I Am No Longer Trapped in a Glass Cage: A Qualitative Interview Study of the Patients' Experience on Specialized Aortic Rehabilitation After Aortic Dissection Surgery.

Background: This study explored patients' experience with a specialized rehabilitation course after aortic dissection surgery.

Method: A qualitative study was conducted using content analysis inspired by Graneheim and Lundman. Participants were recruited by a physiotherapist at the end of or shortly after the rehabilitation course at the hospital to partake in an interview. The interviews were held either over the phone or in a private room at the hospital.

Results: Through eight patient interviews (three women and five men aged 45-73 years), an overarching theme was identified: Finding peace in a new version of oneself, which deals with having to find oneself in a new role with a different body that must and can do less, at the same time with a feeling of gratitude for being alive. In addition, three subthemes arose from the time of operation and throughout the course of rehabilitation: (1) Having survived the operation-first the miracle! And what now? (2) The rehabilitation course provides security and provides well-being. (3) Becoming a whole person again.

Conclusion: This study provides important insights of patients' perspectives of how structured cardiac rehabilitation after aortic dissection supports patients finding peace in a new version of themselves.