Comparison of two pain-management strategies during chest tube removal: Relaxation exercise with opioids and opioids alone

PurposeThe purpose of this study was to determine whether the use of a slow deep-breathing relaxation exercise, when used as an adjunct to opioid analgesia, decreases pain during chest tube removal (CTR) after coronary bypass surgery.DesignA two-group quasi-experimental pretest/posttest design was used.SampleA convenience sample of 40 adults who had undergone coronary artery bypass graft surgery and met all inclusion criteria were recruited before CTR.SettingData were collected in the Cardiothoracic Surgical Intensive Care Units of three acute care facilities in the Midwestern United States.MethodA 10-cm vertical Visual Analog Scale was used to measure pain at three points: before CTR, immediately after CTR, and 15 minutes after CTR. The experimental group received slow breathing relaxation exercises in addition to the usual opioid doses administered.FindingsData were analyzed using analysis of variance, and multivariate analysis of covariance yielded a significant difference in pain ratings immediately after CTR and 15 minutes after CTR for the group receiving relaxation exercise as an adjunct to opioid analgesic.ConclusionsThis study supports the use of a slow deep-breathing relaxation exercise as an adjunct to the use of opioids for pain management during CTR among patients who have undergone coronary bypass surgery.