Effect of Aromatherapy on Perioperative Anxiety Level in Cesarean Sections

Plain-language summary

Spinal anesthesia has been accepted as the first choice for elective cesarean section due to its easy application technique and elimination of the risks of difficult intubation and aspiration. Neuraxial anesthesia is considered superior to general anesthesia in terms of fetal well-being. The state of having an operation and not being aware of the operation by the patient can cause serious anxiety and fear in the patient. Fear of surgical failure, not fully understanding the anesthesia method, possible risks of anesthesia and expected pain during the postoperative recovery period contribute to the patient's anxiety. Considering the patients undergoing elective surgery under spinal anesthesia, there is a moderate level of anxiety associated with advanced age and female gender. Reducing the stress and anxiety in the patient during elective surgery will reduce the neurohormonal response to surgery and reduce complications. Early skin-to-skin contact with the mother provides many benefits to the newborn, but maternal sedation in the operating room during cesarean delivery should also be within safe limits to avoid early skin-to-skin contact. Aromatherapy relies on the use of essential oils to contribute to physical and psychological well-being. The oils can be massaged into the skin, or inhaled using a steam infusion or burner. Birth pain is a severe pain, and the feeling of pain may increase with tension, fear and anxiety during delivery. Apart from medical methods, many complementary treatments such as acupuncture, reflexology, homeopathy, hypnotherapy, music and aromatherapy are tried to reduce pain and anxiety. Lavender aromatherapy has been shown to significantly reduce anxiety or pain in various surgical procedures. There is a growing literature on the use of lavender aromatherapy as an anxiolytic agent. Based on these findings, the study aimed to contribute to early mother-to-baby contact and breast milk intake by reducing perioperative maternal anxiety and therefore the use of sedative drugs during cesarean section performed under spinal anesthesia with the intraoperative use of lavender aromatherapy. This is the first study to evaluate the effect of aromatherapy on anxiety in cases of cesarean section under anesthesia.

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