The Effect of Aromatherapy on Anxiety and Pain in Patients Undergoing Oculoplastic Surgery.

ABSTRACT

PURPOSE: To determine the effect of aromatherapy on postoperative anxiety and pain in patients undergoing oculoplastic surgery. METHODS: A randomized controlled study of 60 patients who underwent monitored anesthesia care sedation for oculoplastic procedures from August 2018 to November 2020. Patients were randomized to an aromatherapy (n = 32) or placebo (n = 28) condition. Anxiety was measured with State-Trait Anxiety Inventory and visual analog scale for anxiety. Pain was measured with a visual analog scale for pain. RESULTS: Compared with control patients, aromatherapy patients had significantly lower postoperative State-Trait Anxiety Inventory state anxiety (24.1 vs. 29.1; p = 0.05) and visual analog scale pain scores (1.9 vs. 3.2; p = 0.05). Aromatherapy patients also had shorter stays in the postanesthesia care unit than control patients (57.7 vs. 79.4 minutes; p = 0.03). CONCLUSIONS: Patients who received aromatherapy reported lower postoperative anxiety and pain. Aromatherapy may be a useful adjuvant analgesic and/or anxiolytic for patients undergoing oculoplastic procedures with monitored anesthesia care sedation.