Effectiveness of the Benson Relaxation Technique in Reducing Pain During Femoral Artery Sheath Removal Following Percutaneous Coronary Intervention: A Randomized Controlled Trial

Objective: This study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of the Benson Relaxation Technique (BRT) in reducing pain during femoral artery sheath removal after percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI).

Methods and Materials: A randomized controlled trial was conducted at three cardiac centers in Iraq. A total of 58 patients undergoing therapeutic PCI were randomly assigned into two groups: intervention (n=27) and control (n=31). The intervention group received BRT for 10 minutes before and after sheath removal. Pain was assessed using the Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) immediately after the procedure. Demographic data and clinical variables were collected. Data were analyzed using SPSS v26 and non-parametric tests (Mann-Whitney U, Kruskal-Wallis, and Spearman correlation).

Findings: The mean VAS score in the control group was 61.13±12.06 before sheath removal and 50.10±10.55 after. In contrast, the BRT group reported significantly lower pain scores: 36.48±11.80 and 28.81±8.20, respectively (p<0.001). No significant differences in pain scores were found with regard to BMI, smoking status, chronic disease, or previous PCI. Age showed a negative correlation with pain levels (p<0.05), and occupation had a significant influence.

Conclusion: Benson Relaxation Technique is an effective, non-pharmacological, and low-cost method for reducing pain during femoral sheath removal in PCI patients. Its implementation in nursing care can enhance patient comfort without adverse effects.