The quick relaxation technique: effect on pain associated with chest tube removal

Documentation shows that conventional methods used to prepare patients for chest tube removal (CTR) are not effective in reducing pain associated with this procedure. The quick relaxation technique (QRT) was used on 24 primary aorta-coronary bypass surgical patients. Subjects rated their pain on the visual analog scale immediately following CTR and 30 minutes later. Results indicated that men > or = 70 years of age who received QRT in conjunction with analgesics reported less than half the amount of pain experienced by those who did not receive QRT. In comparison, women 70 years old or older reported much higher pain intensity scores when QRT was used. Preliminary results suggest that for most patients, the combination of analgesics and relaxation exercises is not more effective in decreasing pain during CTR than when analgesics are administered without relaxation exercises.