The impact of professional pain management in improving postoperative pain and comfort in patients undergoing thoracotomy surgery

Objective  To observe the effect of professional pain management measures on postoperative comfort and pain in patients undergoing thoracotomy.

Methods  A total of 127 patients undergoing thoracotomy in the Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery of the Second Affiliated Hospital of Air Force Medical University from March 2018 to March 2021 were selected as research subjects, 63 patients received conventional nursing measures (conventional group) and 64 patients received professional pain management nursing measures (research group). The score of Visual Analog Scale (VAS), General Comfort Questionnaire (GCQ), and patient self-management behavior score were compared between the two groups at different time points after surgery.

Results  The VAS scores of the research group at 24, 48, 72, and 96 hours after surgery were lower than those of the conventional group (P < 0.05). The psychological dimension, environmental dimension, and GCQ total score of the research group at 12 hours after surgery were higher than those of the conventional group, and the physiological dimension, psychological dimension, environmental dimension, and GCQ total score at 72 hours after surgery were higher than those of the conventional group (P < 0.05). The self-care behavior score, treatment compliance score, and analgesia self-management behavior score of the research group at 12 hours after surgery were higher than those of the conventional group, and the disease knowledge management behavior score, self-care behavior score, treatment compliance score, and analgesia self-management behavior score at 72 hours after surgery were higher than those of the conventional group (P < 0.05). The proportions of patients in the research group who alleviated pain by changing body position, transferring pain relief, and massage therapy were higher than those in the conventional group (P < 0.05).

Conclusion  The use of professional pain management measures for patients undergoing thoracotomy has significant effects in improving patients' comfort and reducing pain after surgery, and is worthy of clinical application.