This study aimed to understand the factors which influence the process of experiencing cardiac revascularization surgery for patients, family members and health professionals, in a hospital which is a center of excellence, located in the South region of Brazil. The methodological framework was Grounded Theory. Data collection was undertaken in October 2010 - May 2012 through semi-structured interviews with 33 participants (patients, family members, doctors, nurses, a physical education trainer and a nursing technician), distributed in four sample groups. The personal and institutional intervenient factors identified were: the wait for the surgery, fear of death, use of drains and the orotracheal tube in the post-operative period, pain management, access to the medication, religiosity, the presence of scars, and support from the family and the health professionals. Knowledge of these factors by nurses can guide and benefit the professionals' clinical practice and the care for the revascularized patient in the pre- and post-operative period.
Nursing; Myocardial revascularization; Nursing care