Chest Tube Removal: Efficacy of Cold Application and Breathing Exercise on Pain and Anxiety Level

Mohamed, Rasha; Reham A. E. El Sayed;

Abstract


Context: Post-cardiothoracic surgical chest tube removal (CTR) is considered a painful technique and one of the most painful patients'
experiences in the intensive care unit. Painkillers are the most prevalent method to relieve the pain, but the patient may not respond well
and achieved complete relaxation. Regardless of scientific advances, no efficient action is possessed to decrease pain and anxiety because
of it.
Aim: This study aimed to investigate the efficacy of cold application and breathing exercises on pain and anxiety levels following chest
tube removal.
Methods: A quasi-experimental design (one group pre/post-test) was utilized to achieve the aim. This study was conducted in the Intensive
Care Unit at the Cardio-Thoracic Academy Affiliated to Ain Shams University Hospital, Cairo. A Purposive sample included 60 patients
undergoing cardiothoracic surgical procedures and having at least two chest tubes in place. Data were collected using three tools; a structured
interviewing questionnaire, pain intensity assessment visual numeric scale, short-form McGill pain assessment questionnaire, modified
comfort scale, and breathing exercise checklist.
Results: This study revealed that patients suffer from severe pain before CTR without cold application and breathing exercise (61.7%), or
with the application of them (66.7%), the pain level improved during removal as 80% of patients display no pain when using the cold
application and breathing exercise that increased to 95% after 10-15 minute of removal compared to 8.3% when cold application and
breathing exercise not used. Otherwise, the anxiety level decreased during CTR as 58.3% had mild anxiety level with cold application and
breathing exercises compared to 38.3% had a very severe anxiety level. Mild anxiety level increased to 91.7% after 10-15 minutes of CTR
compared to 16.7 % when CTR without application.
Conclusion: Cold application and breathing exercises are useful for reducing patients' pain and anxiety levels associated with chest tube
removal after cardiothoracic surgery. Encouraging critical care nurses to use cold application and breathing exercises as a nonpharmacological
pain relief technique during chest tube removal was highly recommended.


Other data

Title Chest Tube Removal: Efficacy of Cold Application and Breathing Exercise on Pain and Anxiety Level
Authors Mohamed, Rasha ; Reham A. E. El Sayed
Keywords Chest tube removal;pain;anxiety;cold application;breathing exercise
Issue Date Oct-2020
Publisher Evidence-Based Nursing Research
Volume 2
Issue 4
Start page 34
End page 45

Attached Files

File Description SizeFormat Existing users please Login
Chest Tube Removal Efficacy of Cold Application and Breathing.pdf637.41 kBAdobe PDF    Request a copy
Recommend this item

Similar Items from Core Recommender Database

Google ScholarTM

Check



Items in Ain Shams Scholar are protected by copyright, with all rights reserved, unless otherwise indicated.