Nursing actions in the management of pain related to the use of a patient-controlled analgesia pump during the postoperative period of cardiac surgery

Abstract

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Acute postoperative pain affects more than 80.0% of patients and approximately 75.0% of cases are described as moderate to severe. Effective pain relief after cardiac surgery has assumed an important role with the introduction of fast track protocols, requiring better monitoring and patient education for its effectiveness. The present study's objective was to verify if nurses have been playing an active role during pain management, so that this brings positive impacts to the patient in pain control. METHODS: A cross-sectional, descriptive study with a quantitative approach, with data extracted and collected from the digital platform Research Electronic Data Capture in March 2020, referring to data entered in the period between October 2018 and October 2019, totaling 326 patients in the postoperative period of cardiac surgery who used the electronic patient-controlled analgesia pump (PCA) model CADD-Legacy PCA. RESULTS: Predominantly male subjects (73.9%), with a mean age of 59.9±14.9 years. Among the characteristics of the PCA pump, intravenous infusion (98.8%) and bolus/PCA mode (98.5%) stood out. There was adequate monitoring of vital signs in compliance in 96.6% of cases, guidance by the nurse at the time of PCA pump installation in 85.9% and pain control after suspension of the PCA pump in 94.2%. With those who had pain controlled after the end of therapy, there was a predominance of pain control in 95% of patients (p=0.11). CONCLUSION:The results show that well-established protocols, adequate monitoring, and the correct orientation of the patient regarding the use of the device, bring positive impacts after suspension of PCA. Nursing actions in the management of pain related to the use of a patient-controlled analgesia pump during the postoperative period of cardiac surgeryAtuação da enfermagem no gerenciamento da dor relacionada ao uso da bomba de analgesia controlada pelo paciente durante o pós-operatório de cirurgia cardíaca