Comparing the Effects of Rose Essential Oil and Benson Relaxation Technique on Preoperative Anxiety and Hemodynamic Status and Postoperative Complications in Rhinoplasty Candidates

Objective: Rhinoplasty is a stressful and challenging procedure for plastic surgeries. Researchers are looking for appropriate methods of traditional and complementary medicine to control anxiety before rhinoplasty. This study aims to compare the effects of Benson Relaxation Technique (BRT) and Rose essential oil on preoperative anxiety and hemodynamics and postoperative complications in rhinoplasty candidates. Methods: In this randomized intervention study, participants were 68 candidates for rhinoplasty referred to Zare Hospital in Sari, Iran who were randomly divided into BRT (n=34) and aromatherapy (n=34) groups. Anxiety was assessed before and after the intervention by Spielberger’s State-Trait Anxiety Inventory. Hemodynamic status, intraoperative bleeding, nausea and vomiting were assessed 24 hours after surgery. Results: The two groups were homogenous in terms of demographic characteristics. The level of overt anxiety decreased by 27.5% in the aromatherapy group and by 20.4% in the BRT group. The level of covert anxiety decreased by 27.2% in the aromatherapy group and by 20.8% in the BRT group. Systolic and diastolic blood pressure levels decreased more in the aromatherapy group than in the BRT group. There was a significant difference in the number of pulses between the two groups after the intervention (P= 0.038). The mean amount of intraoperative bleeding was 18.6±2.4 mL in the BRT group and 18.2±3.8 mL in the aromatherapy group (P= 0.626). Nausea, vomiting and surgeon satisfaction levels during the surgery were similar in the two groups Conclusion: Rose essential oil and BRT are recommended for patients before rhinoplasty due to reducing their preoperative anxiety and stabilizing their hemodynamic status.