Elsevier

The Annals of Thoracic Surgery

Volume 56, Issue 5, November 1993, Pages 1107-1109
The Annals of Thoracic Surgery

Original article
Effect of internal mammary harvest on postoperative pain and pulmonary function

https://doi.org/10.1016/0003-4975(95)90025-XGet rights and content

Abstract

Forty-three patients undergoing median sternotomy were evaluated for postoperative pain and pulmonary function. Group 1 (n = 26) had harvest of the internal mammary artery (IMA) and group 2 (n = 17) did not. Postoperative pain and pulmonary function were evaluated on the fifth postoperative day. Both groups showed a decrease in forced expiratory volume in 1 second (group 1, 44%; group 2, 39%), but there was no significant difference in the loss between the two groups (p = 0.32). Using a numeric rating scale, there was significant increase in postoperative pain in group 1 (group 1, 6.35; group 2, 3.82; p = 0.0002). There is a suggestion that internal mammary artery harvesting itself worsens postoperative pulmonary function tests, and this may be related to a significant increase in postoperative pain.

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The opinions and assertions contained herein are the private views of the authors and are not to be construed as official or as reflecting the views of the Department of the Army or the Department of Defense.

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