Carotid artery stenosis – nursing management issues in patients

The aim of this study was to recognise major nursing issues, based on the evaluation of clinical symtoms and illness acceptance in a group of patients with carotid artery stenosis.

Material and methods: The study included 91 patients with carotid artery stenosis qualified for the operation. A questionnaire (containing demographic data and patient’s medical history) and a standardized Acceptance of Illness Scale (AIS) were used to evaluate the study material.

Results: Neurological symptoms listed in this study group may become life-threatening ones, may affect their performance status and self-reliance and could also disturb communication with the patient. The mean value achieved by the patients in AIS scale (32.89 ±7.75) indicates a quite high level of illness acceptance. Higher levels of acceptance were observed in a group of men, in older patents and also in patients without past history of ischemic stroke.

Conclusions: Diversity of symptoms in patients with carotid artery stenosis determines an individual approach to nursing problems during the perioperative period. The level of disease acceptance statistically significantly depends on sex, age and history of past ischemic stroke in patients.