Efficacy of Antiemetic Drugs in Preventing Nausea and Vomiting in Patients Undergoing General Anesthesia: A Systematic Review

Abstract

Introduction Postoperative nausea and vomiting (PONV) is a persistent clinical problem among many anesthetic patients who have undergone surgical operations. Approximately 20-50% of surgical patients develop PONV, which rises to about 80% for patients considered at high risk. Although antiemetic drugs have been widely accepted for treating PONV, conducting a systematic analysis to examine their efficacy to guide clinical decisions and enhance patient outcomes is critical. Methods This study employed a systematic review design. The information investigating the efficacy of antiemetic drugs was retrieved from various databases, including PubMed, Cochrane Library, and Google Scholar. Only cohort studies and randomized controlled trials (RCTs) published in English and conducted within the last five years were included. Results A pooled analysis of the six studies showed that PONV incidence for the experimental group was (OR 0.37, 95% CI: 0.28:0.40, P <.05). Most studies reported a significant drop in severe clinical symptoms, including nausea and vomiting after taking antiemetic drugs. Conclusion Most antiemetic drugs are effective in reducing the incidence of PONV. However, the efficacy varies from one medication to another, calling healthcare practitioners to be more diligent when treating severe forms of PONV.