Functional status and quality of life in long-term survivors of cardiac arrest after cardiac surgery.
OBJECTIVE
To assess long-term survival, functional status, and quality of life in patients who experienced cardiac arrest after cardiac surgery.


METHODS
Prospective, observational study.


METHODS
An 18-bed, adult cardiac surgery intensive care unit in a tertiary teaching center.


METHODS
Twenty-nine cardiac surgery patients who suffered an unexpected cardiac arrest in the immediate postoperative period.


METHODS
The New York Heart Association classification and a questionnaire based on the Nottingham Health Profile were used to evaluate functional status and quality of life 4 yrs after hospital discharge.


RESULTS
Of the 29 patients who experienced cardiac arrest during the first 24 hrs after cardiac surgery, 27 patients (93%) were successfully resuscitated and 23 patients (79%) survived to hospital discharge. Evaluation 4 yrs postdischarge showed that, of the 29 patients, 16 patients (55%) were still alive (long-term survivors). Functional status assessment of long-term survivors revealed that 12 patients (75%) were grouped in New York Heart Association class I, 3 patients (19%) in class II, and 1 patient (6%) in class III. None of them had a neurologic deficit. They all were living independently at home, without need of any nursing care. No patient reported any abnormal emotional reactions, and six patients (38%) had mild sleep disturbances, such as early awaking. Regarding activities of daily living, 20% returned to work, 94% were able to look after their home, 96% had a social life, 63% were sexually active, 81% were involved in their hobbies, and 75% had gone on holidays.


CONCLUSIONS
Cardiac surgery patients who experience an unexpected cardiac arrest in the immediate postoperative period have a 55% chance of being alive 4 yrs postdischarge. The majority of these long-term survivors has a good outcome with respect to functional status and quality of life.
Dimopoulou
I
I
Intensive Care Unit, Onassis Cardiac Surgery Center, Athens, Greece. idimo@otenet.gr
Anthi
A
A
Michalis
A
A
Tzelepis
G E
GE
D000203:Activities of Daily Living; D000368:Aged; D006348:Cardiac Surgical Procedures / Q000401:mortality / Q000534:rehabilitation; D005260:Female; D006323:Heart Arrest / Q000401:mortality / Q000534:rehabilitation; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000401:mortality / Q000534:rehabilitation; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011788:Quality of Life; D015996:Survival Rate; D017741:Survivors; D016896:Treatment Outcome