Lived experiences of post-traumatic growth in patients with acute type A aortic dissection: A qualitative study

Introduction: Acute type A aortic dissection is a life-threatening cardiovascular emergency characterized by sudden onset, severe pain, and high mortality, exerting profound physical and psychological burdens on affected individuals. While negative psychological sequelae predominate in most cases, a subset of patients demonstrates remarkable resilience, manifesting post-traumatic growth—a positive psychological transformation emerging in the aftermath of trauma. This qualitative study aimed to investigate the lived experiences of post-traumatic growth among Acute type A aortic dissection survivors, shedding light on this understudied dimension of their recovery trajectory. Methods: A qualitative study was conducted using a phenomenological approach. Twenty patients diagnosed with Acute type A aortic dissection were recruited through purposive sampling from a tertiary hospital in China. Data were collected via in-depth, face-to-face semi-structured interviews and analyzed using Colaizzi’s seven-step method to extract key themes and sub-themes. Results: Three overarching themes and eight sub-themes were identified, reflecting the multidimensional nature of post-traumatic growth in Acute type A aortic dissection patients: Reevaluating Life Priorities (reordering life priorities, valuing life), Behavioral Transformation (improving unhealthy habits, enhancing treatment adherence), and Enhanced Social Connections (strengthened family ties, gratitude for social support, reintegration into family and society, altruistic behavior). Conclusions: This study elucidates three core dimensions of post-traumatic growth in survivors of acute type A aortic dissection: life priority reassessment, adoption of positive health behaviors, and enhanced social connectedness. The findings underscore the critical role of guided self-reflection, supported behavior change, and robust family-social support systems in facilitating psychological recovery. We recommend integrating interventions focused on post-traumatic growth, such as psychological counseling and structured family support, into standard cardiac rehabilitation protocols to promote holistic recovery. Together, these insights provide a theoretical and practical foundation for developing tailored psychosocial interventions for this patient population.