Skip to main page content
U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Dot gov

The .gov means it’s official.
Federal government websites often end in .gov or .mil. Before sharing sensitive information, make sure you’re on a federal government site.

Https

The site is secure.
The https:// ensures that you are connecting to the official website and that any information you provide is encrypted and transmitted securely.

Access keys NCBI Homepage MyNCBI Homepage Main Content Main Navigation
. 2014 Jul 29;4(7):e005102.
doi: 10.1136/bmjopen-2014-005102.

Perceived health after percutaneous pulmonary valve implantation: in-depth interviews of patients and next-of-kin

Brith Andresen  1 , Marit Helen Andersen  2 , Harald Lindberg  3 , Gaute Døhlen  4 , Erik Fosse  5
Affiliations

Perceived health after percutaneous pulmonary valve implantation: in-depth interviews of patients and next-of-kin

Brith Andresen et al. BMJ Open. .

Abstract

Objective: Percutaneous pulmonary valve implantation is an alternative to open heart surgery in selected patients with pulmonary outflow tract disorder. The technique may reduce the number of open-chest surgeries in these patients. This study was conducted to understand how the patients and their next-of-kin experienced this new treatment option.

Design: Qualitative explorative design with individual in-depth interviews.

Setting: Oslo University Hospital, the only cardiac centre in Norway offering advanced surgical and interventional treatment to patient with congenital heart defects, serving the whole Norwegian population.

Participants: During a 2-year period a total of 10 patients, median age 17 (7-30) and 18 next-of-kin were consecutively selected for individual in-depth interviews 3-6 months after the pulmonary valve implantation. The verbatim transcripts were analysed using a phenomenological methodology.

Results: Patients emphasised the importance of regaining independence and taking control of daily life shortly after the new interventional treatment. Renewed hope towards treatment options was described as 'a light in the tunnel'. Next-of-kin emphasised the importance both for the patient and their family of resuming normal life quickly after the procedure. The physical burden was experienced as minor after the minimally invasive intervention, compared to their previous experience with surgical procedures.

Main outcome measure: The importance of maintaining normality in everyday life for a good family function.

Conclusions: The repeated surgeries during infancy and adolescence of patients with congenital heart disease represent a heavy burden both for the patient and their family. All families especially emphasised the importance of resuming normal life quickly after each procedure. The novel technique of pulmonary valve implantation is thus a favourable approach because of minor interference in daily life.

PubMed Disclaimer

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Experiences of patients. Main categories emerging from the interviews.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Experiences of next-of-kin. Main categories emerging from the interviews.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

References

    1. Moons P, Bovijn L, Budts W, et al. Temporal trends in survival to adulthood among patients born with congenital heart disease from 1970 to 1992 in Belgium. Circulation 2010;122:2264–72 - PubMed
    1. Brickner ME, Hillis LD, Lange RA. Congenital heart disease in adults. First of two parts. N Engl J Med 2000;342:256–63 - PubMed
    1. Moons P, Sluysmans T, De WD, et al. Congenital heart disease in 111 225 births in Belgium: birth prevalence, treatment and survival in the 21st century. Acta Paediatr 2009;98:472–7 - PubMed
    1. Lurz P, Bonhoeffer P, Taylor AM. Percutaneous pulmonary valve implantation: an update. Expert Rev Cardiovasc Ther 2009;7:823–33 - PubMed
    1. Moola F, McCrindle BW, Longmuir PE. Physical activity participation in youth with surgically corrected congenital heart disease: devising guidelines so Johnny can participate. Paediatr Child Health 2009;14:167–70 - PMC - PubMed

Publication types

LinkOut - more resources