title: Serious complications in connection with cardiac surgery--next of kin's views on information and support.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Next of kin (NoK) to patients undergoing cardiac surgery expect successful outcomes but sometimes serious complications occur and this affects their NoK. To describe NoK's experiences of information and support when serious complications occur during the first 30 days after cardiac surgery.
  
  
  METHODS
  A qualitative, critical incident technique was used. Forty-two NoK were asked to describe their experiences of information and support.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Three main areas emerged from the analysis. The first main area, Confidence during the waiting period, described how NoK could not participate in the forthcoming operation and how the NoK were informed. The second main area, Involvement during the hospital stay, described how the NoK feel trust in the healthcare professionals and dissatisfaction with the care in relation to the operation. The third main area, Sense of abandonment, described problems with the rehabilitation.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These findings show the importance of pre- and post operative contacts between healthcare professionals, patients and NoK. When the NoK and the patients are well informed it constitutes a basis for fruitful conversations between them and the healthcare professionals, and everyone can be better prepared if complications occur.
authors: Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Lund University and Skåne University Hospital, SE-221 85 Lund, Sweden. bodil.ivarsson@med.lu.se
authors: Bodil
authors: B
authors: Ivarsson
authors: Sylvia
authors: S
authors: Larsson
authors: Carsten
authors: C
authors: Lührs
authors: Trygve
authors: T
authors: Sjöberg
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D017028:Caregivers; D003258:Consumer Behavior; D005260:Female; D006331:Heart Diseases / Q000451:nursing / Q000534:rehabilitation / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000451:nursing / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D011368:Professional-Family Relations; D036301:Qualitative Research; D012944:Social Support; D018454:Spouses / Q000523:psychology; D013548:Sweden; D035502:Trust