The incidence of cardiovascular disease has been increasing annually in recent years, and in the majority of cases Myocardial Revascularization surgery becomes necessary. One of the principle complications of this procedure is post-surgical infection of the surgical site. This study aimed to identify signs and symptoms of infection of surgical site in the post-hospital discharge following cardiac reconstructive surgery. This is a descriptive quantitative study of a prospective character. Data was collected in the respective houses of 20 patients older than 18 years old who were submitted to cardiac reconstructive surgery in a quaternary philanthropic hospital located in São José do Rio Preto, SP, Brazil. Four patients presented serous exudate or festering and hyperemia in the surgical incision. An infection rate of the surgical site of 20% was found in post-hospital discharges studied. We highlight the need to implement a surveillance method in the period following post-hospital discharge to enable a real notification of surgical site infections, as these may be underreported and cause a high mortality rate.
Nursing; Signs and symptoms; Surgical wound infection; Cardiac surgery
