Comparisons and correlations of pain intensity and respiratory and peripheral muscle strength in the pre- and postoperative periods of cardiac surgery

Abstract

Objective

To evaluate respiratory and peripheral muscle strength after cardiac surgery. Additionally, we compared the changes in these variables on the third and sixth postoperative days.

Methods

Forty-six patients were recruited, including 17 women and 29 men, with a mean age of 60.50 years (SD = 9.20). Myocardial revascularization surgery was performed in 36 patients, replacement of the aortic valve in 5 patients, and replacement of the mitral valve in 5 patients.

Results

A significant reduction in respiratory and peripheral muscle strength and a significant increase in pain intensity were observed on the third and sixth postoperative days (p < 0.05), except for the variable maximal inspiratory pressure; on the sixth postoperative day, maximal inspiratory pressure values were already similar to the preoperative and predicted values (p > 0.05). There was an association between peripheral muscle strength, specifically between maximal expiratory pressure preoperatively (rs = 0.383; p = 0.009), on the third postoperative day (rs = 0.468; p = 0.001) and on the sixth postoperative day (rs = 0.311; p = 0.037). The effect sizes were consistently moderate-to-large for respiratory muscle strength, the Medical Research Council scale and the visual analog scale, in particular between preoperative assessment and the sixth postoperative day.

Conclusion

There is a decrease in respiratory and peripheral muscle strength after cardiac surgery. In addition, maximal expiratory pressure is the variable that is most associated with peripheral muscle strength. These variables, especially respiratory and peripheral muscle strength, should be considered by professionals working in the intensive care setting.

INTRODUCTION

Cardiac surgeries are still considered the procedures of choice for reducing symptoms and mortality.^(1-3) The main cardiac surgeries are myocardial revascularization surgery (MRS), surgery for valvulopathies, correction of aortic diseases, and cardiac transplantation.^(1,4)

In this context, surgical stress induces loss of muscle mass due to dysregulation in protein metabolism.^(5,6) This condition culminates in the reduction of muscle strength, causing long-term deficiencies such as persistent muscle weakness.⁷ Therefore, prevention of muscle proteolysis induced by surgical stress in the early postoperative phase may be a potential intervention for preserving skeletal muscle strength after cardiac surgery.⁽⁸⁾

Chest opening during cardiac surgery may affect nerves and respiratory muscles, but it is not yet clear in the literature whether decreased respiratory muscle strength (RMS) would be a possible cause of respiratory compromise in these patients. In addition, decreased preoperative RMS has been shown to prolong mechanical ventilation in the postoperative (PO) period and is described as a determinant of decreased functional capacity.⁽⁹⁾

In cardiac surgery patients, decreased RMS has been associated with decreased functional capacity and has contributed to a prolonged period of recovery of lung function and the occurrence of physical deconditioning, which can last for several weeks.⁽¹⁰⁾ Respiratory repercussions also generate changes in RMS, as well as changes in lung volumes and capacities, alveolar dysfunction, depression of central respiratory stimulation, and mechanical disorders of thoracic function.^(3,4,11) In addition, it is known that most cardiac surgery patients present with episodes of muscle weakness in the preoperative period, which is accentuated after the surgical procedure.⁽¹²⁾ However, this muscle weakness is more noticeable in the respiratory muscles than in the peripheral muscles, although the latter muscles are also inactive.^(12,13)

Another important factor in this context is the role of postoperative pain in the functional recovery of the patient, which is an important indicator to estimate the physical and psychological tolls because prolonged painful stimuli cause suffering and complications in the PO period, which correlate with increased morbidity and mortality by affecting the ability to cough, breathe, and move properly.^(14,15)

In view of the above, the objectives of this study were to evaluate RMS and peripheral muscle strength (PMS) after cardiac surgery and to analyze the changes in these variables on the third and sixth PO days, observing possible alterations in maximal respiratory pressures and possible correlations with PMS and pain.

METHODS

This was a longitudinal observational study. The data collection was carried out from March to October 2016 after approval of the project by the Research Ethics Committee of the Centro Universitário Tiradentes (protocol number 40004314.6.0000.5641). The nonprobabilistic convenience sample was composed of patients in the pre- and PO periods for cardiac surgery who were admitted to Hospital do Coração of Alagoas (Maceió, AL, Brazil). In compliance with Brazilian and international ethical standards, patients were informed about the procedures to be performed and signed an informed consent form to participate in this study.

Patients admitted to the hospital, both men and women over 18 years of age, underwent MRS and midsternotomy for valvular changes. Of these, patients who were cognitively impaired were excluded from the assessment of RMS, PMS, and pain intensity. Patients who had hospitalization-related complications that prevented their reevaluation were also excluded.

The evaluations were carried out at three time points. In the preoperative period (on the day before cardiac surgery), an evaluation form with identification, disease, treatment, and anthropometric data was used; RMS, PMS, and pain intensity were measured.

On the third and sixth PO day, the same evaluations performed in the preoperative period were performed again by the same evaluator as shown in the figure 1. The patients were in the intensive care unit (ICU) on the third PO day, while they were in the ward on the sixth PO day; thus, the time interval between evaluations is justified because the clinical presentation of the patients in the two postoperative periods is different with regard to functional performance.

Figure 1.

Timeline of the evaluations.

PO - postoperative; RMS - respiratory muscle strength; PMS - peripheral muscle strength.

For the evaluation of RMS, the analog manovacuometer M120 (Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil) was used, with a scale of ± 120cmH₂O. Respiratory muscle strength tests were performed with patients seated, lower limbs hanging, and feet supported. The nostrils were occluded with a nasal clip and the mouthpiece of the equipment was coupled to the mouth. To evaluate the maximal expiratory pressure (EP_max), the patient took a deep inspiration to total lung capacity (TLC), during which the occlusion of the buccal orifice was performed, followed by a maximal expiration until the residual volume was sustained for at least 2 seconds. To assess maximal inspiratory pressure (IP_max), an expiration to residual volume was taken, followed by occlusion of the orifice and maximal inspiration to TLC; the patient then maintained sustained strength for at least 2 seconds. Both maneuvers were repeated three times with a one-minute interval, and the best measure was recorded for statistical analysis. Differences of 10% or less between values were accepted for each repetition. For the calculation of the predicted pressures, the equations proposed by Neder et al.⁽¹⁶⁾ were used.

For the measurement of PMS, the Medical Research Council (MRC) scale was used. This is a commonly used scale that is easy to execute and is low-cost. The individuals remained seated in a chair with the hip joint at 90º of flexion, the knee at 60º of flexion, and the trunk erect. The MRC test measures muscle strength capable of joint displacement against manual resistance applied by the evaluator during the following joint movements: shoulder abduction, elbow flexion, wrist extension, hip flexion, knee extension, and ankle dorsiflexion. When the scores for each evaluated movement are summed, the final MRC score ranges from 0 (tetraplegia) to 60 (normal muscle strength); patients with scores lower than 48 are considered to have muscle weakness.⁽¹⁷⁾ Measurements were repeated three times, with a one-minute interval, and the best measure was recorded for statistical analysis.

Pain intensity was obtained by the visual analog scale (VAS), which consists of a horizontal line 10cm in length that shows a range of pain levels from absence of pain to the most intense pain and (provides a simple and efficient pain intensity measurement.⁽¹⁸⁾

Statistical analysis

The data were entered into and stored in a database created in Microsoft Excel 2010 software (Redmond, WA, USA). Continuous variables were presented as the mean and standard deviation; categorical variables were presented as relative and absolute frequencies. Normality was tested using the Shapiro-Wilk test. Changes over time in respiratory and peripheral muscle forces were compared using the Kruskal-Wallis test. Correlations were evaluated using the Spearman correlation coefficient. An alpha value of 5% was adopted, and the Statistical Package for Social Science (SPSS) version 20.0 (IBM Inc., Chicago, IL, USA) and BioStat^® 5.3 (Belém, PA, Brazil) were used.

Cohen's d was used to determine the clinical effect size of the proposed physiotherapeutic interventions, with the interpretation based on the classification established by Cohen⁽¹⁹⁾ and Fernández-Lao et al.:⁽²⁰⁾ less than 0.20, negligible effect; 0.20 to 0.50, small effect; 0.50 to 0.80, moderate effect; and > 0.80, large effect.

RESULTS

Forty-six patients were enrolled and evaluated in the study, with no losses. Thus, 17 (36.96%) women and 29 men (63.04%) with a mean age of 60.50 years (standard deviation [SD] = 9.20) and a mean body mass index (BMI) of 26.60kg/m² (SD = 4.40) were included. Thirty-six (78.26%) patients had systemic arterial hypertension, and 21 (45.65%) had type 2 diabetes mellitus, whereas 22 (47.83%) patients never smoked, 14 (30.43%) had not smoked for at least 6 months, and 10 (21.74%) were smokers.

Regarding the surgeries, MRS was performed in 36 (78.26%) patients, replacement of the aortic valve in 5 (10.87%) patients, and replacement of the mitral valve in 5 (10.87%) patients. Of these, 41 (89.13%) surgeries were performed with extracorporeal circulation, with a mean time of 69.10 minutes (SD = 38.70). The mean length of hospital stay was 7.10 days (SD = 2.1) (Table 1). Regarding the frequency of postoperative complications, only one patient had a pleural effusion, and two patients had pulmonary hypersecretion.

Table 1.

Clinical, demographic and surgical data for the study patients

Variables	Results
Demographics and anthropometrics
Age (years)	60.5 (9.2)
Weight (kg)	74.7 (14.0)
Height (m)	1.66 (0.07)
BMI (kg/m²)	26.6 (4.4)
ECC time (min)	69.1 (38.7)
Sex
Male	29 (63)
Female	17 (37)
Types of surgery
Myocardial revascularization	36 (78.3)
Replacement of the mitral valve	5 (10.9)
Replacement of the aortic valve	5 (10.9)
Cardiovascular risks
Smoker
No	22 (47.8)
Ex-smoker	14 (30.4)
Yes	10 (21.7)
Systemic arterial hypertension
Yes	36 (78.3)
No	10 (21.7)
Diabetes mellitus
Yes	21 (45.7)
No	25 (54.3)
Dyslipidemia
Yes	14 (30.4)
No	32 (69.6)

BMI - body mass index; ECC - extracorporeal circulation. The results are presented as mean (SD) or n (%).

As shown in table 2, there was a significant reduction of RMS and PMS and a significant increase in pain intensity on the third and sixth PO day(p < 0.05), except for the variable IP_max, which on the sixth PO day already had values similar to the presurgical value and predicted (p > 0.05).

Table 2.

Comparison of respiratory and peripheral muscle strength and pain intensity over time

Variables	Predicted	Presurgery	3rd PO day	6th PO day
IPmax (cmH2O)	-102.50 (-82.90 - -109.30)	-120.00 (-85.00 - -120.00)	-80.00 (-40.00 - -120.00)*.†	-120.00 (-55.00 - -120.00)
EPmax (cmH2O)	111.84 (82.60 - 119.13)	90.00 (60.00 - 115.00)*	60.00 (40.00 - 80.00)*.†	50.00 (47.50 - 85.00)*.†
MRC (score)		60.00 (54.50 - 60.00)	51.00 (46.50 - 56.00)†	55.00 (48.00 - 58.00)†
VAS (score)		0 (0 - 0)	2.00 (0 - 6)†	2.00 (0 - 3.50)†

PO - postoperative; IP_max - maximum inspiratory pressure; EP_max - maximum expiratory pressure; MRC - Medical Research Council scale; VAS - Visual Analog Scale.

^*Differs from the predicted (p < 0.05, Kruskal-Wallis Test post hoc Dunn)

^†Differs from presurgery (p < 0.05, Kruskal-Wallis Test post hoc Dunn).

Curiously, there was a positive association between EPmax and PMS at different time points. Pain intensity was not correlated with RMS or PMS. Further details are described in table 3.

Table 3.

Correlation between respiratory and peripheral muscle strength and pain intensity

Correlation	Presurgery	3rd PO day	6th PO day
IPmaxversus EPmax	rs = 0.397. p = 0.006*	rs = 0.675. p = 0.000*	rs = 0.598. p = 0.000*
IPmaxversus MRC	rs = 0.115. p = 0.447	rs = -0.125. p =0.406	rs = 0.289. p = 0.055
IPmaxversus VAS	rs = -0.275. p = 0.064	rs = -0.274. p = 0.066	rs = -0.244. p = 0.106
EPmaxversus MRC	rs = 0.383. p = 0.009*	rs = 0.468. p = 0.001*	rs = 0.311. p = 0.037*
EPmaxversus VAS	rs = -0.174. p = 0.246	rs = -0.086. p = 0.571	rs = -0.190. p = 0.211
MRC versus VAS	rs = 0.024. p = 0.872	rs = -0.219. p = 0.143	rs = -0.183. p = 0.223

POD - postoperative; IP_max - maximum inspiratory pressure; EP_max - maximum expiratory pressure; MRC - Medical Research Council scale; VAS - Visual Analog Scale.

^*Significant correlation (p ≤ 0.05, Spearman correlation coefficient).

Table 4 shows the consistently moderate-to-large effect sizes for RMS, MRC and VAS, particularly between the preoperative assessment and the sixth PO day.

Table 4.

Clinical effect sizes for measurements at pre- and postoperative days

Variables	Cohen’s d
IPmax
Pre versus 3º PO day	0.60*
Pre versus 6º PO day	0.24
3º POD versus 6º PO day	-0.34
EPmax
Pre versus 3º PO day	0.86†
Pre versus 6º PO day	0.66*
3º POD versus 6º PO day	0.66*
MRC
Pre versus 3º PO day	1.18†
Pre versus 6º PO day	0.67*
3º POD versus 6º PO day	-0.52*
VAS
Pre versus 3º PO day	-1.17†
Pre versus 6º PO day	-0.98†
3º POD versus 6º PO day	0.22

IP_max - maximum inspiratory pressure; PO - postoperative day; EP_max - maximum expiratory pressure; MRC - Medical Research Council scale; VAS - Visual Analog Scale.

^*Moderate effect size

^†large effect size.

DISCUSSION

The main results of the present study were as follows: (1) EPmax was reduced at all time points compared to predicted, whereas IPmax returned to preoperative values on the sixth PO day; (2) PMS was reduced after the surgery; (3) postoperative pain intensity increased through at least the sixth PO day; (4) RMS was directly related to PMS; and (5) RMS was not correlated with postoperative pain intensity.

Although certain patient- and cardiac surgery-related risk factors are not modifiable, knowledge of these factors is important for the health team, allowing them to focus increased attention on the patients at greater risk to prevent complications, morbidity, and death.^(21,22)

In the present study, there was a significant decrease in RMS seen on the third PO day; however, it had returned at the sixth PO day. Corroborating in part the results of the current study, Roncada et al.⁽²³⁾ concluded that after coronary artery bypass grafting surgery, there was a major reduction in pulmonary function, which the author attributed to changes in circulatory factors that affect the synthesis of muscle proteins. In contrast, Urell et al.⁽⁹⁾ observed that RMS was not reduced at two months after cardiac surgery. However, the authors did not evaluate patients in the immediate postoperative period; this may be particularly relevant because pain would have needed to be considered.

In an evaluation of the clinical efficacy and feasibility of a respiratory muscular training device applied to patients after cardiothoracic surgery, Crisafulli et al.⁽²⁴⁾ observed improvement in both IP_max and EP_max 14 days after surgical procedures associated with the use of the device. While IP_max refers mainly to the force of the diaphragm, EP_max mainly reflects the strength of the abdominal and intercostal muscles.⁽²⁵⁾ In the present study, the reduction in IP_max was less than the reduction in EP_max. This could be explained by the fact that peak postoperative diaphragmatic dysfunction (decreased IP_max) occurs between two and eight hours after surgery, whereas the muscles associated with EP_max suffer greater damage from incision and surgical manipulation.⁽²⁶⁾

Saglam et al.⁽²⁷⁾, Faustini Pereira et al.⁽²⁸⁾ and Santos et al.⁽⁷⁾ reported that the loss of RMS was related to the decline in PMS, corroborating the results of the present study, which demonstrated a positive and significant correlation between EPmax and PMS evaluated by MRC both in the preoperative period and at both POD time points, that is, the third and sixth PO day. Santos et al.,⁽⁷⁾ Saglam et al.,⁽²⁷⁾ Faustini Pereira et al.,⁽²⁸⁾ also reported that peripheral muscle strength showed an initial postsurgical loss with partial recovery during the PO period. This result is inconsistent with the results of the present study. However, it should be noted that the postsurgical limitations may last for a period of six weeks to six months.⁽⁷⁾ In addition, it is already shown in the literature that worsening of RMS and PMS, as well as cognitive and motor disorders, can be caused by neuromuscular lesions from factors such as mechanical ventilation,^(29,30) anesthesia, extracorporeal circulation time,⁽³¹⁾ medicines,⁽²⁶⁾ malnutrition,⁽³²⁾ and bed immobility. Additionally, a study conducted by Santos et al., which evaluated the PMS of patients undergoing elective cardiac surgery, concluded that PMS values were remarkably reduced after surgery and returned to near baseline by the time of discharge,⁽⁷⁾ corroborating the results of the present study.

In recent years, protocols for the early withdrawal of sedation and for early mobilization have been used in several intensive centers.^(11,33,34) Such protocols highlight the importance physiotherapeutic intervention, which facilitates important gains in both RMS and PMS and is a viable and safe strategy that prevents complications, reduces the deleterious effects of immobility, preserves muscle strength, and thus results in higher functional performance.^(12,35,36)

The decrease in RMS and PMS in the postoperative period seems to maintain a direct relationship with pain.⁽³⁷⁾ In the current study, there was no correlation between VAS and RMS. The study of Sasseron et al.,⁽³⁸⁾ which aimed to evaluate the intensity and location of pain during hospitalization and its effects on the RMS of cardiac surgery patients, showed a correlation between pain in the first PO day and the decrease in the IP_max. Decreased PMS in individuals with heart disease has been reported in the literature. In addition, peripheral muscle weakness is associated with reduced muscle strength and loss of physical function.³⁹ Another study with the objective of evaluating the interaction between handgrip strength (HGS) and myocardial oxygen consumption index (MVO₂) before and after cardiac surgery showed that hand grip strength had different effects on MVO₂ prior to and after myocardial revascularization; HGS might be used as a predictor to assess oxygen consumption in cardiac patients.⁽⁴⁰⁾

In our study, there was a significant increase in pain on the third PO day, with maintenance of the pain intensity until the sixth PO day, corroborating the findings of Andrade et al.⁽⁴¹⁾ who observed increased pain until the fourth PO day. Pain intensity was considered tolerable (VAS between 2 and 3). Similarly, in previous studies,^(14,42) patients most frequently mentioned the surgical incision in the sternal region as the site of pain.

Interestingly, although pain evaluated by the VAS did not show a significant difference, a moderate to high clinical difference was observed over the third and sixth PO day. Pain could have been a limiting factor for RMS; however, that was not observed in this study. Corroborating our study, Urell et al. showed that RMS was not impaired, neither before nor two months after cardiac surgery.⁽⁹⁾

The findings indicate that evaluation and monitoring of RMS and PMS is indispensable and assists in the analysis of severity, assessment of functional implications, and determination of the risks of pulmonary and neuromuscular dysfunction, thus providing information supporting the need for adequate muscular training to improve the strength of the respiratory and peripheral muscles and thus improving functional capacity.

The present study has some limitations. First, the number of patients was relatively small. Second, there is no gold standard for the assessment of PMS; however, dynamometry has been demonstrated in the literature to be an effective, practical and reproducible method. In this respect, we affirm that all measures were carried out by strictly following the guidelines to ensure the adequacy and standardization of the test procedures. Finally, we understand that limiting upper limb movements may have biased MRC responses, although the assessment of peripheral muscle strength was tested in small ranges of motion.

CONCLUSION

We conclude that there is a decrease in respiratory and peripheral muscle strength associated with cardiac surgery. In addition, maximal expiratory pressure is the variable that is most associated with peripheral muscle strength. Thus, to improve both respiratory and peripheral muscle strength, professionals working in intensive care settings should consider these variables in relation to preoperative and postoperative interventions.