Effect of Cold Gel Pack Application on Pain Intensity and Hematoma among Patients after Arterial Sheath Removal post Cardiac Catheterization

Background: Cardiac catheterization is one of the most widely performed cardiac interventional procedures worldwide. Complications of the puncture site include pain ranging from just discomfort up to severe and hematoma. Pain is usually experienced by the patient when the arterial sheath is removed. Hematoma is a frequent complication that occurs during and after sheath removal. Aim of the study: The study aimed to evaluate the effect of cold gel pack application on pain intensity and hematoma among patients after the arterial sheath removal. Research design: A Quasi experimental design will be used to conduct the study. Setting: The study will be conducted at cardiac catheterization unit, at Fayoum university hospitals. Subjects: A purposive sample of (150) adult male and female patients who underwent cardiac catheterization were involved in this study from the above mentioned setting and divided into two equal groups( study and control) 75 patients for each group.. Tools: 1st Tool: Patient interview sheet including sociodemographic and clinical data, 2nd Tool: Numerical pain rating scale and 3rd Tool: Hematoma assessment sheet Results: The pain intensity was significantly lower in case group than that of the control group (Just after removal P 0.05, After 2 hours P 0.03, After 4 hours P 0.01, After 6 hours P 0.01). Hematoma incidence was a significantly lower incidence in case group (5.3%) compared with the control group (16.0%) P 0.03. Hematoma size/grade was significantly decreased across time points especially at onset, 2 hours, 4 hours and 6 hours. P values were 0.02, 0.02, 0.02 and 0.04 respectively. Conclusion: It was found that cold gel pack application was an effective technique to reduce the severity of pain and hematoma incidence, size and grade among patients after arterial sheath removal post cardiac catheterization. Recommendation: This study recommends the importance of using the cold application for post cardiac catheterization patients as a care of protocol and applying it after arterial sheath removal as a routine and regular care to decrease the severity of pain and hematoma incidence.