Effects of Aromatherapy Using Lavender Oil on Hemodynamic Indices After Coronary Artery Bypass Graft Surgery

Coronary Artery Bypass Graft (CABG) surgery is one of the main treatment methods for coronary artery disease. The change in hemodynamic indices after CABG surgery is a common but serious complication. This study aimed to determine the effect of aromatherapy using lavender essential oil on the hemodynamic indices of patients after undergoing CABG surgery. This randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial included 98 patients who were assigned into an experimental or a placebo group 3 days after undergoing CABG surgery. The experimental group inhaled five drops of lavender essential oil, whereas the placebo group inhaled five drops of distilled water for 30 min. Before and after the intervention, hemodynamic indices (systolic blood pressure, diastolic blood pressure, pulse rate, and respiratory rate) of patients were measured and recorded. The intervention in both groups was performed every 24 h for three consecutive days. The data were analyzed using the chi-square test, independent t-test, Mann–Whitney U test, repeated measures ANOVA, and regression analysis. The results revealed significant differences between the two groups in terms of the mean systolic blood pressure after the second day of intervention and the mean diastolic blood pressure after the first day of intervention (P=0.046 and 0.029, respectively), with the blood pressure significantly lower in the treatment group than in the placebo group. Among the hemodynamic indices tested, only the blood pressure of the patients was reduced by aromatherapy with lavender essential oil after CABG surgery; therefore, it can be used as a simple, complementary, and low-cost therapeutic intervention after CABG surgery to stabilize a patient’s blood pressure.