The effects of guided imagery on sleep and inflammatory response in cardiac surgery: a pilot randomized controlled trial.

THE JOURNAL OF CARDIOVASCULAR SURGERY 1 enable the patient to enter into a relaxed state in preparation for sleep. Within this state, the brain naturally progresses through alpha and delta brainwave stages leading to the most conducive condition of mind and body for deep, natural sleep.11-14 The goal of this preliminary investigation was to lay the groundwork to test the applicability of using guided imagery as a sleep-promoting intervention immediately following cardiac surgery. Specifically, this study aimed to: 1) evaluate the feasibility and acceptability of inte.g.rating the guided imagery program in order to promote sleep and reduce the inflammatory response following cardiac surgery; and 2) identify and describe the differences in sleep patterns (SOL and TST), SQ, stress (cortisol) and inflammatory (C-RP) levels of patients who have used the guided imagery program compared to those patients who did not use the program at post-operative days (POD) 1 through 4.