Low-intensity laser (660 NM) has analgesic effects on sternotomy of patients who underwent coronary artery bypass grafts

• Main Authors: Gilderlene Alves Fernandes, Raimundo de Barros Araújo Júnior, Andréa Conceição Gomes Lima, Isabel Clarisse Albuquerque Gonzaga, Rauirys Alencar de Oliveira, Renata Amadei Nicolau
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Wolters Kluwer Medknow Publications 2017-01-01
• Series: Annals of Cardiac Anaesthesia
• Subjects: Low-level laser therapy; myocardial revascularization; pain; sternotomy
• Online Access: http://www.annals.in/article.asp?issn=0971-9784;year=2017;volume=20;issue=1;spage=52;epage=56;aulast=Fernandes
• ISSN: 0971-9784

Background: The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of low-level laser therapy for reducing the acute pain of sternotomy in patients who underwent a coronary artery bypass graft (CABG). Methods: This study was conducted with ninety volunteers who electively submitted to CABG. The volunteers were randomly allocated into three groups of equal size (n = 30): control, placebo, and laser (λ of 660 nm and spatial average energy fluency of 1.06 J/cm 2 ). Pain when coughing was assessed by a visual analog scale (VAS) and McGill Pain Questionnaire, according to sensory, affective, evaluative, and miscellaneous domains. The patients were followed for 1 month after the surgery. Results: The laser group had a greater decrease in pain with analogous results, as indicated by both the VAS and the McGill questionnaire (P ≤ 0.05) on sensory and affective scores, on days 6 and 8 postsurgery compared to the placebo and control groups. Conclusion: Laser seems to be effective promoting pain reduction after coronary-arterial bypass grafting.