The aim of this randomised, placebo-controlled, 3-way blinded study was to determine the effect on GIS symptoms, pain and anxiety of acupressure applied for a total of 12 mins, as 3 mins at each of the ST25, CV12, TH6 and HT7 acupuncture points, at 0, 4 and 8 hours after laparoscopic cholecystectomy operation. The research data were collected using a patient data collection form, the Numeric Pain Intensity Scale and the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory. The patients were evaluated in respect of the time to first flatus and defecation, pain and the State-Trait Anxiety points at 0, 4, and 8 hours postoperatively.
Together with technological advances in the field of healthcare, there is currently a greater preference for the laparoscopic cholecystectomy procedure, as length of hospital stay is shorter, workforce loss is lower, good cosmetic results are obtained and postoperative patient satisfaction is higher, when compared to open cholecystectomy. One of the basic factors affecting the patient is the anesthesia applied in the laparoscopic surgical approach. Following general anaesthesia, metabolic activity slows and gastrointestinal system (GIS) movements are reduced. In addition, by increasing intra-abdominal pressure, the gas insufflation applied to the peritoneal cavity in laparoscopic surgery, reduces blood flow in the stomach and small and large intestines. As a result of this reduced blood flow, ischemia and dysfunction in the intestines may cause ileus symptoms to emerge. Pain occuring as a response to surgical stress causes a decrease in intestinal motility. If pain is not brought under control postoperatively, nausea, vomiting, constipation and ileus may occur. Preoperative anxiety has been reported to be associated with postoperative pain, cognitive disorders and delayed healing. Stress reaction, surgical intervention to the abdominal region, trauma, postoperative pain, and the use of anaesthetic and narcotic agents are among the factors causing the development of GIS problems. An increase in sympathetic activity which occurs in the stress reaction and the use of general/narcotic anaesthesia reduce gastrointestinal motility. Pharmacological treatments are applied to improve GIS functions. It has been reported that intravenous infusion of lidocaine in the perioperative period provides a faster recovery of bowel functions. Postoperative gastrointestinal dysfunction is usually treated using alvimopan, but the drug used has side effects such as nausea and vomiting. Postoperative pain and nausea-vomiting are common complaints after laparoscopic cholecystectomy, despite the use of multimodal analgesia consisting of dexamethasone, opioids, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs and local anesthetics used in the perioperative period. In addition, of the nursing applications used, the application of acupressure is of benefit. Acupressure is accepted as a non-invasive application that can easily be applied by trained nurses, which increases the quality of the medical care administered and contributes to physical and psychological recovery. In studies of acupressure applied for the recovery of GIS functions, it has been reported that acupressure can be applied as non-invasive nursing care which improves postoperative ileus symptoms. In a study by Chao et al, acupressure applied after abdominal surgery was reported to improve gas output, shorten the time to oral nutritional intake, and improve ileus symptoms. Acupressure applied to the P6 point following appendectomy decreased the frequency of vomiting. In another study, acupressure was determined to be effective in improving GIS movement. Acupressure improved intestinal functions but stated that more experimental studies were needed. It is recommended to teach the use of acupuncture warning devices to patients with post-operative nausea, vomiting and anxiety problems. However, there is no definitive evidence as to when, how and for how long acupressure should be administered. Moreover, studies conducted by nurses on this subject are limited and studies with high evidence value are needed. As a result of our literature review, the effect of acupressure applied to ST25, CV12, TH6 and HT7 on bowel movements, first flatus and defecation time, pain and anxiety after laparoscopic cholecystectomy was not investigated. Therefore, our study was carried out to evaluate the effect of acupressure applied to patients after laparoscopic cholecystectomy on GIS functions, pain and anxiety.
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Purpose
SUPPORTIVE_CARE
Masking
TRIPLE
Enrollment
53
Acupressure is accepted as a non-invasive application that can easily be applied by trained nurses, which increases the quality of the medical care administered and contributes to physical and psychological recovery.
Di̇lek Soylu
Kahramanmaraş, Turkey (Türkiye)
Change in the first flatus process according to the information received from the patient
First flatus hour is validated, the patient was questioned about the time of flatus output. The hour reported by the patient was evaluated as the time of first flatus. Change=(Postoperative 0 and 72 hours).
Time frame: Postoperative 0 and 72 hours
Change in the first gaits output process according to the information received from the patient
First gaits output is validated, the patient was questioned about the time of gaits output. The hour reported by the patient was evaluated as the time of first gaits.Change=(Postoperative 0 and 72 hours).
Time frame: Postoperative 0 and 72 hours
Change from Baseline in Pain on The Numeric Pain Intensity Scale (NAS) at postoperative 0, 4 and 8 hours.
NAS is a single dimension, subjective scale, consisting of a horizontal line, marked at equal intervals from 0-10, where 0= no pain and 10= intolerable pain. The scores were evaluated as 1-3 represents mild pain, 4-6 moderate pain, and 7-10 severe pain. The patients were instructed to mark the number best reflecting the level of pain felt.It was evaluated 4 times in total before acupressure, at the postoperative 0, 4 and 8 hours after the acupressure application. Change=(pre-acupressure score- postoperative 0, 4 and 8 hours scores).
Time frame: Pre-acupressure, postoperative 0, 4 and 8 hours
Change from Baseline The State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (SAI) at pre-acupressure and postoperative 8 hour
The State-Trait Anxiety Inventory was developed by Spielberger in 1964 and was adapted to Turkish by Öner and LeCompte. The scale, which is self-reported and consists of short statements, measures the levels of anxiety of both patients and healthy individuals. The State Anxiety Inventory (SAI) provides information about how the individual feels at that time, and the Trait Anxiety Inventory (TAI) about how they have felt in the last 7 days. The constant value is 50 for the SAI and 35 for the TAI. The most recently obtained value constitutes the anxiety points, in a maximum range of 20-80, with high scores indicating a high level of anxiety. Change= (Pre-acupressure score and postoperative 8 hour score).
Time frame: Pre-acupressure and postoperative 8 hour
Change from Baseline in Nause on The Nause Intensity Scale (VAS) at pre-acupressure, postoperative 0, 4 and 8 hours.
A 10 cm scale, marked in cm, where 0= no nausea and 10= very severe nausea was used and each patient was instructed to mark the greatest severity of nausea that they had felt on the scale. It was evaluated 4 times in total before acupressure, at the postoperative 0, 4 and 8 hours after the acupressure application. Change=(pre-acupressure score- postoperative 0, 4 and 8 hours score).
Time frame: Pre-acupressure, postoperative 0, 4 and 8 hours
Change from Baseline in intestinal sounds at pre-acupressure, postoperative 0, 4 and 8 hours.
Intestinal sounds were listened to with the same stethoscope, by dividing the abdomen into 4 quadrants and evaluating each quadrant. A time of one minute was set on a chronometer for each evaluation, and the number of the intestinal sounds in one minute were counted and recorded. It was evaluated 4 times in total before acupressure, at the postoperative 0, 4 and 8 hours after the acupressure application. Change=(pre-acupressure number- postoperative 0, 4 and 8 hours numbers).
Time frame: Pre-acupressure, postoperative 0, 4 and 8 hours
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