Effect of Hot Pack Application on Gastrointestinal Motility After Abdominal Surgery

Study Title: The Effect of Hot Water Pack Application to the Lumbar Region on Gastrointestinal Motility in Postoperative Abdominal Surgery Patients Study Type: Interventional (Randomized Controlled Trial) Study Design: Allocation: Randomized Intervention Model: Parallel Assignment Masking: Single-blind (Outcome Assessor) Primary Purpose: Supportive Care Condition: Postoperative Gastrointestinal Motility in Abdominal Surgery Patients Interventions: Experimental: Hot Water Pack Application Intervention: Application of a hot water pack (heated to 40-42°C) to the lumbar region for 20 minutes, three times a day, in the first 48 postoperative hours. Purpose: To evaluate its effect on gastrointestinal motility and postoperative recovery. Control: Routine Care Intervention: Standard postoperative care without hot water pack application. Primary Outcome Measures: Time to First Postoperative Gas (Hours) \[Time Frame: Up to 72 hours\] Time to First Postoperative Stool (Hours) \[Time Frame: Up to 72 hours\] Time to Initiation of Oral Intake (Hours) \[Time Frame: Up to 72 hours\] Secondary Outcome Measures: Incidence of Postoperative Nausea and Vomiting (PONV) \[Time Frame: Up to 72 hours\] Severity of Abdominal Distension \[Time Frame: Up to 72 hours\] Quality of Recovery-15 (QoR-15) Scale Score \[Time Frame: Postoperative Days 1 and 3\] Gastrointestinal Symptom Rating Scale (GSRS) Score \[Time Frame: Postoperative Days 1 and 3\] Eligibility Criteria: Inclusion Criteria: Abdominal surgery in the general surgery ward Age ≥ 18 years BMI between 18.50-24.99 kg/m² Able to communicate verbally Conscious, oriented, and willing to participate Exclusion Criteria: Previous gastrointestinal surgery Postoperative complications History of small bowel resection, ileostomy, or colostomy History of inflammatory bowel disease, emergency surgery, neoadjuvant therapy, appendectomy Chronic opioid use Chronic constipation (≤ 2 bowel movements per week) Abdominal radiotherapy