RBCCV 44205-847 Avaliação da intensidade de dor e da funcionalidade no pós-operatório recente de cirurgia cardíacaPain intensity and postoperative functional assessment after heart surgery Abstract Objective: To evaluate, in patients submitted to heart surgery, the intensity of pain and the level of functionality during the preoperative period, on the 7 th postoperative day and at hospital discharge. A secondary objective was to evaluate any possible relationship between pain and functionality taking into account the following variables: gender, age, first heart surgery or re-interventions, use of cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB), type of surgery and physiotherapeutic follow-up.Method: Forty-one patients who had undergone elective heart surgery at the Teaching Hospital of Botucatu/UNESP were studied. Pain intensity was measured using the VAS scale and functionality by the FIM scale (Functional Independence Measure) in the physical domain.Results: It was observed that the intensity of pain was higher on the 7 th postoperative day when compared with the preoperative period and at hospital discharge. No pain rating score was shown in the preoperative period, while a median pain intensity of 3 (moderate pain), was noted at hospital discharge. The highest levels of functional loss occurred on the 7 th postoperative day compared to the total scores obtained in the preoperative period and at hospital discharge. A significant correlation between pain and functionality was observed; a decrease in level of pain between the 7 th postoperative day and hospital discharge contributed to an increase in the functional levels.Conclusion: The evaluations performed in the BORGES, JBC ET AL -Pain intensity and postoperative functional assessment after heart surgery Braz J Cardiovasc Surg 2006; 21(4): 393-402