The Effect of Cold Application on Unconscious Patients’ Physiological Parameters during Arterial Puncture

Abstract

Background: Arterial puncture is a common procedure performed for unconscious patients in intensive care units to assess their respiratory conditions. It is usually associated with pain resulting in significant physiological changes that can affect patients’ recovery and progression. Pain killers are the first choice for controlling pain in intensive care units but medications themselves have many adverse physiological effects on the body. Non-pharmacological pain management strategies have been advocated to control pain and avoid the side effects of medications. Aim: This study aimed to investigate the effect of the cold application on unconscious patients’ physiological parameters during arterial puncture. Method: A quasi-experimental research design was utilized to conduct this study among 86 unconscious patients in the surgical intensive care unit of the Critical Care and Convalescence Hospital at Mansoura University in Egypt. One tool was used to collect data for this study; unconscious patients’ physiological parameters assessment tool. Results: A statistically significant improvement was noted in the participants’ heart rate, respiratory rate, and oxygen saturation post-implementation of the cold application (p ≤0.05). However, there were no significant changes in the participants’ systolic or diastolic blood pressure after the cold application. Conclusion and Recommendations: Cold application is an effective method for improving unconscious patients’ physiological parameters during arterial puncture. Hence, critical care nurses can include the cold application in the routine nursing care of arterial puncture for unconscious patients in intensive care units.