Comparing Effects of Listening to Nature Sounds and Lavender Inhalation on Hemodynamic Parameters among Patients Undergoing Cataract Surgery with Regional Anesthesia: A Randomized Controlled Trial

Candidates for cataract surgery have high anxiety and worry for various reasons which may cause changes in their hemodynamic parameters. Maintaining hemodynamic stability during anesthesia and surgery is very important. This study aimed at comparing the effects of listening to nature sounds and lavender inhalation on hemodynamic parameters in patients undergoing cataract surgery with regional anesthesia in Amir Al Mo'menin Educational Remedial and Research Center in Rasht 2021-2022.

In this clinical trial, 120 patients were randomly assigned into three groups (n=40 per group); nature sounds, lavender, and control. In one experimental group, the patients listened to nature sounds and in other group lavender inhalation was performed. Both tasks were carried out for 15 min before the operation while the control group received routine care. Hemodynamic index was measured before and four times during the surgery. Repeated measures ANOVA test was applied in SPSS V22.

The average systolic pressure in the control group was about 11 mm Hg higher at first minute compared to the group that listened to nature sounds. Before the intervention, no significant differences were found between the study groups in terms of respiration rate(P=0.37), systolic blood pressure(P=0.36), and diastolic blood pressure(P=0.26). But after the intervention, mean systolic blood pressure was observed to be significantly different between the three groups and during measurement times(P<0.03). The mean differences in diastolic blood pressure(P=0.62), heart rate(P=0.20), and arterial blood oxygen saturation (P=0.16) during measurement times were not significant between the groups.

According to this study, listening to nature sounds and lavender inhalation reduce systolic blood pressure in patients undergoing regional anesthesia, but they do not affect diastolic blood pressure, heart rate, and arterial blood oxygen saturation.