Universitária de Cardiologia.
Pierini Cidade
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D
Daudt
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NS
Rossi Filho
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RI
D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D006330:Heart Defects, Congenital / Q000523:psychology / Q000601:surgery / Q000628:therapy*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010989:Play Therapy; D011182:Postoperative Care; D011300:Preoperative Care; D011613:Psychotherapy
E válida psicoprofilaxia para cirurgia cardíaca em crianças?