Determining the recovery status of patients who have undergone coronary artery bypass graft surgery

Cardiovascular diseases are among the most common and deadly diseases in the world. Coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) surgery is a method used in the surgical treatment of coronary artery disease, one of these diseases. Factors such as the various methods used, including open heart surgery or minimally invasive surgery, the demographic characteristics and medical history of patients, the health facilities available, and the care provided affect the postoperative recovery process. This study was conducted as a cross-sectional-descriptive study to contribute to the literature by determining the recovery status of patients who underwent CABG surgery and the factors affecting their recovery status. The sample consisted of a total of 99 patients who were hospitalized in the cardiovascular surgery departments of two different hospitals between April 2024 and April 2025 and met the inclusion criteria. The "Descriptive and Clinical Characteristics Form" and the "Postoperative Recovery Index (PRI)" were used in the study, which were created in line with the literature. Prior to the study, ethical committee approval, institutional permissions, and scale usage permission were obtained. The study showed that patients experienced significant improvements in their postoperative recovery process over time. The level of recovery difficulty was found to decrease significantly between the fourth and fifteenth days after surgery. On the 15th day, a significant decrease in recovery difficulties related to psychological symptoms, physical activities, general symptoms, bowel functions, and desire/motivation was observed. The main factors that increased recovery difficulty were advanced age, a prolonged stay in the intensive care unit, delayed oral intake, and the presence of a child or a relative/friend. Fluid supplementation, previous surgical experience, and a high level of education were found to positively affect recovery. Notably, patients with a spouse present experienced fewer difficulties during recovery.