The Use of Deep Breathing Relaxation and Lavender Aromatherapy for Acute Pain Management in Post-Appendectomy Patients: A Case Study

Abstract

Background: Appendicitis is an inflammatory condition of the appendix that requires surgical appendectomy. Post-appendectomy patients often experience acute pain that can interfere with the healing process, so effective pain management is needed. Goal: This study aims to describe the management of acute pain in post-appendectomy patients through pain management at Pandan Arang Boyolali Regional Hospital. Method: This study uses a descriptive method with a case study form using a nursing care approach. Data collection was carried out by alloanamnesis and autoanamnesis through interviews, observations and documentation studies including assessment, nursing diagnosis, planning, implementation, and evaluation for 3 days of management. The unit of analysis in this study was one adult patient with post-appendectomy on the first day with the selection of criteria using the purposive sampling method. Result: After being managed with nursing care for 3 days, patients who experienced pain with a pain scale of 6 (moderate) were given deep breathing relaxation intervention and lavender aromatherapy for 15 minutes, resulting in a decrease in the pain scale to 3 (mild). Conclusion: Holistic pain management with pharmacological and non-pharmacological approaches is effective in reducing the intensity of acute pain in post-appendectomy patients. The application of deep breathing relaxation techniques and aromatherapy has been shown to help improve comfort and accelerate the healing process.