The Anticipation of Surgery

Abstract

The traditional focus upon the patient as an isolated individual has tended to minimize the fact that the approach to surgery is a social affair. In the case of the person awaiting coronary graft surgery there will be weeks and possibly months in which to reflect upon the surgeon’s decision and to come to terms with the prospect of the operation. During this time there are preparations to be made with the family about what will happen at the time of admission to hospital, as well as arrangements with employers concering time off work for recuperation. From what has already been shown of the differences between the couples interviewed, it was likely that people’s anticipation of what they would have to face and what they expected the operation to do for them would differ according to their oudook and situation. If this was the case, then the couples would not simply approach surgery from different directions, but would anticipate an event which took on various distinct forms according to how they saw the men’s illness and what they expected of recovery.