Aromatherapy Treatment With Lavender Essential Oil to Reduce Post-Operative Nausea and Vomiting (PONV)

Evaluation of the Efficacy of an Aromatherapy Treatment With Lavender Essential Oil to Reduce Post-Operative Nausea and Vomiting (PONV): Two-arm, Non-pharmacological, Single-centre, Non-profit, Randomised Controlled Trial

The aim of this study is to evaluate the effectiveness of aromatherapy through the use of inhaled Lavender oil in reducing patients' nausea during the post-operative period.

To evaluate the effectiveness of inhaling Lavender Angustifolia essential oil in reducing nausea after abdominal, vascular, neurosurgical and gynaecological surgery under general anaesthesia during the 24-hour postoperative period.

Secondary objective

• To detect the number of antiemetic administrations in the experimental arm compared to the control arm
• To measure the patient satisfaction of patients in the experimental group with the Lavender essential oil aromatherapy intervention at hospital discharge Primary endpoint Reduction of nausea by at least 10% compared to treatment with standard care, as assessed by the NRS (Numerical Rating Scale).

Inclusion Criteria:

• Patients who sign an informed consent

  • Patients who have undergone anesthesiological examination
  • Patients undergoing general anaesthesia
  • Clinically stable patients
  • Patients with nausea scores detected with NRS>0
  • Patients admitted undergoing surgery in the Complex and/or Simple Structures listed below:
  • SC of Neurosurgery, undergoing spinal surgery
  • SC of General Surgery, undergoing surgery on one of the organs of the abdominal cavity
  • SC of Vascular Surgery, undergoing traditional surgical repair or endovascular procedure of abdominal aortic aneurysm. Sclerotherapy (to heal varicose veins) venous stripping (removal of a vein segment in the treatment of varicose veins) laser treatment
  • SS of Gynaecological Surgery, undergoing operations on the organs of the female genital apparatus.

Exclusion Criteria:

Patients with ongoing relevant cognitive impairment (Six Item Screener score <4)

• Patients with allergies or sensitivities to lavender essential oils
• Patients with asthma, COPD, Chronic Bronchitis, Obstructive Sleep Apnea
• Patients with changes in sense of smell