Aromatherapy in Patients with Cardiovascular Diseases: A Systematic Review

Abstract Background Aromatherapy consists in the use of volatile aromatic compounds of plant essential oils. Application methods include massage, baths, and mainly inhalation. Lavender essential oil is considered the most effective treatment for emotional disorders, such as stress and anxiety, due to its anxiolytic and sedative agents, which are known to interfere with physiological cardiovascular reactions. Objectives To investigate the effects of aromatherapy using lavender essential oil on hemodynamic responses and emotional aspects of patients with cardiovascular diseases. Methods A systematic review was conducted using Embase, Bireme, MEDLINE, PEDro, and Scopus electronic databases. Randomized clinical trials that evaluated hemodynamic and emotional outcomes using interventions with lavender essential oil in patients with cardiovascular diseases were selected. Of 539 studies initially identified, 51 were read in full and only 5 were eligible for inclusion. Results Reductions were demonstrated in hemodynamic responses, such as systolic and diastolic blood pressure, mean arterial pressure, and heart rate, as well as a decrease in anxiety, depression, stress, and fatigue compared with the control group. Statistical significance was set at p<0.05. Conclusion: Aromatherapy with the use of lavender essential oil provided benefits to hemodynamic parameters, such as anxiety, stress, depression, and fatigue levels, in patients with cardiovascular diseases. (Int J Cardiovasc Sci. 2020; [online].ahead print, PP.0-0)

The endotracheal tube biases the estimates of pulmonary recruitment and overdistension.

To assess the impact of the endotracheal tube (ETT) and of different flow waveforms on estimates of alveolar cyclic recruitment (CR) and overdistension (AO). Numerical simulation of the respiratory system plus ETT (inertance L plus a flow-dependent resistance, K (1) and K (2)), with the following non-linear equation of motion PAW(t)= ((K1 + K2 x/V(t)/) x V(t) + L x V(t)) + Rrs x V(t) + (E1 + E2 x V(t) x V(t) + P0 (PAW pressure at the airways opening, V volume), under volume-controlled mechanical ventilation. An index %E2 = 100 x (E2 x V(T))/(E1 + E2)x V(T)) can be calculated where %E(2) > 30% represents AO and %E(2) < 0% represents CR. Parameters were estimated by the least-squares method, either with the complete equation or suppressing L, K(2) or both. %E(2) is always underestimated (down to -152 percent points) with incomplete equations of motion. The estimation of %E (2) may be strongly biased in the presence of an ETT excluded from the estimation model.