at La Rochelle Hospital, hypnotize to soothe pain

“Mr. Desmé, make me a sign of the head when you are ready to get out of the hypnosis state and return to your bed,” offers Julien Rousseaux, a nurse at La Rochelle hospital, in a soft and soothing voice. “Take the time you need,” he continues. When Julien asked his patient what he expected from the hypnosis session of the day, Mr. Desmé’s response, operated a week earlier, was immediate: “I just want to go home. »»

Always very attentive to his patients, Julien is attentive to the smallest details during these exchanges. He strives to understand what can appease them to quickly establish a bond of trust. Also, to access Mr. Desmé’s desire, he first mobilizes sight, hearing, then touching and gradually accompanied him towards the hypnotic trance. The man, although conscious, then imagines himself strolling at his home for a few minutes.

“It’s time to water the garden!” “Says the patient when he wakes up, after a slight smile and a nod. However, a few moments later, the man moved to tears said: “It’s been a while since I had borrowed my staircase without pain. »»

13 caregivers trained in the hospital

Since their training last March, Julien Rousseaux and twelve of his colleagues have incorporated hypnosis into their daily practice. Distributed in seven services, including the cardiology pilot service, they have already accompanied a hundred patients.

“This technique has completely transformed my way of treating. I have a more human, more empathetic approach, ”says Julien Rousseaux. He uses it to soothe pain, promote falling asleep or reassure before a medical gesture. Some patients do not want to benefit from hypnosis. However, “if only to discuss with them, making them feel that we are listening to their anxieties, it is already a part of the care,” he continues.

Lack of time, lack of staff and prejudices do not give up on these men and volunteers. Then, the practice of hypnosis settles slowly at the La Rochelle hospital. Catherine Magnaval, nurse in cardiology for thirty years, testifies: “The word” hypnosis “is scary, then I rather use” facilitator “and I explain everything before starting. For example, patients know that they can get out of the hypnotic state at any time. “Lucid, she recognizes that she must sometimes give up:” I sometimes favor a technical care and leave hypnosis aside, for lack of time … or mental availability “. In the evening, she thinks back to her words, refines them to better open the doors of the imagination.

A hypnosis operation

“I was at the beach at the start of my operation,” recalls Julian, 23, who lived his second cardiac intervention under hypnosis on July 30. “I did not feel anything when the three catheters were laid. I recommend hypnosis for an operation, that’s for sure, ”he adds.

“Some cardiac operations, although invasive, are only under local anesthesia,” explains cardiologist Cécile Duplatier-Duchene. “Thanks to hypnosis, patients are more serene, which facilitates their medical management. It is a real therapeutic tool, I am convinced that patients are better treated, ”she continues.

A hypnosis cabinet project

“There is a real craze,” notes Adélie Cavey, nurse anesthesiologist and health manager in charge of the project. We are proud to see this positive project move forward with so much dynamism in the hospital. »»

Vincent Le Reverend, a caregiver at the hospital in cardiology, is behind the program. By plunging back into the history of practice, he discovered amazed “evidence of surgery and amputations under hypnosis in the 19th century^e century ! ». “Vincent is impressive. Thanks to all his years of experience, he is very comfortable and continues to advise me daily, ”says Catherine Magnaval.

There are many of them wishing to recognize the practice: “people have to wonder how they want to be treated in the future” notes Catherine Magnaval. The objective is to open a consultation office to help all the patients of the hospital who would like it, the parents of sick children, but also, the members of the medical profession who undergo stress, trauma and fatigue. “It’s hard to treat when you don’t go well yourself,” adds the cardiology nurse.