Comparison of the Effects of Aromatherapy with Rose and Lavender on Physiological Parameters of Patients Undergoing Open Heart Surgery: A Clinical Trial

Background: Complementary therapies are cost-effective and non-invasive methods, aimed at increasing comfort in stressful situations. The aim of this study was to compare the effects of aromatherapy with rose and lavender fragrances on the physiological parameters of patients undergoing open heart surgery. Methods: This randomized, controlled, clinical study was performed on 160 patients, undergoing open heart surgery in 2015. The patients were randomly allocated to 4 groups: 2 intervention groups, 1 control group, and 1 placebo group. After transferring the patients from the operating room to the cardiovascular intensive care unit (ICU), the vital signs were documented in all the groups with the patient’s first inspiratory effort, using a monitoring device. In the intervention group, after the patient’s first inspiratory effort, a cotton cloth, impregnated with 3 drops of rose and lavender fragrances, was attached to the patient’s endotracheal tube. In the placebo group, intervention was performed with a cotton cloth impregnated with water. In the control group, no intervention was applied. Afterwards, the patients’ vital signs were controlled and documented every 30 minutes until the endotracheal tube was extracted. Following endotracheal tube extraction, the vital signs were documented every 15 minutes for 1 hour. For data analysis, descriptive and inferential statistics were calculated, using SPSS version 23. Results: The results of the present study indicated that aromatherapy with rose and lavender fragrances does not cause any significant difference in the physiological indicators. The decline in systolic blood pressure within the first 15, 45, and 60 minutes following endotracheal tube extraction was significantly different among the groups. However, although the difference was statistically significant, it was not of clinical importance. Conclusions: Considering the positive effects of aromatherapy on hemodynamic indicators, this method can be applied as an effective complementary treatment.