Complaints Observed Among Patients After Invasive Procedures on Coronary Arteries

Procedures included in the survey which are coronary angiography - CAG and percutaneous coronary intervention PCI, are commonly available nowadays (in 2022 there were over 3960 of CAG per 1 million citizens a year and 2300 of PCI per 1 million citizens a year). During both procedures a patient’s position is the same - on their back with straight arms and legs. The duration of the procedures is various - from 15 minutes to over 2 hours. A patient, while coronary interventions, is exposed to multiple discomforts that very often are not even connected with coronary procedure sensu stricto, such as: low temperature of the environment, after effects of surgical complications, enforced position of the body and necessary body immobility during the procedures. The latter discomfort is very often connected with intensified pain in a locomotor system which is a significant problem among elderly patients. They constitute a substantial percentage of cathlab’s patients. There are no precise recommendations or guidelines about sedation and/or analgesia during the procedures. The aim of the article is to assess the patients’ complaints, especially pain components while CAG and PCI. MATERIALS AND METHODS The survey involves patients after CAG and PCI. A self created questionnaire. NRS scale, The Beck Anxiety Inventory (BAI) (A.T. Beck, R.A. Steer) RESULTS The 50 patients’ statements have been obtained. The conclusions are: a patient, during the procedure, is subject to multiple discomforts. They are dependant on the duration of the procedure itself , the temperature of the environment and coexistent health problems which might cause pain complaints of a different matter. These complaints may be intensified by enforced, uncomfortable body position and a hard bed. Other factors which intensify complaints are anxiety, feeling of embarrassment and being aware of danger of life. CONCLUSIONS During CAG and PCI procedures the patients suffer from pain complaints not always resulting from the procedures but also from their coexistent chronic afflictions. There are biological and emotional factors which intensify pain during the procedures.