Investigation of effects of the connective tissue massage on the pain after thoracotomy-randomise controlled study

Objective: The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of connective tissue massage on pain, quality of life, use of analgesia and duration of hospitalization in patients undergoing thoracotomy. Method: This randomized controlled trial was conducted on a total of 54 patients, 27 controls and 27 studies, which were operated by posterolateral thoracotomy at Akdeniz University Hospital Chest Surgery between August 2017 and January 2018. Data were collected using the Personal Information Form, the Visual Analogue Scale (VAS), the Short Form 36 (SF-36) Quality of Life Scale and the analgesic drug use information form. The severity of pain, the total analgesia were recorded preoperative period and from the 0th postoperative day to the 7th postoperative day. In addition, the quality of life was assessed using the SF-36 quality of life scale at preoperative and postoperative 7th day. Standard medical treatment, care and pulmonary rehabilitation programs were applied to both groups. A total of 5 sessions of connective tissue massage were applied to the study group on postoperative day 1, day 2, day 3, day 4, day 5. Results: On the postoperative day 0 and day 1, the VAS averages of the patients in both groups were similar and high; on the other postoperative days, the VAS averages of the study group were lower than the VAS averages of the control group. On the 7th day after the operation, the patients in the study group were found to have better quality of life than the control group. Analgesic use rates of patients in both groups decreased from postoperative day 0 to day 7 postoperative day and patients in the study group used less analgesic medication. In addition, patients in the control group remained in the hospital for a longer period. Conclusion: The results of study showed that postoperative connective tissue massage after thoracotomy reduced postoperative pain level, amount of analgesic drug usage and duration of hospitalization and increased quality of life. Key words: connective tissue massage, pain, thoracotomy, quality of life