title: Evaluation of aromatherapy in treating postoperative pain: pilot study.
abstract: This study compared the analgesic efficacy of postoperative lavender oil aromatherapy in 50 patients undergoing breast biopsy surgery. Twenty-five patients received supplemental oxygen through a face mask with two drops of 2% lavender oil postoperatively. The remainder of the patients received supplemental oxygen through a face mask with no lavender oil. Outcome variables included pain scores (a numeric rating scale from 0 to 10) at 5, 30, and 60 minutes postoperatively, narcotic requirements in the postanesthesia care unit (PACU), patient satisfaction with pain control, as well as time to discharge from the PACU. There were no significant differences in narcotic requirements and recovery room discharge times between the two groups. Postoperative lavender oil aromatherapy did not significantly affect pain scores. However, patients in the lavender group reported a higher satisfaction rate with pain control than patients in the control group (P = 0.0001).
authors.affiliation: Department of Anesthesiology, New York University Medical Center, New York 10016, USA. jung.kim@med.nyu.edu
authors.forename: Jung T
authors.initials: JT
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Wajda
authors.forename: Germaine
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Cuff
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Serota
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Schlame
authors.forename: Deborah M
authors.initials: DM
authors.lastname: Axelrod
authors.forename: Amber A
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: Guth
authors.forename: Alex Y
authors.initials: AY
authors.lastname: Bekker
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000339:Affect / Q000502:physiology*; D000368:Aged; D000698:Analgesia / Q000379:methods* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D000700:Analgesics / Q000009:adverse effects; D001007:Anxiety / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy; D019341:Aromatherapy / Q000379:methods* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D001706:Biopsy / Q000009:adverse effects; D001941:Breast Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D027523:Lavandula; D007902:Length of Stay / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D008875:Middle Aged; D009325:Nausea / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000628:therapy; D009822:Oils, Volatile / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D017288:Pain Threshold / Q000523:psychology*; D010149:Postoperative Pain / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000523:psychology* / Q000628:therapy*; D017060:Patient Satisfaction / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D010865:Pilot Projects; D010938:Plant Oils / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D000700:Analgesics; D009822:Oils, Volatile; D010938:Plant Oils; C045718:lavender oil