ABSTRACT
Objectives:To discuss the characteristics of nursing care of patients with cardiomegaly after heart valve replacement operation. Methods:From October 1997 to January 2000, 65 patients with cardiomegaly received heart valve replacement operations. According to the degree of cardiomegaly, these patients were divided into 3 types: left atrium, left ventricle and whole heart cardiomegaly. Different nursings were applied depending on the features of each type. Results:Complications occurred in 28 patients(12 in left atrium,11 in left ventricle and 5 in whole heart cardiomegaly),all of whom were cured;2 patients died, the mortality rate was 3.08%. Conclusions: To lower the morbidity and mortality, different kinds of nursing care should be applied to different cardiomegaly after heart valve replacement operations.