Two-thirds of the studies found that patients who suffered surgical complications had significantly worse postoperative psychosocial outcomes even after controlling for preoperative psychosocial outcomes , clinical and demographic factors .
Surgical complications appear to be a significant and often long-term predictor of patient postoperative psychosocial outcomes .
The results highlight the importance of attending to patients ' psychological needs in the aftermath of surgical complications
OBJECTIVE Surgical complications may affect patients psychologically due to challenges such as prolonged recovery or long-lasting disability .
Psychological distress could further delay patients ' recovery as stress delays wound healing and compromises immunity .
This review investigates whether surgical complications adversely affect patients ' postoperative well-being and the duration of this impact .
Relation between Quality of Recovery in Hospital and Quality of Life at 3 Months after Cardiac Surgery
Background Improved quality of life ( QoL ) is a desirable outcome of cardiac surgery . The aim of the current study was to measure the association between quality of recovery 3 days after surgery and QoL measured 3 months later . Methods After obtaining ethics committee approval and consent , 120 adult cardiac surgical patients were studied . A 40-item quality of recovery score ( QoR-40 ) was used to measure postoperative health status on days 1–3 and 1 month after surgery . QoL was measured using the  short-form health survey ( SF-36 ) at 1 and 3 months after surgery . The effect size ( & Dgr;mean/SD ) was used to define responsiveness , a clinical ly important difference in health . Associations were measured using correlation and reliability coefficients . Results There was a significant change in the mean QoR-40 for up to 1 month after surgery ( P < 0.0005 ) . QoL was improved at 3 months ( P < 0.0005 ) but not 1 month ( P = 0.29 ) after surgery . There was a moderate correlation between day-3 QoR-40 and 3-month SF-36 ( r = 0.39;P < 0.0005 ) . A poor- quality recovery in hospital predicted a poor QoL at 3 months ( adjusted odds ratio , 4.20 ; 95 % confidence interval , 1.41–12.5;P = 0.01 ) . Conclusions The QoR-40 is a valid measure of quality of recovery after surgery and anesthesia . When compared with the SF-36 , it is a better measure of early postoperative recovery . A poor- quality recovery on the days after surgery can predict a poor QoL at 3 months after surgery . This may allow earlier and more effective support strategies while patients are still in the hospital ( counseling , home assistance , local doctor notification , cardiac rehabilitation )
Two-thirds of the studies found that patients who suffered surgical complications had significantly worse postoperative psychosocial outcomes even after controlling for preoperative psychosocial outcomes , clinical and demographic factors .
Surgical complications appear to be a significant and often long-term predictor of patient postoperative psychosocial outcomes .
The results highlight the importance of attending to patients ' psychological needs in the aftermath of surgical complications
OBJECTIVE Surgical complications may affect patients psychologically due to challenges such as prolonged recovery or long-lasting disability .
Psychological distress could further delay patients ' recovery as stress delays wound healing and compromises immunity .
This review investigates whether surgical complications adversely affect patients ' postoperative well-being and the duration of this impact .