Thermotherapy to reduce pain in patient with ST Elevation Myocardial Infarction (STEMI) in the intensive care unit

Abstract

ST-Elevation Myocardial Infarction (STEMI) is a critical cardiovascular emergency caused by total occlusion of a coronary artery, typically presenting with severe, acute chest pain. Alongside standard pharmacological management, non-pharmacological interventions such as thermotherapy—the therapeutic application of localized heat—can be utilized to manage pain by enhancing regional blood flow, improving tissue oxygenation, and alleviating muscle tension. This descriptive case study aimed to evaluate the clinical application of thermotherapy in managing acute pain in a patient diagnosed with STEMI. The case involved a single female patient (Mrs. H) presenting with acute ischemic chest pain secondary to STEMI. Data were gathered through structured clinical interviews, physical observations, and nursing documentation. As an adjunctive nursing intervention, thermotherapy was applied for 10 to 20 minutes once daily over three consecutive days. Following the three-day intervention, Mrs. H demonstrated a progressive reduction in her numeric pain scale ratings and reported increased overall comfort, with no adverse side effects observed. These findings suggest that thermotherapy is an effective complementary nursing intervention for reducing acute pain in STEMI patients and serves as a safe non-pharmacological option in clinical cardiac care.

Keywords: Cardiovascular disease, nursing care, pain management, STEMI, thermotherapy