Page 30 - World Journal of Laparoscopic Surgery

RESEARCH ARTICLE
Effect of Metatarsus Reflexology Massage in Laparoscopic

Cholecystectomy Nausea: A Randomized Clinical Trial

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Marzieh Badakhsh , Andishe Hamedi , Salimeh Azizi 3
AbstrAct
Background: Nausea after surgery is an important complication. The incidence of this complication is expressed to be 40–75% in laparoscopy.
Due to the risks of nausea following surgery, various methods are used to control it. Metatarsus reflexology is a noninvasive, well-tolerated,
inexpensive, convenient, and cost-effective method for treating many diseases. The aim of this study is to identify the effect of metatarsus
reflexology massage in laparoscopic cholecystectomy nausea.
Materials and methods: In this randomized clinical trial, 60 patients who were candidates for laparoscopic cholecystectomy were randomly
divided into two groups. The control group received common drug therapy and the intervention group underwent foot reflexology massage
for 10 minutes after common therapy. In recovery and at 6 and 12 hours after surgery, the severity of nausea, vomiting was evaluated in the
two groups. The results were analyzed using independent t test, Chi-square, and repeated measures analysis of variance is true.
Results: There were no significant differences between the two groups before intervention in terms of demographic characteristics including
age, sex, duration of anesthesia, and severity of pain in recovery, However, during the study period (in both the intervention and control groups),
the severity of nausea was decreased (p value < 0.001; F = 245.24).
Conclusion: Foot reflexology has an important role in nausea control along with other common treatments and it can be done by nurses due
to low cost.
Keywords: Laparoscopic cholecystectomy, Nausea, Reflexology.
World Journal of Laparoscopic Surgery (2019): 10.5005/jp-journals-10033-1381

IntroductIon
1 Department of Nursing, Samen Hospital, Social Security Organization,
Gallstone is one of the most common diseases of the gastrointestinal
tract that causes biliary-colic pain by blocking the cystic duct and Bojnurd, Iran
may cause a person to suffer from related complications, including 2 Department of Epidemiology, Shirvan Center of Higher Health
acute cholecystitis, chronic cholecystitis, cholangitis, a fistula Education, Imam Khomeini Hospital, North Khorasan University of
between the gallbladder and part of the intestine, and ultimately Medical Sciences, Bojnurd, Iran
ileus. 1 3 Faculty of Nursing, North Khorasan University of Medical Sciences,
Currently, laparoscopic cholecystectomy due to fewer Bojnurd, Iran
complications has been considered as the selected method for Corresponding Author: Salimeh Azizi, Faculty of Nursing, North
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the treatment of acute cholecystitis. Although laparoscopy is a Khorasan University of Medical Sciences, Bojnurd, Iran, Phone: +98
new step in surgery, it still has its own adverse effects, including 9374960903, e-mail: Azizi.s1990@gmail.com
more postsurgery nausea and vomiting compared with other How to cite this article: Badakhsh M, Hamedi A, Azizi S. Effect of
techniques. This leads us to identify the appropriate way to Metatarsus Reflexology Massage in Laparoscopic Cholecystectomy
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control it. Postoperative nausea and vomiting is an important and Nausea: A Randomized Clinical Trial. World J Lap Surg 2019;12(3):116–119.

common complication, especially in surgeries such as laparoscopy. Source of support: Nil
The incidence of this complication following laparoscopic Conflict of interest: None
cholecystectomy is reported to be between 40% and 75%. 4,5
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Nausea is referred to as the second cause of patient’s discomfort rash. Since most anti-nausea drugs have unpleasant adverse
and complaint. Postoperative nausea is a very bad experience for effects or are expensive, alternative treatments for this problem
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the patient; often the patient mentions it as a problem worse than are being investigated. Among the various nonpharmacological
pain. This complication can cause problems such as aspiration of methods, especially complementary and alternative medicine,
the contents of the stomach, wound disclosure, esophageal rupture, acupressure can be used by physicians, nurses, and even patients.
and subcutaneous emphysema that can delay the discharge of Nursing is one of the first professions, which has facilitated the use
the patient. 6 of complementary and alternative medicine. 9
Now, for many patients who develop nausea after surgery, drugs Reflexology is one of the complementary and substitute
such as dexamethasone and metoclopramide are used. These drugs treatment that has a long history and can be used as an all-
cause several complications, such as extrapyramidal complications, embracing approach along with medical treatments. Reflexive
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drowsiness, hypotension, and dysphoria. In addition, intravenous massage is a noninvasive and simple technique that can be
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ondansetron is used immediately after anesthesia or orally one hour considered as part of nursing care in intensive units. Each
after surgery, which has side effects such as headache, dizziness, metatarsus has more than 7,000 neurons, and experts in the field
constipation, dry mouth, muscle aches, urinary retention, and of reflexology believe that a life force or vital energy extends

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