The effect of abdominal massage on bowel activity and respiratory function tests in patients with partial hip replacement

This study was aimed to determine the effect of abdominal massage on bowel activity and pulmonary function tests (PFT) in patients undergoing partial hip replacement (PHR). The sample of the single-center, prospective, two-arm (1:1), randomized controlled experimental clinical trial consisted of 78 patients undergoing PHR who were admitted to the orthopedics and traumatology clinic of a university hospital between September 2021 and April 2022. Among the patients randomly assigned to the experimental and control groups, the experimental group (n=39) received abdominal massage for 15 minutes at least 30 minutes after morning and evening meals after PHR. The control group (n=39) received routine nursing care. The data were evaluated using the Bowel Activity Form and Pulmonary Function Test Form (FVC, FEV1, FEV1/FVC) before and after abdominal massage before and on the first evening, on the 1st, 2nd and 3rd days after PHR. Descriptive statistics, Pearson-χ2 test, independent samples t-test and Man Whitney U test were used to analyze the data. When the patients in the experimental and control groups were compared, it was determined that the mean intra-abdominal pressure (IAB) values of the patients in the study group before and after the abdominal massage application in the evening on day 1 and in the morning on day 2 after PHR were significantly lower than those in the control group (p<0.05). It was determined that the mean bowel sounds of the patients in the experimental group on the first evening and on the 1st day after PHR before and after the application in the morning and evening, 2nd day after the application in the morning and evening and 3rd after the application in the morning, were significantly higher than the control group (p<0.05). The time to return of bowel sounds and the time to first defecation were significantly lower in the experimental group than in the control group (p<0.05). Patients in the experimental group were administered significantly less laxatives than the control group on the 1st, 2nd and 3rd days after PHR (p<0.05). When the patients in the experimental and control groups were compared, it was determined that the mean FVC values of the patients in the experimental group in the morning-evening on the 1st and 2nd days and in the morning on the 3rd day after PHR and the mean FEV1 value in the morning-evening on the 2nd day after PHR were significantly higher than the control group (p<0.05). The study showed that abdominal massage which applied by nurses to patients undergoing PHR decreased IAB and the number of laxative use, increased bowel sounds, PFT values, and shortened the return time of bowel sounds and the time of first defecation.