Abstract

This study was concerned with testing the effectiveness of cold to aid the cholecystectomy patient in performing certain selected activities usually inhibited by incisional pain.

Available references of the effects of cold on the abdominal area were studied to formulate a method of approach as no previous methodology was found in the literature.

The experimental method of research was used on a sample of 18 cholecystectomy patients meeting the criteria for the study, independent variable for the 10 patients in the experimental the application of cold over the closed incision, plastic bag covered with one thickness of towel was used for 24 hours, alternated one hour on and one hour off.

A pilot study was done on two arbitrarily selected patients, a male and female, to refine the method. The method was not changed in any way and these two patients were included in the study group. Alternation of patients by sex to either to experimental or the control group continued in this manner to the end of study.

Because of the problems in measuring pain directly, indirect measures of pain were used. Selected activity tests were based on the assumption that incisional pain limited the patient's ability to use certain muscles. The patient's ability to perform the selected activity tests was observed preoperatively as a baseline and again postoperatively approximately 18 hours after surgery. Data were kept on a number of variables including measurements of test A (blowmeter -- test abdominal breathing muscles using a pressure gauge), B (rotation of trunk, tests oblique muscles), C and D (timed test of turning and sitting in bed), all analgesic medications received and answers to interview questions relating to the pain experience.

None of the variables of height, weight, subcutaneous fat, sex or age showed any significant statistical correlation with the results of tests A, B, C, and D. Results of the study seemed to indicate that the addition of the relaxant Vistaril to the analgesic Demerol obscured the patient’s reactions to cold. The results of tests A, B, and C were not statistically significant. Test D showed significant correlation at the .05 level in comparing the experimental with the control group. This finding indicated that patients who received the cold application were able to sit up in bed faster and easier than the control group. The answers to the interview questions indicated that the experimental patients felt more relief from pain when the cold application was on than when it was off.

It was recommended that cold applications be considered as an aid to get cholecystectomy patients up faster and easier.

LLU Discipline

Nursing

Department

Nursing

School

Graduate School

First Advisor

Charleene W. Riffel

Second Advisor

L. Lucile Lewis

Third Advisor

R. Maureen Maxwell

Degree Name

Master of Science (MS)

Degree Level

M.S.

Year Degree Awarded

1971

Date (Title Page)

1-1971

Language

English

Library of Congress/MESH Subject Headings

Postoperative Care; Cryosurgery

Type

Thesis

Page Count

vii; 40

Digital Format

PDF

Digital Publisher

Loma Linda University Libraries

Usage Rights

This title appears here courtesy of the author, who has granted Loma Linda University a limited, non-exclusive right to make this publication available to the public. The author retains all other copyrights.

Collection

Loma Linda University Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Collection Website

http://scholarsrepository.llu.edu/etd/

Repository

Loma Linda University. Del E. Webb Memorial Library. University Archives

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