Auricular acupressure and VR for preventing preoperative constipation in Stanford type B aortic dissection

Preoperative constipation in patients with Stanford type B aortic dissection (TBAD) poses significant risks by increasing abdominal pressure, potentially complicating aortic stability. Traditional constipation management may be limited by both physiological and psychological factors. This study evaluates the efficacy of auricular acupressure combined with virtual reality (VR) technology in preventing preoperative constipation in TBAD patients, exploring its impact on both constipation severity and nursing satisfaction. This retrospective study included 116 patients with TBAD who received preoperative care at our hospital from January 2022 to December 2023. Participants were divided into 2 groups: a control group (n = 60) receiving standard care and an observation group (n = 56) receiving auricular acupressure combined with VR in addition to standard care. Data on constipation severity were collected pre- and posttreatment using the Wexner Constipation Score and Bristol Stool Form Scale, while nursing satisfaction was evaluated through a custom questionnaire. Statistical analyses were performed using SPSS Version 27.0 (Chicago). Pretreatment constipation scores showed no significant differences between groups. Posttreatment, however, the observation group demonstrated significantly improved scores for both the Wexner Constipation Score (from 12.94 ± 3.28 to 4.14 ± 1.23, P < .001) and the Bristol Stool Scale (from 1.50 ± 0.46 to 4.41 ± 1.39, P < .001) compared to the control group. Nursing satisfaction rates were also higher in the observation group, with an overall satisfaction rate of 94.6%, significantly surpassing the 78.3% in the control group (P = .010). Auricular acupressure combined with VR technology effectively reduces preoperative constipation severity and enhances nursing satisfaction in TBAD patients. This integrative, non-pharmacologic approach addresses both physiological and psychological factors, suggesting a valuable addition to conventional preoperative care protocols in this high-risk population.