March 2006

CAM reduces pain in heart surgery patients

A study led by Vibhu R. Kshettry, MD, a cardiovascular surgeon from the Minneapolis Heart Institute at Abbott Northwestern Hospital, shows that those patients who receive complementary or alternative medical (CAM) therapies, including music, massage, and guided imagery, before and after open heart surgery, experience less pain and tension during recovery than patients who receive standard care.

The study included 104 men and women who were randomly divided into two groups — one that received alternative therapies at critical points in the preoperative and recovery periods, and one that received standard care.

Prior to their surgeries, patients assigned to the CAM group received relaxation skills training, guided imagery, and 30-minutes of gentle touch or light massage. On the first two days after surgery, they listened to 20-minutes of country western, classical, or light instrumental music and more light massage.

Patients assigned to the standard care group spent most of their time before and after surgery resting.

Physicians and nurses monitored the heart rates and blood pressure of patients in both groups and had patients rate their levels of pain and tension on a scale from 0 (no pain) to 10 (the worst pain). While heart rates and blood pressure for patients in both groups were similar, the mean post-operative pain and tension scores for patients who received alternative therapies were significantly lower than the scores of patients in the standard care group — 2.4 vs. 3.5 on day one of recovery and 1.3 vs. 2.1 on day two.

Source: Allina Hospitals & Clinics, www.allina.com

Industry News from:
Chiropractic News from: