Nursing Heat Therapy After Cholecystectomy

Overview

This randomized controlled study aims to evaluate the effect of local heat application to the feet on postoperative pain and abdominal distension in patients undergoing open or laparoscopic cholecystectomy. Eligible participants will be randomly assigned to either a local heat application group or a control group. In the intervention group, heat will be applied to the feet using a hot-water bottle for 15 minutes at hourly intervals during the first four postoperative hours. Pain and abdominal distension will be assessed using validated scales, and gastrointestinal recovery indicators such as time to first flatus and defecation will be recorded. The study is designed to determine whether this simple, nurse-led, non-pharmacological intervention may improve postoperative comfort and recovery.

Gallstone disease is a common health problem worldwide and represents a substantial clinical and economic burden. Cholecystectomy is among the most frequently performed abdominal surgical procedures, and postoperative symptoms such as pain and abdominal distension may delay mobilization, impair comfort, and prolong recovery. Postoperative ileus, characterized by temporary impairment of gastrointestinal motility, abdominal distension, and delayed passage of flatus or stool, is frequently observed following abdominal surgery. Pharmacological analgesia, particularly opioid-based regimens, remains the standard approach for postoperative pain management; however, these medications may contribute to gastrointestinal dysmotility and delayed recovery. Therefore, non-pharmacological and nurse-led interventions are increasingly considered as complementary strategies to enhance patient outcomes and comfort. Approaches such as early mobilization, education, and sensory or physical modalities have been suggested to support recovery. Local heat therapy is a simple, low-cost nursing intervention that may promote pain relief and physiological recovery through mechanisms including increased local circulation, muscle relaxation, and modulation of nociceptive pathways. Distal thermal applications, such as foot-based heat therapy, may influence autonomic regulation and gastrointestinal activity; however, evidence in patients undergoing cholecystectomy remains limited. This study is designed as a single-blind randomized controlled trial to evaluate the effects of foot-based local heat application on postoperative pain, abdominal distension, and gastrointestinal recovery outcomes. Findings are expected to contribute to the evidence base for safe and feasible nursing interventions in postoperative care.