Analysis of perioperative care using the finger hold technique to reduce postoperative pain in laparotomy patients

Abstract

Laparotomy is a surgical procedure involving a large incision in the abdominal wall to provide direct access to the abdominal cavity and the organs within it. Cholecystectomy is an operation to remove the gallbladder. The most common complaint in patients following a laparotomy is acute pain. One way to reduce the intensity of pain is the application of non-pharmacological therapy, namely the Finger Hold technique. The Finger Hold, or finger-grip relaxation therapy, can help the body, mind, and spirit to achieve relaxation and reduce the intensity of pain. This case study aims to investigate the application of perioperative care using the Finger Hold intervention to reduce pain in patients following laparotomy. The method used in this study is a case study of patients with a diagnosis of cholelithiasis, providing nursing care during the pre-operative, intra-operative, and post-operative phases. The results of this case study indicate that the application of perioperative care involving the finger hold intervention can reduce pain intensity; prior to the intervention, the pain scale was 5 (moderate pain), and following the intervention, the pain scale decreased to 2 (mild pain). It can therefore be concluded that the application of the finger hold is effective in reducing pain in patients following laparotomy.