The Effect of Inhalation of Ginger Extract on Postoperative Nausea, Retching and Vomiting after Laparoscopic Cholecystectomy: A Randomized Clinical Trial

Background & objectives: Nausea, retching and vomiting are common complications after surgery. Despite the medical treatment, patients still suffer from these complications. The use of non-pharmacological methods can reduce these complications. Therefore, the aim of this study was to determine the effect of inhalation of ginger extract on postoperative nausea, retching and vomiting after laparoscopic cholecystectomy. Methods: This clinical trial study was performed on 70 patients undergone laparoscopic cholecystectomy in Besat hospital of Hamadan. The samples were selected by convenience sampling and then were assigned to two groups of 35 individuals, including ginger extract and placebo groups, by simple random assignment. In ginger group, 6 drops of ginger extract and 1cc of distilled water were poured on a 2×2 gas and placed in a zipper bag and patients were asked to inhale it 3 times/minute during 20 minutes. The intervention in placebo group was similar; with the difference that normal saline serum was used. The severity of nausea in two groups was determined and compared before intervention as well as after 0.5 and 1 hour, with visual analog scale. The frequency of vomiting and retching was evaluated based on the number of incidence in the 4 first hours after intervention. Data were analyzed by independent T-test and analysis of variance of repeated measures. Results: The results showed a significant reduction in the severity of nausea (p=0.003), the number of retching (p=0.036), and vomiting (p=0.007) times in ginger group compared to placebo group. Conclusions: Inhalation aromatherapy with ginger extract can be used to reduce the postoperative nausea severity and the frequency of retching and vomiting in laparoscopic cholecystectomy.