Fortschritte der Medizin
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Fortschritte der Medizin · Feb 1976
[Mental and neurological disorders associated with heart operations. Pre- and postoperative studies].
Long before the era of heart surgery began, "cardiac psychoses" were known and described. They do not differ at all from postoperative psychoses after heart-surgery. On the other hand heart-surgery carries a far higher incidence of psychiatric complications than general surgery (general surgery 0,1--1,0%; heart surgery 10--60%). ⋯ Persecutory delusions with the fear of being killed and ideas and fears of severe body mutilation are the most common motives. Similar motives are frequently observed in postoperative dreams. The manifestations of mental disease in the family or personal history of the patient is considered a significant presupposition of developing a cardiac psychosis of the type of endogenous depression, acute delirium or with schizophrenia like delusions.