Cold Application and Breathing Exercises to Reduce Pain and Anxiety During Chest Tube Removal

Chest tube insertion following chest trauma or Coronary Artery Bypass Grafting (CABG) surgery is a frequent practice. Patients who undergo chest tube removal experience moderate to severe pain. Patients always described chest tube removal as a painful and frightening experience. Cold application and deep breathing exercise are effective non-pharmacological techniques to reduce pain and anxiety during chest tube removal. The aim of the study was to examine the effect of cold application and breathing exercises technique on pain and anxiety level during chest tube removal. A convenient sample of 120 patients. A quasi experimental design was used (study/control). Surgical intensive care unites at Menoufia University Hospital, Shebin EL-Kome. Visual Analog Scale for Pain (VAS) used to measure pain intensity during chest tube removal. Hamilton Anxiety Scale used to measure the anxiety level during chest tube removal. There was a statistically significant difference between study and control group regarding pain intensity post intervention. There was a statistically significant difference between study and control group regarding anxiety level post intervention. Using cold application and breathing exercise during chest tube removal is an effective practice to reduce pain intensity and anxiety level during chest tube removal. Encourage critical care nurses to develop practice guidelines for pain management during chest tube removal including application of cold and deep breathing exercise as a non pharmacological measure during chest tube removal.