Aromatherapy as treatment for postoperative nausea: a randomized trial

Area of Science:

• Anesthesiology
• Complementary and Alternative Medicine
• Surgical Care

Background:

• Postoperative nausea (PON) is a frequent complication following anesthesia and surgery.
• While antiemetics help, they do not consistently prevent PON, especially in higher-risk individuals.
• Aromatherapy presents a potential noninvasive intervention for managing PON.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the efficacy of aromatherapy in reducing PON among patients undergoing ambulatory surgery.
• To compare the effectiveness of specific essential oils (ginger, blend) and isopropyl alcohol against a placebo.
• To determine if the effectiveness of aromatherapy varies based on the agent used.

Main Methods:

• A randomized trial was conducted with adult patients experiencing nausea in the postanesthesia care unit.
• Participants inhaled a randomly assigned aromatherapy agent (ginger, blend, alcohol, or placebo) and nausea levels were reassessed.
• Demographic data and risk factors were collected pre-surgery; antiemetic use was recorded.

Main Results:

• Aromatherapy with ginger (P = 0.002) and the essential oil blend (P < 0.001) significantly reduced nausea levels compared to saline.
• Patients receiving ginger or blend aromatherapy requested fewer antiemetic medications post-inhalation.
• Isopropyl alcohol did not show a significant reduction in nausea compared to the placebo (P < 0.76).

Conclusions:

• The study supports the hypothesis that aromatherapy is an effective treatment for PON.
• Ginger and blend aromatherapy show significant promise for PON management.
• Aromatherapy is a cost-effective, noninvasive option for patients to self-administer for PON relief.