The Effect of Aloe Vera Gel on Saphenous Vein Harvest Wound Healing and Local Pain in Non-diabetic Patients Undergoing CABG Surgery: A Clinical Trial

Abstract

Background: Coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) is a common surgical procedure in patients with heart disease associated with pain and problems with great saphenous veins (GSVs) wound healing. Objectives: We aimed to determine the effect of aloe vera gel on pain intensity, and GSVs wound healing in non-diabetic patients undergoing CABG. Methods: In this clinical trial, 35 CABG candidate patients fulfilling admission criteria were selected by convenience sampling, and their lower limbs were randomly assigned to the intervention or control group. The wound care for both groups was the same except for using aloe vera gel for the intervention group from the first to the fourth days after surgery. Pain intensity and GSVs wound healing data were collected by Redness, Edema, Ecchymosis, Discharge, and Approximation (REEDA) scale and Visual Analog Scale (VAS) questionnaires on the first, fourth, seventh, and fourteenth days and analyzed by SPSS software. Results: On the seventh day, the mean pain intensity in the intervention group was significantly lower (P = 0.01). The mean scores of wound healing in the intervention limb decreased faster; however, the wound healing score was not significantly different between the two groups at any time (P > 0.05). Using aloe vera gel reduced ecchymosis on the seventh and fourteenth days and reduced pain on the seventh day compared to the control limb (P < 0.001). Conclusions: Aloe vera gel can effectively reduce GSVs’ pain intensity and ecchymosis from the seventh day. The topical application of this herb can have various degrees of effectiveness in decreasing pain and speeding up the healing of surgical wounds.