Cochrane · systematic review · CD007598

Aromatherapy for treatment of postoperative nausea and vomiting

Hines, S, Steels, E, Chang, A, et al. · Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews · 2018 · Cochrane Library

Anaesthesia2 versionsAMSTAR 2: not assessed
SoF tableOnly the outcomes this review put in its Summary of Findings table are listed (the Cochrane Handbook caps them at about seven per comparison). Its other analyses are not shown here.
Questions
20
current version
GRADE rated
8
No studies
12
Included studies
NR
No studies 12 · 60%Ungraded 0 · 0%Very low 3 · 15%Low 3 · 15%Moderate 2 · 10%High 0 · 0%

Ungraded means an effect was reported without a GRADE rating; it is not a gap. No studies means the review found nothing to answer the question. The six categories are a display order, not a score.

Questions and results

Show all 2 versions

Aromatherapy compared to placebo for treatment of postoperative nausea and vomiting

Population: adults and children having any type of surgical procedure under general anaesthesia, regional anaesthesia or sedation, either as hospital inpatients or outpatients, with existing PONV
5 questions
OutcomeEffectEvidenceStatus / GRADE
Nausea severity
Aromatherapy vs placebo
no estimate extracted6 studies · 241 participantsLow
Downgraded: risk of bias, inconsistency
Nausea duration (nausea‐free at end of treatment) Assessed by numbers of participants
Aromatherapy vs placebo
RR 3.25 [0.31, 34.33]4 studies · 193 participantsVery low
Downgraded: risk of bias, imprecision, inconsistency
Proportion requiring rescue antiemetics Assessed by numbers of participants
Aromatherapy vs placebo
RR 0.6 [0.37, 0.97]7 studies · 609 participantsLow
Downgraded: risk of bias, inconsistency
Adverse events (common reactions to aromatherapy include skin rashes, dyspnoea, headache, cardiac arrhythmias, hypotension, hypertension or dizziness)
Aromatherapy vs placebo
no estimate extractedNRNo studies
Patient satisfaction with treatment Measured by a validated scale
Aromatherapy vs placebo
no estimate extractedNRNo studies

Peppermint compared to placebo for treatment of postoperative nausea and vomiting

Population: adults and children having any type of surgical procedure under general anaesthesia, regional anaesthesia or sedation, as hospital inpatients or outpatients, with existing PONV
5 questions
OutcomeEffectEvidenceStatus / GRADE
Nausea severity
Peppermint vs placebo
no estimate extracted4 studies · 115 participantsLow
Downgraded: risk of bias, inconsistency
Nausea duration (nausea‐free at end of treatment) Measured by participant self‐report or medical or nursing observation
Peppermint vs placebo
no estimate extractedNRNo studies
Use of rescue antiemetics
Peppermint vs placebo
no estimate extractedNRNo studies
Adverse events (common reactions to aromatherapy include skin rashes, dyspnoea, headache, cardiac arrhythmias, hypotension, hypertension or dizziness)
Peppermint vs placebo
no estimate extractedNRNo studies
Patient satisfaction with treatment Measured by a validated scale
Peppermint vs placebo
no estimate extractedNRNo studies

Isopropyl alcohol compared to standard treatment for postoperative nausea and vomiting

Population: adults and children having any type of surgical procedure under general anaesthesia, regional anaesthesia or sedation, as hospital inpatients or outpatients, with existing PONV
5 questions
OutcomeEffectEvidenceStatus / GRADE
Nausea severity Measured by a validated scale or medical or nursing observation
Isopropyl alcohol vs standard treatment
no estimate extractedNRNo studies
Nausea duration (measured as nausea‐free at end of treatment) Assessed by time (minutes) to 50% reduction in nausea score Scale from: 0 to 120
Isopropyl alcohol vs standard treatment
no estimate extracted3 studies · 176 participantsModerate
Downgraded: risk of bias
Use of rescue antiemetics Assessed by proportion requiring antiemetics
Isopropyl alcohol vs standard treatment
RR 0.67 [0.46, 0.98]4 studies · 215 participantsModerate
Downgraded: risk of bias
Patient satisfaction with treatment
Isopropyl alcohol vs standard treatment
RR 1.12 [0.62, 2.03]2 studies · 172 participantsVery low
Downgraded: risk of bias, imprecision, inconsistency
Adverse events (common reactions to aromatherapy include skin rashes, dyspnoea, headache, cardiac arrhythmias, hypotension, hypertension or dizziness)
Isopropyl alcohol vs standard treatment
no estimate extractedNRNo studies

Isopropyl alcohol compared to saline for treatment of postoperative nausea and vomiting

Population: adults and children having any type of surgical procedure under general anaesthesia, regional anaesthesia or sedation, as hospital inpatients or outpatients, with existing PONV
5 questions
OutcomeEffectEvidenceStatus / GRADE
Nausea severity Measured by a validated scale or medical or nursing observation
Isopropyl alcohol vs saline
no estimate extractedNRNo studies
Nausea duration (nausea‐free at end of treatment) Measured by participant self‐report or medical or nursing observation
Isopropyl alcohol vs saline
no estimate extractedNRNo studies
Use of rescue antiemetics Assessed by proportion requiring rescue antiemetics
Isopropyl alcohol vs saline
RR 0.39 [0.12, 1.24]4 studies · 291 participantsVery low
Downgraded: imprecision, inconsistency
Adverse events (common reactions to aromatherapy include skin rashes, dyspnoea, headache, cardiac arrhythmias, hypotension, hypertension or dizziness)
Isopropyl alcohol vs saline
no estimate extractedNRNo studies
Patient satisfaction with treatment Measured by a validated scale
Isopropyl alcohol vs saline
no estimate extractedNRNo studies