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Objective: The postoperative pain after heart surgeries had been often reported. Meager reports about respiratory function and pain correlation had been reported. The aim of this study is to assess the pain intensity and location during hospital stay and its effect on respiratory function in patients undergone elective heart surgery.

Methods: Respiratory function (lung volumes, respiratory muscle strength and peak expiratory flow) was assessed at the preoperative and postoperative times (1, 3 and 5 days) by ventilometer, manovacuometer and peak flow meter measurements. The assessment of pain intensity was performed with a visual analogue scale for pain.

Results: The majority of pain site was on sternotomy incision (50% of patients) and the intensity was higher at the first postoperative day (8.32 by visual scale measurement). All respiratory variables remained lower than to preoperative period at fifth postoperative time (P> 0.05), with exception for respiratory rate. The pain and maximal inspiratory pressure showed a negative correlation at the first postoperative day (P= 0.019).

Conclusion: Postoperative pain decreased respiratory function in patients precluding deep inspirations, in special, at the first postoperative day.

Descriptors: Pain. Cardiovascular surgical procedures.