Effects of a novel pneumatic vest on postoperative pain and lung function after coronary artery bypass grafting.

A prospective study to evaluate the efficacy of a novel inflatable vest in supporting the sternotomy wound during the early period after coronary artery bypass grafting was carried out in 35 patients. The outcome variables were subjective pain score during cough, and peak expiratory flow (PEF) and vital capacity (VC) on postoperative days 2 and 3. The values without pressure in the vest were used as controls in the individual patients. Use of the vest significantly reduced the cough-associated subjective sternotomy pain score on days 2 and 3, when significant reduction of PEF and VC was also observed. The alleviation of pain by the inflatable vest may improve the efficacy of coughing and bronchial clearance in the immediate postoperative period.