The Effect of Cold Vapor on Dyspnea, Thirst, Nausea, and Physiological Parameters in the PACU After Laparoscopic Inguinal Hernia Surgery

January 15, 2026 updated by: Yeliz Sürme, TC Erciyes University

The Effect of Cold Vapor Inhalation on Dyspnea Thirst Nausea and Physiological Parameters in the Recovery Unit After Laparoscopic Inguinal Hernia Surgery

Cold vapor application is considered a promising intervention with the potential to alleviate side effects associated with anesthesia and surgery in the postoperative period. This study aims to determine the effect of cold vapor inhalation on dyspnea, thirst, nausea, and physiological parameters following laparoscopic inguinal hernia surgery.

Hypotheses (H1);

H1a: Patients administered cold vapor will report lower dyspnea severity compared to the control group.

H1b: Patients administered cold vapor will report lower thirst levels compared to the control group.

H1c: Patients administered cold vapor will report lower nausea severity compared to the control group.

H1d: Patients administered cold vapor will show significant differences in physiological parameters compared to the control group.

Study Overview

Status

Not yet recruiting

Conditions

Intervention / Treatment

Detailed Description

Non-pharmacological methods, such as cold vapor application, hold significant potential in the management of complications encountered in the postoperative period. Despite this potential, to the best of our knowledge, no published study examining the effect of cold vapor on dyspnea, thirst, and physiological parameters has been found in the literature. This study is a randomized controlled experimental study. The study will be conducted with at least 66 patients in total, including 33 in the intervention group and 33 in the control group. Data collection consists of three stages: T0, T1, and T2. In these stages, the baseline (T0) assessment of both groups will be performed using the Questionnaire Form, Modified Borg Scale (MBS), Perioperative Thirst Discomfort Scale (PTDS), Numerical Rating Scale (NRS), and Physiological Parameter Follow-up Form (PPFF). Following this assessment, the patients' condition will be re-evaluated at the 15th minute (T1) and 30th minute (T2) using the MBS, PTDS, NRS, and PPFF. In the intervention group, immediately after the baseline (T0) assessment, cold steam application will be administered to patients for 15 minutes using a Hikoneb 906 S/LCD ultrasonic hospital-type nebulizer device, in addition to routine care and treatment procedures. Patients in the control group will not be subjected to any additional intervention. It is predicted that cold vapor inhalation will reduce the severity of dyspnea, thirst, and nausea after laparoscopic inguinal hernia surgery as a result of the study. Additionally, it is expected to bring basic vital parameter values such as systolic and diastolic blood pressure, heart rate (pulse/min), peripheral oxygen saturation (SpO2, %), and respiratory rate (/min) closer to the normal physiological range. This study is significant as it demonstrates the value of cold vapor as a practice that strengthens and supports individualized nursing care in the early postoperative period.

Study Type

Interventional

Enrollment (Estimated)

66

Phase

  • Not Applicable

Contacts and Locations

This section provides the contact details for those conducting the study, and information on where this study is being conducted.

Study Contact

Study Contact Backup

Study Locations

  • Turkey (Türkiye)
    • Kayseri
      • Kayseri, Kayseri, Turkey (Türkiye), 38080
        • Erciyes University

Participation Criteria

Researchers look for people who fit a certain description, called eligibility criteria. Some examples of these criteria are a person's general health condition or prior treatments.

Eligibility Criteria

Ages Eligible for Study

  • Adult
  • Older Adult

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

No

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

  • Volunteering to participate in the study
  • Being aged 18 years or older
  • Being able to speak and understand Turkish
  • Having cognitive, affective, and communicative competence
  • Having intact visual and auditory functions
  • Having undergone elective laparoscopic inguinal hernia surgery under general anesthesia
  • Having an ASA score of I or II
  • Having a total Modified Aldrete Score of ≥9 and a consciousness score of 2 (fully awake) in the postoperative period
  • Not having developed vomiting prior to the intervention
  • Having a body temperature within the normal physiological range (36-37.5 °C)

Exclusion Criteria:

  • Having cold vapor application planned by physician order in the PACU prior to the study
  • Having signs and symptoms of upper or lower airway obstruction
  • Developing agitation and having communication insufficiency
  • Having an allergy to cold vapor application
  • Having a diagnosis of obstructive pulmonary disease (e.g., COPD, asthma) or heart failure
  • Having a known history of any neurological or psychiatric disease
  • Having a postoperative nasogastric catheter inserted
  • Having received preoperative diagnoses associated with nausea, vomiting, or dyspnea

Study Plan

This section provides details of the study plan, including how the study is designed and what the study is measuring.

How is the study designed?

Design Details

  • Primary Purpose: Supportive Care
  • Allocation: Randomized
  • Interventional Model: Parallel Assignment
  • Masking: Single

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm
Intervention / Treatment
Experimental: Cold Vapor
Immediately following the initial (T0) assessment of patients, in addition to routine care and treatment procedures, patients will receive cold vapor using the Hikoneb 906 S/LCD ultrasonic hospital-grade nebulizer device for 15 minutes. Following completion of the intervention, patients' status will be reassessed at 15 (T1) and 30 (T2) minutes.
Other: Cold Vapor
Cold steam application will be performed using a Hikoneb 906 S/LCD ultrasonic nebulizer, which will generate cold steam with distilled water. Device parameters will be optimally set to steam delivery level 5 (1-10), steam density level 5 (1-10), and steam temperature 1C0 (1C0-10C0). This application will be applied to the intervention group for 15 minutes after the baseline (T0) assessment. Cold steam will not be delivered directly to the airways but will be applied to the facial area, covering the mouth and nose area. A distance of approximately 20-30 cm will be maintained between the device's steam outlet and the patient's face.
No Intervention: Control Group
Patients in the control group will not be subjected to any additional intervention. Follow-up of patients in this group will be conducted in accordance with the clinic's current standard postoperative treatment and care practices, and patients will be evaluated at baseline (T0), 15 minutes (T1), and 30 minutes.

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Modified Borg Scale (MBS) for Dyspnea
Time Frame: Baseline (T0), 15th minute (T1) and 30th minute (T2)
The MBS is a 12-point scale that rates dyspnea severity from 0 (no dyspnea) to 10 (intolerable dyspnea).
Baseline (T0), 15th minute (T1) and 30th minute (T2)
Numerical Rating Scale (NRS) for Nausea Level
Time Frame: Baseline (T0), 15th minute (T1) and 30th minute (T2)
The severity of postoperative nausea in patients will be assessed using the NRS, which is scored from 0 to 10 and created by researchers. Higher scores on this scale represent higher severity of nausea.
Baseline (T0), 15th minute (T1) and 30th minute (T2)
Surgical Period Thirst-Related Discomfort Scale (SPTRDS)
Time Frame: Baseline (T0), 15th minute (T1) and 30th minute (T2)
This six-item, three-point Likert-type scale has a single-dimensional structure. Items were rated as "did not bother" (0), "slightly bothered" (1), and "very bothered" (2). Higher scores on this scale represent higher severity of thirst.
Baseline (T0), 15th minute (T1) and 30th minute (T2)
Survey Form
Time Frame: Baseline (T0)
The form developed by the researchers consists of a total of 13 questions and collects data on the demographic (age (year), gender, body mass index (kg/m² ), ect.) and clinical characteristics (American Society of Anesthesiologists-ASA score, perioperative fasting period (min), ect.) of the patients.
Baseline (T0)
Physiological Parameter Monitoring Form (PPMF)
Time Frame: Baseline (T0), 15th minute (T1) and 30th minute (T2)
The monitoring form, created by the researcher as part of the study, will assess basic vital signs such as systolic (mmhg) and diastolic (mmhg) blood pressure, heart rate (pulse/min), peripheral oxygen saturation (SpO2, %) and respiratory rate (/min).
Baseline (T0), 15th minute (T1) and 30th minute (T2)

Collaborators and Investigators

This is where you will find people and organizations involved with this study.

Sponsor

TC Erciyes University

Study record dates

These dates track the progress of study record and summary results submissions to ClinicalTrials.gov. Study records and reported results are reviewed by the National Library of Medicine (NLM) to make sure they meet specific quality control standards before being posted on the public website.

Study Major Dates

Study Start (Estimated)

December 20, 2025

Primary Completion (Estimated)

August 1, 2026

Study Completion (Estimated)

September 1, 2026

Study Registration Dates

First Submitted

November 27, 2025

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

November 27, 2025

First Posted (Estimated)

December 9, 2025

Study Record Updates

Last Update Posted (Estimated)

January 16, 2026

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

January 15, 2026

Last Verified

December 1, 2025

More Information

Terms related to this study

Keywords

Additional Relevant MeSH Terms

Other Study ID Numbers

  • 2025-10/14

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?

NO

Drug and device information, study documents

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product

No

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product

No

This information was retrieved directly from the website clinicaltrials.gov without any changes. If you have any requests to change, remove or update your study details, please contact register@clinicaltrials.gov. As soon as a change is implemented on clinicaltrials.gov, this will be updated automatically on our website as well.

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