Complementary Intervention in Postoperative Care: Aromatherapy's Role in Decreasing Postoperative Nausea and Vomiting

Area of Science:

• Anesthesiology
• Pain Management
• Complementary and Alternative Medicine

Background:

• Postoperative nausea and vomiting (PONV) is a common complication following surgery.
• Antiemetic drugs are the standard treatment but can have side effects.
• Non-pharmacological interventions are sought to manage PONV.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the effectiveness of a custom essential oil aromatherapy blend, Post-Ease, in reducing PONV.
• To assess the impact of aromatherapy on the requirement for antiemetic medications in orthopedic patients.
• To analyze the use of aromatherapy as a quality improvement intervention.

Main Methods:

• Retrospective cohort study design using electronic health records.
• Analysis of data pre- and post-implementation of a nurse-driven aromatherapy intervention.
• Inhaled custom blend of lavender, peppermint, ginger, and lemon essential oils administered as needed.

Main Results:

• The Post-Ease blend was administered 384 times in 2020.
• A statistically significant reduction in patients needing antiemetics (22%, p=0.05) was observed.
• A significant decrease in total antiemetic doses administered (21%, p≤0.05) was recorded.

Conclusions:

• Aromatherapy with the Post-Ease blend is a viable option for managing PONV in orthopedic surgery.
• This intervention can significantly minimize the use of antiemetic drugs.
• Essential oil aromatherapy supports reduced reliance on pharmacological treatments for PONV.