Effects of Aroma Gargling, Cold Water Gargling, and Wet Gauze Application on Thirst, Halitosis, and Sore Throat of Patients After Spine Surgery

Abstract

This study compared and examined the effects of aroma gargling, cold water gargling, and wet gauze application on thirst, halitosis, and sore throat in patients after spine surgery. A quasiexperimental pretest/posttest control group design was employed. Samples were total 70 patients (aroma gargling: 24 samples, cold gargling: 24 samples, and wet gauze: 22 samples) after spine surgery in K Hospital in Seoul, Korea. The aroma gargle solution as an experimental intervention was prepared by blending peppermint, tea tree, and lemon oils at a ratio of 1:2:2. A 60 cc of aroma gargle solution was used 3 times for 15 to 20 seconds. The visual analog scale was used to measure the degrees of thirst and sore throat, and a portable device was used to examine the degree of halitosis. There were significant differences in the degrees of thirst, halitosis, and sore throat according to interaction between group and duration. In the comparison among 3 groups, aroma gargling provided better oral health by decreasing thirst, halitosis, and sore throat for patients with spine surgery. Aroma gargling can be utilized as an effective nursing intervention for decreasing thirst, halitosis, and sore throat for patients with spine surgery in clinical practice. Results suggest, therefore, that health professionals should consider an array of methods including aroma gargling for patients after spine surgery.

Impact of gargling on respiratory infections

“…Aroma gargle solution is composed of peppermint, tea tree, and lemon oils in the ratio of 1:2:2, respectively. The components of aroma have antiviral, antibacterial, and anti-inflammatory activity (Oh et al 2017). Catechins have negligible systemic availability and have minimal side effects.…”

Advances in the Management of Perioperative Patients' Thirst

“…Menthol substances and cold temperatures activate afferent neural pathways that project to the somatosensory, orbitofrontal, and cingulate cortices, thus generating sensations of alliesthesia and satiety . This action explains the improved performance and acceptability of cold and menthol strategies for thirst relief.…”

“…Perioperative patients may experience thirst before and after surgery. Since 2010, nurse researchers have examined the effects of thirst on the patient's surgical experience, the intensity of his or her symptoms based on a specific scale for rating perioperative thirst, aspects related to evaluating the safety of thirst relief methods, and postoperative thirst relief strategies …”

Thirst Interventions in Adult Acute Care—What Are the Recommended Management Options and How Effective Are They?

“…The assessment and management of thirst is recommended by experts in the field of intensive care medicine. [20][21][22] Treatment options in the evidence range from use of chewing gum, 5 use of cold gauze, 23 gargling of cold water, 24 iced water sprays and swabs, 25 and use of menthol lip moisturizer 25 ; most studied interventions focus on exploiting cooling effects to achieve preabsorptive satiation of thirst. However, clinical guidelines giving practical advice on best practice for thirst treatment remain elusive in many UK hospitals.…”