Inhalation Aromatherapy with Geranium Essential Oil on the Severity of Postoperative Nausea and Vomiting after Appendectomy

Introduction
Postoperative nausea and vomiting are common and distressing complications after appendectomy that can negatively affect recovery and patient satisfaction. Due to the limitations and side effects of antiemetic medications, complementary approaches such as aromatherapy have gained increasing attention. This study aimed to evaluate the effect of inhalation aromatherapy with geranium essential oil on the severity of PONV after appendectomy.
Materials and Methods
This double-blind randomized clinical trial was conducted on 120 patients who were candidates for appendectomy. Patients were randomly assigned to three groups of 40: intervention, placebo, and control. The intervention was administered in four stages from the operating room to the recovery unit. The severity of nausea was measured at four time points using a Visual Analogue Scale. Data were analyzed using one-way ANOVA followed by Tukey’s post hoc test.
Results
Baseline demographic and clinical characteristics were similar among the three groups. At time point T3, the mean nausea severity in the intervention group was significantly lower than in the placebo group (p = 0.01). The difference between the intervention and control groups at this time point was not statistically significant. At T4, although the mean nausea score remained lower in the intervention group, the difference among the groups was not significant (p = 0.13).
Conclusion
The findings suggest that inhalation aromatherapy with geranium essential oil may effectively reduce nausea during the early postoperative period after appendectomy. As a easily applicable complementary approach, it may be used alongside standard postoperative care.