Emergency percutaneous coronary intervention and stent implantation: patients' lived experiences

Introduction: Given that emergency procedures must be performed immediately and without the possibility of sufficiently informing and preparing a patient, the lived experiences of patients who undergo emergency procedures and those who undergo elective procedures may well differ. Elucidating the lived experiences of patients who underwent percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) with stent implantation in an emergency situation is crucial because such knowledge might prove helpful in tailoring post-procedure interventions intended to improve the lives of PCI patients. Aim: To describe the experiences of patients 1 month after they underwent emergency PCI with coronary stent implantation. Methods: Cohen's phenomenology was applied in this study. This method combines the characteristics of descriptive (Husserlian) phenomenology with those of interpretative (Gadmerian) phenomenology, and it is by nature an inductive approach. The participants were enrolled 1 month after undergoing PCI with coronary stent implantation. They were interviewed using open-ended questions to provide them full freedom of expression. They were asked to describe their experiences of the PCI and stent implementation they have gone through. This study followed the recommendations of the Standard for Reporting Qualitative Research. Results: Our sample consisted of 15 participants. Data analysis revealed three main themes: (1) catheter lab and pain, (2) anxiety and feeling uncertain about the future, and (3) lifestyle changes. The anxiety theme encompassed two subthemes: (a) anxiety related to the procedure and (b) anxiety related to the continuation of life. Conclusion: Our study is one of the first works to explicitly investigate the lived experiences of patients who underwent emergency PCI. Understanding the experiences of these patients is key in understanding their realistic needs and concerns. Relevance to clinical practice: Knowledge of the lived experiences of patients who underwent emergency PCI with coronary stent implantation is fundamental in identifying aspects that warrant tailored interventions.