Totally endoscopic cardiac surgery (TECS) is considered to have aesthetic advantages over conventional median sternotomy due to the smaller incisions. Most research regarding TECS focuses on clinical outcomes instead of cosmetic consequences. Following surgery, postoperative scarring is unavoidable and may negatively affect the patient's physical and emotional well-being. Therefore, this study aims to investigate the cosmesis after TECS.
Totally endoscopic cardiac surgery (TECS) is considered to have aesthetic advantages over conventional median sternotomy due to the smaller incisions. Most research regarding TECS focuses on clinical outcomes instead of cosmetic consequences. Following surgery, postoperative scarring is unavoidable and may negatively affect the patient's physical and emotional well-being. One previous study compared median sternotomy cardiac surgery and TECS in terms of the long-term cosmetic appearance of postoperative scars. They concluded that scars were considered more satisfactory, less painful, and itchy in the TECS group in the Chinese population. To our knowledge, this is the only study published regarding cosmetic consequences after TECS. Therefore, this study aims to investigate the cosmesis after TECS.
Study Type
OBSERVATIONAL
Enrollment
80
The SCAR scale consists of two simple questions about symptoms (itch and pain) with yes/no response options that are responded to by the patient and six clinician-related items that are rated by observers through photos of the incisions. This scale includes both objective measurements and patient-reported symptoms
The NRS scale, in which the patients score the cosmetic appearance of the scar from 0 to 10, is questioned.
Jessa Hospital
Hasselt, Limburg, Belgium
Evaluate the cosmesis through the Scar Cosmesis Assessment and Rating (SCAR) scale at postoperative day one.
The SCAR scale includes both objective measurements and patient-reported symptoms. A low score corresponds to a good scar cosmesis and a high score to a bad scar cosmesis.
Time frame: Postoperative day one
Evaluate the cosmesis through the Scar Cosmesis Assessment and Rating (SCAR) scale at postoperative day 14.
The SCAR scale includes both objective measurements and patient-reported symptoms. A low score corresponds to a good scar cosmesis and a high score to a bad scar cosmesis.
Time frame: Postoperative day 14
Evaluate the cosmesis through the Scar Cosmesis Assessment and Rating (SCAR) scale at postoperative day 30.
The SCAR scale includes both objective measurements and patient-reported symptoms. A low score corresponds to a good scar cosmesis and a high score to a bad scar cosmesis.
Time frame: Postoperative day 30
Cosmetic assessment from the patients through the numerical rating scale (NRS) at postoperative day one.
The cosmetic appearance of the scar is scored from 0 to 10, whereas 0 contributes to not satisfied with the scar and 10 with very satisfied with the scar.
Time frame: Postoperative day one
Cosmetic assessment from the patients through the numerical rating scale (NRS) at postoperative day 14.
The cosmetic appearance of the scar is scored from 0 to 10, whereas 0 contributes to not satisfied with the scar and 10 with very satisfied with the scar.
Time frame: Postoperative day 14
Cosmetic assessment from the patients through the numerical rating scale (NRS) at postoperative day 30.
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The cosmetic appearance of the scar is scored from 0 to 10, whereas 0 contributes to not satisfied with the scar and 10 with very satisfied with the scar.
Time frame: Postoperative day 30