The Impact of Massage on Pain and Vital Signs Following Cardiovascular Surgery in Pediatric Patients

Engin Turan1, Mensure Turan, Gülay Manav

  • 1Engin Turan, PhD, RN, Assistant Professor, Department of Nursing, Faculty of Health Sciences, Sirnak University, Turkey. Mensure Turan, PhD, RN, Assistant Professor, Department of Nursing, Faculty of Health Sciences, Sirnak University, Turkey. Gülay Manav, PhD, RN, Associate Professor, Department of Child Health and Diseases Nursing, Faculty of Health Sciences, Muğla Sitki Koçman University, Turkey. Murat Kanğin, MD, Professor, Department of Pediatrics, Faculty of Medicine, Istanbul Medipol University, Turkey.

Insights

Massage therapy effectively reduced postoperative pain and improved vital signs in children after cardiovascular surgery. This non-invasive approach positively impacted pain management and physiological recovery in pediatric patients.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatric cardiovascular surgery
  • Pain management
  • Massage therapy

Background:

  • Effective postoperative pain management is critical for pediatric patient care.
  • Cardiovascular surgery in children presents unique pain management challenges.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the impact of classical massage on pain levels in children post-cardiovascular surgery.
  • To assess the effects of massage on vital signs, including heart rate and oxygen saturation, in this pediatric population.

Main Methods:

  • A randomized controlled trial involving 86 children undergoing cardiovascular surgery.
  • The experimental group received classical massage, while the control group did not.
  • Pain scores and vital signs were systematically measured and compared between groups.

Main Results:

  • Pretest measurements showed no significant difference in pain scores or vital signs between the groups.
  • Post-intervention, a statistically significant reduction in pain was observed in the massage group.
  • Significant improvements were noted in heart rate and oxygen saturation in the massage group compared to the control.

Conclusions:

  • Massage therapy is an effective intervention for reducing postoperative pain in children following cardiovascular surgery.
  • Massage demonstrates beneficial effects on key physiological indicators such as oxygen saturation, respiratory rate, heart rate, and systolic blood pressure.
  • Classical massage offers a promising, non-pharmacological approach to enhance recovery and well-being in pediatric surgical patients.
Abstract

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