The Effect of Hand Massage on Endotracheal Suctioning Pain and Hemodynamic Parameters

Endotracheal suctioning (ETS) is one of the most frequently applied care procedures in intensive care units in patients with artificial airway and mechanical ventilation. Suctioning, like all other invasive procedures, causes some complications. Various complications such as pain, hypoxemia, irregularity in blood pressure and heart rate, arrhythmia, increased respiratory frequency, and decreased respiratory depth may develop in patients. Pain is a physiological response that affects the patient's comfort and vital signs. hemodynamic parameters triggered by suctioning, as well as pain, may be positively affected by reflexology and classical hand massage.

Endotracheal suctioning (ETS) is one of the most frequently applied care procedures in intensive care units in patients with artificial airway and mechanical ventilation. ETS is applied to patients for purposes such as ensuring airway opening in patients by removing secretions from the lungs, ensuring and maintaining optimal gas exchange. Suctioning, like all other invasive procedures, causes some complications. Various complications such as pain, hypoxemia, irregularity in blood pressure and heart rate, arrhythmia, increased respiratory frequency, and decreased respiratory depth may develop in patients. In the literature, endotracheal suctioning has been reported as one of the most painful procedures reported by patients in the intensive care unit, regardless of the application technique. Pain is a physiological response that affects the patient's comfort and vital signs. In the literature, there are studies on music therapy to reduce or completely relieve the pain related to the suctioning procedure, but there are no studies applied with other alternative methods. Classical hand massage and reflexology hand massage are included in complementary and supportive applications. It is stated that reflexology massage applied in studies on various patient groups is effective on many symptoms such as fatigue, pain, anxiety, sleep and cramps. There was no study finding that examined the effect of hand massage on suctioning pain and hemodynamic parameters during suctioning. It is thought that hand massage can be an effective intervention that nurses can apply independently in the management of pain during suctioning. It is thought that hemodynamic parameters triggered by suctioning, as well as pain, will be positively affected by reflexology and classical hand massage.