Inhalation Aromatherapy With Lavender for Postoperative Pain Management: A Systematic Review of Randomized Controlled Trials.

Abstract

Objectives: Lavender essential oil is widely used for pain relief, but its effectiveness in postoperative pain relief remains unclear. This systematic review investigated the effects of inhaled lavender aromatherapy on postoperative pain relief and analgesic consumption in adults.

Methods: We searched Cochrane Library, PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, CINAHL, Medline (Ovid), and Scopus databases up to October 01, 2023. Pain score was the primary outcome, and analgesics consumption was the secondary outcome. Study quality was assessed using the Cochrane risk of bias tool, and evidence strength was evaluated with the Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development, and Evaluation approach.

Results: Fifteen studies met the inclusion criteria, 14 published in 2015 or later. Most studies were conducted in Iran (9 studies, 60%) and the USA (5 studies, 33%). Participants primarily underwent cardiac (5 studies, 33%) or abdominal surgery (6 studies, 40%). Pain levels were mainly assessed at 5, 30, and 60 minutes after intervention. Regarding the consumption of postoperative analgesics, three studies reported reduced postoperative analgesic use with lavender aromatherapy, while the other three studies found no notable effect.

Conclusions: Inhaled lavender aromatherapy significantly reduced postoperative pain in adults. However, evidence is insufficient to confirm its effect on reducing analgesic consumption. Further high-quality randomized clinical trials are needed to draw definitive conclusions.