Osteopathic Manipulative Treatment Improves Heart Surgery Outcomes: A Randomized Controlled Trial

Area of Science:

• Cardiology
• Pain Management
• Osteopathic Medicine

Background:

• Sternal pain post-heart surgery can lead to complications and is often undertreated due to drug limitations.
• Osteopathic manipulative treatment (OMT) shows promise in pain reduction across various clinical settings.
• The study investigates OMT's potential benefits for patients undergoing cardiac surgery.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess the efficacy of OMT in alleviating sternal pain after sternotomy.
• To determine if OMT improves postoperative functional recovery in cardiac surgery patients.
• To evaluate the impact of OMT on overall patient management and outcomes.

Main Methods:

• Eighty adult patients who underwent sternotomy were randomized into two groups: standard cardiorespiratory rehabilitation alone (control) or with OMT.
• Pain intensity was measured using the Visual Analogue Scale (VAS).
• Respiratory function was assessed via a standardized breathing test measuring mean inspiratory volume.

Main Results:

• Both groups had similar baseline pain scores and respiratory function.
• The OMT group demonstrated significantly lower VAS scores and higher mean inspiratory volumes post-rehabilitation (p < 0.01).
• The OMT group experienced a shorter hospital stay (p < 0.05) with similar analgesic intake compared to the control group.

Conclusions:

• Combining OMT with standard care is effective for sternal pain relief and functional recovery in post-sternotomy patients.
• OMT significantly enhances the management of patients following heart surgery.
• This integrated approach offers a promising strategy for improving postoperative care after sternotomy.