Control of pain in the postoperative of cardiac surgery: a brief review

Abstract

This study aimed to identify the analgesic therapeutics which control the pain in the postoperative of cardiac surgery and the instruments to measure this experience. The literature research was conducted by reviewing the literature on databases electronic dada (LILACS), electronic journals (SciELO), dissertations and theses. The following descriptive tools were used: analgesia, patient-controlled analgesia, cardiac surgery, evaluation and post-surgical pain. The collection data was compiled in May 2007. The selected studies were published during the period from May 1997 to May 2007.In the analysis, it was done a reflexive synthesis of the studies. Among the 23 studies raised, 08 articles and 01 master degree paper were used. The most used analgesia technique was the patient-controlled analgesia (PCA) and the drugs most taken were opiates, such as morphine, anti-inflammatory nonsteroidal drugs (AINEs) and dipyrone. Studies using nonpharmacological therapies were not found. Among the pain evaluation instruments frequently used in these studies were the unidimensional scales such as numerical rating scale and the visual analogue scale. Furthermore, it was clear that the nurses are not completely involved in researches focused on the control of the pain in postoperative period cardiac surgery.

Key words: Postoperative pain; Thoracic surgery; Measurement of pain; Therapeutics; Analgesics; Nursing assessment.