Pain Management

Effects of Physioacoustic Intervention on Pain Management of Postoperative Gynecological Patients

Burke M, Duke University Medical Center, USA

PMID: 15222599 [PubMed – indexed for MEDLINE]

This study explored the potential for vibroacoustic therapy to manage pain in postoperative patients undergoing ovarian, endometrial, or cervical cancer surgery. The study also investigated the amount of pain medication administered and anxiety levels. Twenty patients completed the study with eight patients in an experimental group experiencing physioacoustic treatments. These vibroacoustic sessions were given for a minimum of 15 minutes twice on the day following surgery, increasing the amount to three 15-minute sessions on Day 2, and for a minimum of 60 minutes on Day 3 (three 20-minute sessions) and each day thereafter until discharge. The twelve patients in the control group received no physioacoustic treatment. The McGill Pain Questionnaire, the Multiple Affect Adjective Checklists, and the Rhodes Index of Nausea and Vomiting were administered daily starting on the operative day. Results indicated that the experimental group reported less post-operative pain, used less IV pain medication and experienced lower levels of anxiety than the control group. Group differences were not statistically significant but the data suggested that the physioacoustic intervention had a positive effect on the post-operative period. Anxiety, hostility and depression were positively influenced in the experimental group, which also used fewer antiemetic doses.