Effect of Warm Footbath Combined With Relaxation Exercise on Pain and Anxiety During Chest Tube Removal After Cardiac Surgery

Chest tube removal is a widely used surgical procedure, particularly in the post-cardiac surgery period, to maintain cardiopulmonary stability, provide mediastinal drainage, and prevent potential complications. It provides one-way drainage of air and/or fluid accumulated in the pleural space through closed drainage systems. Chest tube removal is often described by patients as a painful and frightening experience. Without adequate pain control, chest tube removal can cause severe pain and anxiety in patients, limiting their physical activity and negatively impacting coughing and deep breathing. Consequently, this can lead to inadequate expansion of the thoracic cavity and predisposition to respiratory tract infections. Pain management is considered a fundamental component of nursing care. Effective pain management relies on comprehensive assessment, application of appropriate pharmacological and non-pharmacological interventions, and monitoring of patient response. Pharmacological agents commonly used during chest tube removal include local anesthetics, opioid analgesics, and anti-inflammatory drugs. However, pharmacological methods can have side effects such as vomiting, nausea, respiratory distress, and hypotension, which can reduce patient comfort. Therefore, given the frequent use and potential side effects of pharmacological methods, there is an increasing need for non-pharmacological methods that are safe, easy to apply, and have no side effects in pain and anxiety management. The literature reports that non-pharmacological interventions are effective in reducing pain felt during chest tube removal. Studies in the literature show that relaxation exercises, a non-pharmacological method, are cost-effective, easy to apply, and effective in reducing pain and anxiety levels. These exercises have been shown to provide physiological relaxation by supporting muscle activation and are effective in pain management in patients after surgical procedures. Another non-pharm