THE APPLICATION OF WARM COMPRESS TO REDUCE PAIN IN POST-LAPAROTOMY APPENDICITIS PATIENTS IN THE ICU OF ROYAL PRIMA HOSPITAL MEDAN

Abstract

Pain is one of the complaints that often arise in post-operative patients, including patients after laparotomy for appendicitis. One non-pharmacological method that can be used to reduce pain is warm compress therapy. Warm compresses work by increasing local blood flow, relaxing muscles, and stimulating pain impulses to the brain's nervous system. The application of warm compresses was carried out for 3 consecutive days after the nurse carried out independent intervention for 3 days, there was a decrease in pain in Mrs. I where the first day with a pain scale of 7 after the application of warm compresses the pain scale was still 7, on the second day Mrs. I's pain scale decreased quite a bit to a scale of 5, Mrs. I felt comfortable with the administration of non-pharmacological therapy of warm compresses, and on the third day Mrs. I's pain scale decreased to 3 the patient said there was still a little pain but it was not as painful as on the first day and she was a little free to move her body.