Quality of Life and Psychosomatics: In Mechanical Circulation, the Heart Transplantation - Hardcover

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 3798509913 ISBN 13: 9783798509917

Publisher: Steinkopff Darmstadt, 1998

Synopsis

Advances in heart surgical treatment have been impressive in the last 15 years. In end-stage heart disease, procedures are now performed routinely which were only experimental one or two decades ago. Heart transplantation has become a well-established procedure. According to the Gen- eral Registry of the International Society of Heart and Lung Transplantation. 40,738 heart transplantations had been performed through the end of 1997 with survival rates of 78 % at one year, 65 % at five years, and 42 % at ten years. The progress in this field has been due to intense efforts in understanding and modulating immune responses to the trans- planted heart, to elaborate therapeutic strategies to constrain infections, and to improved out-patient care. Accordingly, heart transplantation is integrated into the facilities of the health care systems, the routine of physicians, and the awareness of patients. The resulting increase in potential organ recipients has not been met, however, by an equivalent increase of available donor organs. This increasing discrepancy has forced the technical improvement and clinical evalua- tion of mechanical circulatory support systems as an option for treatment of critically ill patients with a failing heart. Initially, these assist devices were only used to maintain sufficient circulation in post-cardiotomy heart failure until myocardial function had recov- ered. Since the late 1980s, their primary use has been that of bridging patients with heart failure until a suitable organ is available so that heart transplantation can be performed.

About this title

Synopsis

This text presents the proceedings of a meeting about psychosomatic aspects and the health-related quality of life in patients undergoing mechanical circulatory support and heart transplantation. Little is as yet known about the impact of these invasive surgical techniques on the patient's psyche. Experts in the field explore this area from the point of view of neuropsychiatric and neuropsychological science as well as psychosomatic research. The observed emotional processes, changes in body image, and related coping efforts are analyzed in a context with quality of life. Covering a wide range of topics, the book also explains the surgical techniques and outcome of these procedures. It is addressed to all those working in heart surgery and related areas.

Edition details

• Publisher: Steinkopff Darmstadt
• Publication date: 1998
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 3798509913
• ISBN 13: 9783798509917
• Binding: Hardcover
• Number of pages: 128
• Editor: Albert Wolfgang, Bittner Anneli, Hetzer Roland