The Effect of Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation versus Slow Deep Breathing Relaxation Exercise on Pain Levels during and Post chest Tube Removal after Coronary Artery Bypass Graft Surgery – An Experimental Study

Background: Coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) is a surgical procedure used to treat the blocked portion of the coronary artery in the heart. The intercostal chest drain (ICD) tubes are used to remove fluids around the heart and lungs after heart surgery. Pain during chest tube removal (CTR) stimulates catecholamine’s release and activates the sympathetic nervous system, causing hypertension, tachycardia, tachypnea, and increased cardiac oxygen utilization. Aims: To compare the effects between transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) and slow deep breathing relaxation exercise (SDBRE) on pain levels during and post CTR. Settings and Design: An experimental study conducted in the cardiac surgery intensive care unit and inpatient ward at Narayana Institute of Cardiac Sciences, Bengaluru. Materials and Methods: Thirty-eight subjects with ICD tube after CABG surgery were randomly assigned into two groups. Group A ( n = 19) who received TENS and Group B ( n = 19) who received SDBRE. Both the groups also received standard conventional care. The Visual Analog Scale was used to measure the pain levels. Statistical Analysis Used: Descriptive statistics were used for demographic data. Independent t -test compared pain scores between the groups. Repeated-measures ANOVA analyzed pain scores across time points within the groups. P < 0.05 was considered statistically significant. Results: TENS significantly reduced pain scores during and after CTR compared to SDBRE ( P < 0.05). Conclusion: Both TENS and SDBRE were effective in reducing pain during and after CTR in post-CABG patients. TENS showed greater pain reduction and appears to be a strong candidate for the first-line management. Its simplicity, cost-effectiveness, and minimal patient effort make it a practical adjunct to conventional pain management strategies.