Effects of aromatherapy on ameliorating nausea and emesis in orthopedic patients after surgery under general anesthesia

Objective To explore the effects of aromatherapy on ameliorating nausea and emesis in orthopedic patients after surgery under general anesthesia. Methods Totally 180 patients treated in the Department of Orthopedic Trauma, Suzhou Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine from November 2017 to July 2018 by convenient sampling, and the orthopedic patients receiving general anesthesia were divided into the treatment group (n=90) and the control group (n=90) according to the random serial generated by SPSS. Patients in the control group sniffed saline and received conventional nursing care, while patients in the treatment group received aromatherapy with essential oil and conventional nursing care. The incidence and severity of postoperative nausea and emesis was compared between the two groups. Results The incidence rate of nausea and emesis in the treatment group within 24 hours post operation was 13.33%, lower than that in the control group, which was 51.11%, and there was statistically significant difference (χ2=29.406, P<0.05) . The number of patients showing nausea and emesis with different degrees in the treatment group within 24 hours post operation was Class 0 of 78 cases, 8 cases of ClassⅠ, 4 of ClassⅡ and 0 of ClassⅢ, respectively. The number of patients showing nausea and emesis with different degrees in the control group within 24 hours post operation was Class 0 of 44 cases, 15 cases of Class Ⅰ, 27 of Class Ⅱ and 4 of Class Ⅲ, respectively. The severity of nausea and emesis in the treatment group was lower than that in the control group, and there was statistically significant difference (Z=-5.656, P<0.05) . Conclusions Aromatherapy can effectively reduce the incidence rate and severity of nausea and emesis in orthopedic patients after surgery under general anesthesia. Key words: Orthopedics; General anesthesia; Nausea; Emesis; Aromatherapy; Essential oil; Complementary therapy