The effects of showering in 48–72 h after coronary artery bypass graft surgery through median sternotomy on wound infection, pain, comfort, and satisfaction: randomized controlled trial

Time of showering after surgery is still a controversial issue for surgical patients and health professionals. We evaluated the effects of showering in 48–72 h after median sternotomy on sternal wound infections, pain due to sternotomy, patient comfort, and satisfaction levels.

The study was a randomized controlled clinical trial. Fifty-one patients were randomly allocated (1:1) to the shower (n = 26) or non-shower group (n = 25). The patients in the shower group (intervention group) showered in the first 48–72 h after surgery and the patients in the non-shower group (control group) were not allowed to shower until their chest tube sutures were removed. They were instructed to shower on the next day after removal of the chest tube sutures. The rate of sternal wound infections was significantly lower in the shower group (n = 2, 7.7%) than in the non-shower group patients (n = 8, 32.0%; P = 0.038). A logistic regression analysis showed that early post-operative showering was protective and significantly reduced the risk of sternal wound infections independently of other variables [odds ratio (OR): 0.177; 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.033–0.940; P = 0.042]. The pain severity score was significantly lower in the shower group patients. Also, comfort and satisfaction scores were significantly higher in this group (P < 0.05).

Early showering after sternotomy was found to be protective against sternal wound infections and had a positive effect on pain, comfort, and satisfaction.

Clinical Trials.gov registration number NCT04250961 (https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT04250961).