Preoperative anxiety prior to coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) surgery

Abstract

Coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) surgery is a procedure used to improve and save the lives of thousands of patients with coronary artery disease each year. The need to undergo such invasive technique, such as CABG can place a great deal of stress and anxiety on patients. Detecting preoperative anxiety significantly contributes to understanding patients' perceptions of what may be the outcome of the surgery. The main purpose of the study was to explore preoperative anxiety of patients undergoing CABG surgery at the General Hospital in Malta. The sample consisted of twenty patients who were scheduled for CABG surgery. Patients were mostly males (n=14) and six females (n=6). Data was collected using the Preoperative Intrusive Thoughts Inventory (PITI). Results showed that although the patients were going in for a major surgery they reported low levels of anxiety.