Positive Health Online

Abstract

OMLOR and colleagues, Klinik fur Allgemeine, Viszeral- und Gefasschirurgie, Katholische Kliniken Essen-Nord gGmbH, Essen, Germany evaluated the effects of preoperative relaxation (visualization) therapy on postoperative outcome of patients who underwent surgery for primary inguinal hernia or goitre.

Background

Methodology

This randomised controlled trial included 208 patients, over 18 years of age, who had primary inguinal hernia or goitre . Those with ASA status IV-V, recurrent inguinal hernia, recurrent goitre, or malignant neoplasms were excluded. 103 patients received visualization therapy prior to surgery and 105 patients underwent surgery without a preoperative therapy.

Results

There were no preoperative differences in age, sex, duration of surgery, training of the surgeon or blood parameters between the two patient groups. Postoperatively, patients who received preoperative visualization therapy had significantly fewer haematomas (30.3%) than those who received no preoperative therapy (44.4%) and significantly less pain (4.2 versus 5.2), and consumed significantly less analgesic medication (59.7 mg versus 72.5 mg Tramadol HCl) (p<0.05). There were no significant differences postoperatively in infections, nausea, hypocalcaemia, tetania, recurrent nerve palsy or fever.

Conclusion

Preoperative visualization therapy significantly reduced the number of postoperative haematomas and analgesic requirements .

References

Omlor G et al. (Effect of preoperative visualization therapy on postoperative outcome after inguinal hernia surgery and thyroid resection.) Zentralblatt fuer Chirurgie 125 (4): 380-5. 2000.