Young adults with congenital heart defects expressed dissatisfaction with their surgical scar. The impact extended to their social life and ability to form close relationships, and has implications for holistic practice. Presented at Association for European Paediatric Cardiology conference in Munich

Burn, John

Crossland, David

Hamilton, Leslie

Hasan, Asif

Jackson, Sue

Lyall, Rosalind

O'Sullivan, John

English

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Patient Attitudes to Sternotomy and Thoracotomy ScarsD. S. Crossland, S. P. Jackson, R. Lyall, J. R. L. Hamilton, A. Hasan, J. Burn, J. J.O'SullivanAbstractBackground:There are no data comparing patient attitudes to sternotomy and thoracotomyscars following surgery for congenital heart disease (CHD).Methods:Two hundred and one patients with a scar from CHD surgery (105sternotomy, 36 thoracotomy, and 60 both scars) had a structured interview toexplore attitudes to their scar.Results:Comparable proportions of each group reported that they did not like or hatedtheir scar (23/105 [22 %] sternotomy, 9/36 [25 %] thoracotomy, 17/60 [28 %]both scars). Significantly more patients stated that they where embarrassedby and/or their choice of clothing was affected by a thoracotomy scar (20/36,56 %) than those with a sternotomy scar (36/105, 34 %), p = 0.04. This wasalso seen when comparing sternotomy alone with both scars (36/105 [34 %]vs. 34/60 [57 %], p = 0.008).Conclusions:Adults who have undergone surgery for CHD are more likely to have anegative attitude to a thoracotomy than a sternotomy scar. Before a change insurgical approach is considered based on patient preferences, theacceptability and psychological impact of the different scars following surgeryneeds formal study.

Patient attitudes to sternotomy and thoracotomy scars

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Citation: Crossland, David, Jackson, Sue, Hamilton, Leslie, Lyall, Rosalind, Hasan, Asif, Burn, John 
and O'Sullivan, John (2005) Patient attitudes to sternotomy and thoracotomy scars. The Thoracic and 
Cardiovascular Surgeon, 53 (2). pp. 93-95. ISSN 0171-6425 
Published by: Georg Thieme Verlag
URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.1055/s-2004-830422 <http://dx.doi.org/10.1055/s-2004-830422>
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Patient Attitudes to Sternotomy and Thoracotomy Scars
D. S. Crossland, S. P. Jackson, R. Lyall, J. R. L. Hamilton, A. Hasan, J. Burn, J. J.
O'Sullivan
Abstract
Background:
There are no data comparing patient attitudes to sternotomy and thoracotomy
scars following surgery for congenital heart disease (CHD).
Methods:
Two hundred and one patients with a scar from CHD surgery (105
sternotomy, 36 thoracotomy, and 60 both scars) had a structured interview to
explore attitudes to their scar.
Results:
Comparable proportions of each group reported that they did not like or hated
their scar (23/105 [22 %] sternotomy, 9/36 [25 %] thoracotomy, 17/60 [28 %]
both scars). Significantly more patients stated that they where embarrassed
by and/or their choice of clothing was affected by a thoracotomy scar (20/36,
56 %) than those with a sternotomy scar (36/105, 34 %), p = 0.04. This was
also seen when comparing sternotomy alone with both scars (36/105 [34 %]
vs. 34/60 [57 %], p = 0.008).
Conclusions:
Adults who have undergone surgery for CHD are more likely to have a
negative attitude to a thoracotomy than a sternotomy scar. Before a change in
surgical approach is considered based on patient preferences, the
acceptability and psychological impact of the different scars following surgery
needs formal study.


http://nrl.northumbria.ac.uk/id/eprint/223/1/Patient%20Attitudes%20to%20Sternotomy%20and%20Thoracotomy%20Scars.pdf

Patient attitudes to sternotomy and thoracotomy scars

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