The effect of reflexotherapy on patients' vital signs before coronary artery bypass graft surgery

BACKGROUND: Medical operation is an anxious factor that causes physiological reactions in body which consequently increases respiratory rate, heart rate and blood pressure. The aim of this study is assessing the effect of reflexotherapy on vital signs of patients before coronary artery bypass surgery in Shahid Chamran hospital of Isfahan. METHODS: Fifty volunteer patients candidated for coronary artery bypass surgery were enrolled in this clinical trial. They were divided in two (control and treatment) groups. Vital signs were measured pre and post 30 minutes reflexotherapy in treatment group. Vital signs were also measured in patients in control group at the same condition of the treatment group, but reflexotherapy was not performed. RESULTS: The mean differences of vital signs was not significant in control and treatment groups at the baseline. But post reflexotherapy intervention, systolic and diastolic blood pressure lowered significantly in the treatment group in comparison with control group (p < 0.05). No significant changes were observed for other vital sign. CONCLUSIONS: The findings of the study shows that reflexotherapy is a safe, effective, cheep nursing intervention in reducing systolic and diastolic blood pressure of patients before coronary artery bypass surgery.