title: Physical and mental recovery after conventional aortic valve surgery.
abstract: Physical and mental recovery are important factors to consider in the treatment of aortic valve disease, and the process of recovery is not well known. We investigated the course of physical and mental recovery directly after conventional aortic valve surgery.
  
  
  
  In a longitudinal study, 60 patients undergoing elective aortic valve surgery were studied preoperatively and at intervals of 4 weeks after aortic valve surgery. The last measurement was taken 6 months postoperatively. Measurements included the 6-minute walk test and N-terminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptide. Mental recovery was assessed by the Short Form Health Survey and the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale. All parameters were compared with published healthy norms.
  
  
  
  All parameters except for the anxiety score showed a significant decline after the first postoperative measurement at 1 week after aortic valve surgery. The baseline level was restored at 1 to 3 weeks (anxiety, depression, mental quality of life, Borg scale), 4 to 6 weeks (6-minute walk test, physical quality of life), and 9 weeks (N-terminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptide) after the first postoperative week. Significantly better values than preoperatively for the first time were reached at 2 to 3 weeks (anxiety, depression, mental quality of life), 5 weeks (6-minute walk test), 8 weeks (physical quality of life), and 12 weeks (N-terminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptide) after the first postoperative week. At 3 months postoperatively, significant improvements (P < .001) were seen in walk distance (+212 m), dyspnea (-1.11), physical (+12.38) and mental quality of life (+7.71), anxiety (-3.74), and depression (-3.62) compared with the first week postoperatively. At 6 months postoperatively, all parameters were significantly improved compared with preoperative data and, except for the N-terminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptide value, significantly better or equal compared with published healthy norms.
  
  
  
  After conventional aortic valve surgery, the most pronounced recovery was seen in the first 6 weeks postoperatively. Physical quality of life and N-terminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptide required a prolonged time for a complete recovery.
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiovascular Surgery, University Heart Center, Hamburg, Germany; Department of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery, Saarland University Medical Center, Homburg/Saar, Germany.
authors.forename: Johannes
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Petersen
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Biometry and Epidemiology, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany.
authors.forename: Eik
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Vettorazzi
authors.affiliation: Department of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery, Saarland University Medical Center, Homburg/Saar, Germany.
authors.forename: Lena
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Winter
authors.affiliation: Clinic for Psychosomatic Medicine, Mediclin Bliestal Clinics, Blieskastel, Germany.
authors.forename: Wolfram
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Schmied
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiology, Angiology and Intensive Care Medicine, Saarland University Medical Center, Homburg/Saar, Germany.
authors.forename: Ingrid
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Kindermann
authors.affiliation: Department of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery, Saarland University Medical Center, Homburg/Saar, Germany. Electronic address: h-j.schaefers@uks.eu.
authors.forename: Hans-Joachim
authors.initials: HJ
authors.lastname: Schäfers
mesh_terms: D001007:Anxiety / Q000523:psychology; D001021:Aortic Valve / Q000601:surgery*; D003863:Depression / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D006349:Heart Valve Diseases / Q000523:psychology* / Q000601:surgery*; D019918:Heart Valve Prosthesis Implantation / Q000379:methods* / Q000523:psychology*; D006801:Humans; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D020097:Natriuretic Peptide, Brain / Q000032:analysis; D010446:Peptide Fragments / Q000032:analysis; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D011788:Quality of Life; D020127:Recovery of Function
chemical_list: D010446:Peptide Fragments; C109794:pro-brain natriuretic peptide (1-76); D020097:Natriuretic Peptide, Brain
keywords: 6-minute walk test; anxiety; aortic valve surgery; depression; proBNP; quality of life; recovery