A study to assess the effectiveness of hand reflexology massage on pain and anxiety in post-CABG patients admitted in AIIMS Bhopal

Coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) is a major surgical operation where atheromatous blockages in a patient’s coronary arteries are bypassed with harvested venous or arterial conduits. The bypass restores blood flow to the ischemic myocardium which, in turn, restores function, and viability, and relieves anginal symptoms. Almost 400,000 CABG surgeries are performed each year making it the most performed major surgical procedure, but surgical trends have decreased as the use of alternative options such as medical treatment and percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) have increased.

Hand reflexology is a massaging technique that works by applying pressure to reflex points within the hands. These reflex points are believed to be connected to other parts of the body, so as massaging occurs, it ensures that the whole body is treated during the reflexology session.

Reflexology is a commonly used nonpharmacological complementary method for pain and anxiety management. It is cost-effective and has fewer side effects than pharmacotherapy, fewer skills are required, can be provided at home and community. It is a researchable problem and it will help to reduce the dependence on opioids post-CABG and increase evidence on non-pharmacotherapy-based approaches.