Penerapan Terapi Kompres Dingin Dalam Mengurangi Nyeri Pada Ibu Postpartum dengan Episiotomi: Case Study

Abstract

Background: Vaginal delivery can cause pressure and stretching of the perineal tissues. Under certain  onditions, an episiotomy is performed based on clinical indications to mitigate the risk of more severe perineal trauma. However, this procedure can cause pain and discomfort in postpartum mothers,ecessitating pain management one of which is cold compress therapy as a nonpharmacological method.
Objective: To determine the effectiveness of cold compress therapy in reducing pain levels in postpartum mothers who have undergone an episiotomy.
Methods: This study employed a case study design and was conducted over three days at the Asy-Syifa’ Clinic. The study subject was one patient who met the inclusion criteria, which included being a postpartum patient who had undergone an episiotomy, being in stable general condition and able to communicate well, and being willing to participate by signing an informed consent form. The exclusion criteria included patients experiencing bleeding, impaired consciousness, allergies or intolerance to cold temperatures, and a history of infectious diseases. The intervention involved using an ice bag filled with ice at 15°C, applied alternately to the perineal area adjacent to the episiotomy wound, including the pubic region, and inner thighs, for 5-10 minutes per session. The intervention was conducted over three days, totaling nine sessions. Pain levels were measured using the Numeric Rating Scale (NRS) before and after the intervention.
Results: Measurements showed that pain scores decreased gradually from 6 (moderate pain) before the intervention to 2 (mild pain) after nine sessions of cold compress therapy over 3 days.
Conclusion: Cold compress therapy demonstrated a reduction in pain levels in postpartum women who had undergone an episiotomy. The cooling effect, through mechanisms of vasoconstriction and slowed nerve conduction, may help reduce the inflammatory response and pain perception. However, the results of this single patient case study cannot yet be generalized.