Utilization of Aromatherapy as First Line Treatment for Nausea and Vomiting in Post Anesthesia Recovery

Area of Science:

• Anesthesiology and Pain Management
• Evidence-Based Practice
• Quality Improvement Initiatives

Background:

• Post-operative nausea and vomiting (PONV) is common in pediatric patients, often requiring antiemetic medications.
• Breakthrough PONV can occur despite intraoperative ondansetron and/or dexamethasone.
• Aromatherapy is increasingly recognized for its efficacy in managing PONV, with growing application in pediatric care.

Purpose of the Study:

• To implement and evaluate an evidence-based quality improvement initiative using aromatherapy for PONV in a pediatric setting.
• To assess the feasibility and effectiveness of aromatherapy as a first-line treatment for PONV.
• To minimize the use of antiemetic medications in pediatric post-operative patients.

Main Methods:

• Aromatherapy, specifically peppermint, was utilized as a first-line intervention in the Pediatric Post Anesthesia Care Unit (PACU).
• Staff education on aromatherapy protocols was provided.
• Monthly aromatherapy usage was tracked, alongside antiemetic medication administration, using electronic medical records and dispensing cabinet data.
• Data were collected over 18 months, with trends analyzed using Spearman correlation and linear regression.

Main Results:

• Aromatherapy use significantly increased by 0.19 patients per month (p=0.017).
• Antiemetic medication use significantly decreased by 0.35 patients per month (p<0.001).
• The initiative resulted in significant monthly cost savings, increasing by $0.09 per month (p=0.002).

Conclusions:

• Aromatherapy is an effective, feasible, and low-cost option for managing PONV in pediatric PACU patients.
• Aromatherapy should be considered a first-line treatment for post-operative nausea and vomiting.
• Implementing aromatherapy can lead to reduced antiemetic use and cost savings.