Complementary therapy and cardiac surgery.

Mind-body techniques and complementary care may assist people who are undergoing surgery and those recovering from cardiac surgery to cope with the event, the process of recovery, and accompanying lifestyle changes. These approaches can provide cardiac patients with nonpharmacologic tools that may prevent further coronary artery disease and the development of dysrhythmias. The Complementary Care Center at Columbia-Presbyterian Medical Center was developed to clinically apply and research the use of nonallopathic, complementary modalities with patients receiving care at the medical center, including those undergoing cardiac surgery.