Non-pharmacological therapies in the relief of cardiac surgery postoperative pain: a scoping review

Abstract

Objective: To map the production of knowledge on the main non-pharmacological therapies in postoperative pain relief in patients who underwent cardiac surgery. Method: A scoping review carried out as recommended by the Joanna Briggs Institute and the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses extension for Scoping Reviews checklist, in 11 national and international data sources. A total of 17 studies were selected, without time or language restrictions. Results: There was predominance of myocardial revascularization surgeries. Of the 17 selected articles, ten (58.8%) referred to massage, five (29.4%) to music therapy, one (5.9%) to acupressure and one (5.9%) to aromatherapy. The Visual Analog Scale predominated in pain assessment. The intervention time varied from three to 30 minutes. Conclusion: The main non-pharmacological measures used in pain relief during the postoperative period of cardiac surgeries were therapeutic massages, music, acupressure and aromatherapy.