Episodes Of Postoperative Nausea And Vomiting Research Articles

Effect of Preoperative Oral Carbohydrate Fluid on Post Operative Nausea and Vomiting in Laparoscopic Cholecystectomy Patients Under General Anesthesia

Background: Postoperative nausea and vomiting (PONV), an unpleasant complication following anaesthesia and surgery has various components such as nausea, retching and vomiting. Although PONV is usually self-limiting and non-fatal, it often causes substantial patient distress and dissatisfaction, augmenting healthcare costs by delaying discharge from post anaesthesia care units and causing unexpected hospital re-admissions. Different pharmacological and non-pharmacological approaches have been used for preventing PONV. Nonetheless, the most effective prophylactic regime has not been determined.
 Methods: We conducted a prospective randomised study for evaluation of effect of preoperative oral carbohydrate fluid (GROUP- C) and placebo drink (clear water) (GROUP-P) on PONV in 90 adult patients undergoing laparoscopic cholecystectomy surgery under general anaesthesia. The number of episodes of nausea, retching and vomiting, total requirement of antiemetic dose in 24 hours, pre and postoperative blood glucose levels, patient satisfaction score, VAS score and haemodynamic parameters were recorded in the two groups and statistical analysis was done.
 Results: Demographic data was comparable between the two groups with respect to age, gender and BMI. The surgical time and intra-abdominal pressures throughout the surgery were similar in the two groups. In our study the pre-induction blood glucose levels were found to be higher in group C and preoperative thirst was found to be less in group P. Both the groups were comparable in terms of number of episodes of PONV, total requirement of anti-emetic dose in 24 hours, patient satisfaction and well-being. VAS score for pain and requirement of analgesic dose was also similar in the two groups.
 Conclusion: Pre-operative oral monosaccharide carbohydrate fluid does not prevent PONV, alter requirement of antiemetic, patient satisfaction and well-being, VAS score for pain, requirement of analgesic dose in patients undergoing laparoscopic cholecystectomy under general anaesthesia, as compared to placebo drink.

Analysis of the impact of the type of anaesthesia and its side effects on postoperative rehabilitation during spine surgery

Background. Spine surgeries belong to traumatic, complex, long-term interventions and can be carried out using various methods of anaesthesia. Each type of anaesthesia has its own side effects and complications, such as postoperative nausea and vomiting (PONV). Often it is related to the amount of narcotic analgesic used. PONV directly affects the patient’s overall satisfaction with anaesthesia. Spine operations require intensive pain management with narcotic analgesics. Regional anaesthesia allows reducing the amount of narcotic analgesics and control the pain syndrome. The purpose was to compare erector spinae plane (ESP) block as a component of combination with general anaesthesia in the context of the impact on the number of narcotic analgesics, PONV and general satisfaction with anaesthesia. Materials and methods. Spine surgery was performed in 83 patients. Depending on the method of analgesia, they were divided into 2 groups: group I — general anaesthesia, group II — general anaesthesia with ESP block. Primary outcomes: amount of intraoperative fentanyl and postoperative morphine. Secondary final clinical outcomes of the study: incidence of PONV, overall satisfaction with anaesthesia on a 5-point Likert scale. Results. The total amount of fentanyl was lower in group II (1.7 ± 0.7 μg/kg/h) compared to group I (4.7 ± 1.6 μg/kg/h), p < 0.05. Morphine was administered to 31 patients in group I and 6 patients in group II. The frequency of PONV episodes was lower in group II (29 cases) than in group I (11 cases). Overall satisfaction with anaesthesia was higher in group II (4.38 ± 0.80) in contrast to group I (2.97 ± 0.90), p < 0.05. Conclusions. ESP block as a component of general anaesthesia reduces the amount of narcotic analgesics intra- and postoperatively and, as a result, decreases the frequency of PONV and improves overall satisfaction with anaesthesia.

New strategies for multimodal analgesia in patients with high-risk geriatric cancer in perioperative period.

12046 Background: Perioperative pain (POP) in high-risk geriatric patients with cancer (HRGCP) is an important issue. The purpose of this study was to optimize perioperative analgesia in HRGCP. Methods: This randomized study of the quality and effectiveness of perioperative analgesics included 115 HRGCP aged 64-88 years who underwent surgeries on the organs of the chest, abdomen and pelvis for various cancers. The patients were divided into 2 groups. Group 1 (n = 52): patient-controlled analgesia with morphine and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs); group 2 (n = 63): ultrasound-guided bilateral transversus abdominis plane (TAP) block with ropivacaine. Intraoperative and perioperative analgesia was maintained with a continuous infusion of lidocaine, magnesium sulphate, microdoses of fentanyl and NSAIDs. Results and pain syndrome were assessed by monitoring the Efficacy Safety Score (ESS), personal and reactive anxiety, stress response (cortisol, insulin, lactate, glucose), rates of functional activity recovery, the need for opioid analgesics, frequency of postoperative nausea and vomiting (PONV). Results: Patients in group 2 showed a significant decrease in the perioperative need for opioid analgesics and significantly decreased POP. Analysis of variance of mean values revealed statistically lower scores of ESS, visual analogue scale and POP (p < 0.05) during the first 24 hours of perioperative period in group 2 compared with group 1. Patient-controlled analgesia showed analgesic effect in 88.5% (p < 0.05) cases. However, the effect was less pronounced, compared to multimodal analgesia, and did not reduce cognitive disorders. In group 2, opioid-sparing analgesic effect was 95.3% (p < 0.05). Multimodal analgesia reduced the stress response (p < 0.05) in perioperative period and did not cause cognitive dysfunction while reducing PONV episodes, unlike morphine. Despite the minimal doses of narcotic analgesics in group 2, multimodal analgesia provided safe analgesia and functional activity recovery in perioperative period with minimum negative effects of opioids. Conclusions: The strategy of multimodal analgesia based on a combination of intraoperative TAP block and infusions of lidocaine and microdoses of fentanyl can significantly improve the quality of analgesia in perioperative period.

Benefits of the enhanced recovery after surgery pathway for orthognathic surgery

The enhanced recovery after surgery (ERAS) protocol was designed to improve patient outcomes and decrease complications, opioid use, and postoperative nausea and vomiting (PONV). The aim of this retrospective cohort study was to examine the effectiveness of ERAS protocols implemented in orthognathic surgeries from 2017 to 2018 at the University of Alabama at Birmingham Hospital by measuring opioid use and PONV. Two groups were identified through chart review, a non-ERAS group (traditional) of patients who had surgery without a protocol and an ERAS group of patients who had surgery with the ERAS protocol. The anesthesia and surgical teams followed a standardized protocol for perioperative management. All procedures were performed by a single surgeon and included single- and double-jaw surgeries and adjunctive procedures. The patient charts were analyzed for postoperative opioid consumption (measured in morphine milligram equivalents, MME) and PONV. IBM SPSS Statistics version 26 was used to conduct the statistical analyses. The ERAS group received less opioids during the postoperative period than the control group (31.2 MME vs 54.6 MME, P= 0.002). The ERAS group also had a lower incidence of PONV, with 1.2 episodes of PONV compared to 2.4 episodes in the non-ERAS group (P= 0.008). This study demonstrates that the ERAS protocol is effective in decreasing postoperative opioid consumption and PONV.

The characteristics and risk factors of the postoperative nausea and vomiting in female patients undergoing laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy and laparoscopic gynecological surgeries: a propensity score matching analysis.

The aim of this study was to compare the prevalence of postoperative nausea and vomiting (PONV) in matched patients undergoing laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy (LSG) and laparoscopic gynecological surgeries (LGS) and investigate the main cause of the high occurrence of PONV in bariatric surgeries. Medical records of female patients with a body mass index (BMI) greater than 30 kg/m2 undergoing LSG or LGS from January 1, 2016 to September 1, 2020 were reviewed for PONV episodes in the first postoperative 48 hours. A 1:1 propensity score matching (PSM) method was performed between cases subject to the two types of surgery, and PONV rates were compared. A total of 278 patients met the inclusion criteria (LSG = 101, LGS = 177), and 74 matched subjects were selected from each group after PSM. An increased occurrence of PONV was noted in female patients with LSG compared with those undergoing LGS (66.2% vs. 23.0%; p<0.001). PONV severity was significantly worse in the LSG (p<0.001), and more frequent use of rescue antiemetics was detected in the LSG group compared with the LGS group (51.4% vs. 17.6%; p<0.001). The time of the first use of rescue drugs was much earlier in the LGS group (p = 0.034). Female patients undergoing LSG are at increased risk of PONV compared with those with LGS, indicating a critical role of procedure-related alterations of gastric physiology in the high occurrence of PONV after bariatric surgery.

Comparative study of palonosetron and ondansetron in prevention of post operative nausea and vomiting after laparoscopic gynaecological surgeries

: Post operative nausea and vomiting (PONV) is a common complication after general anaesthesia, specially post laparoscopic surgeries. This study compared efficacy of palonosetron with ondansetron for prevention and management of PONV in patients undergoing laparoscopic gynaecological surgeries. : 100 patients, undergoing laparoscopic gynaecological surgery were randomly divided in 2 groups of 50 each. They received either ondansetron(4mg IV) or palonosetron (0.075mg IV) before induction of general anaesthesia. They were monitored post operatively till 72 hours for episodes of nausea, vomiting, overall PONV and adverse effects. : The incidence of overall PONV was significantly less in patients who received palonosetron as compared those who received ondansetron. Also, ondansetron group demonstrated higher use of rescue anti-emetic drug as compared with palonosetron group. No significant difference was found in incidence of adverse effects in both groups. : Palonosetron, having longer duration of action, is more effective in treating long term PONV compared to ondansetron in patients undergoing laparoscopic gynaecological surgeries under general anesthesia.

Aprepitant as a fourth antiemetic prophylactic strategy in high-risk patients: a double-blind, randomized trial.

Post-operative nausea and vomiting (PONV) is one of the most important causes of patient discomfort after laparoscopic surgeries despite the use of a multimodal pharmacological approach. This study assessed whether the addition of aprepitant to a multimodal regimen would further decrease the incidence of PONV in high-risk patients. Apfel-score three or four patients, scheduled for laparoscopic procedures to treat abdominal or pelvic cancer, were randomized to receive oral starch (control group) or 80 mg of oral aprepitant (treatment group) before induction of anaesthesia in a double-blind study. All patients received 4-8 mg of intravenous dexamethasone (at induction) and 4-8 mg of ondansetron (at the end) and a standardized total intravenous anaesthesia (TIVA) technique combined with neuraxial blockade. PONV was defined as any episode of nausea, vomiting or retching in the first 24 h after anaesthesia. Sixty-six patients completed the study. Vomiting occurred in 13/32 (40.6%) patients in the control group and in 1/34 (2.9%) patients in the treatment group (P = 0.0002, 95%CI: 18-54%) in the first 24 h after anaesthesia. Severe nausea occurred in two (6.3%) patients, and severe vomiting occurred in four (12.5%) patients in the control group. One patient presented with severe vomiting in the treatment group in the first 24 post-operative hours. Eighty milligrams of aprepitant added to a three-drug multimodal prophylaxis strategy can bring benefits to a high-risk population by reducing PONV episodes and rescue antiemetic requirements. This study was registered in the ClinicalTrials.gov (NCT 02357693) database.

Comparison of Palonosetron with Granisetron for Prevention of Postoperative Nausea and Vomiting in Patients Undergoing Laparoscopic Abdominal Surgery.

Background:In patients undergoing laparoscopic surgeries, postoperative nausea and vomiting (PONV) is a serious concern. With an incidence of 46%–72%, PONV hampers the postoperative recovery in spite of the availability of many antiemetic drugs. The purpose of this study was to prospectively evaluate the efficacy of palonosetron and granisetron for the prevention of PONV in patients undergoing laparoscopic abdominal surgery.Aims:The aim of this study was to evaluate and compare the efficacy of palonosetron and granisetron in preventing PONV and to compare the duration of action and side effects in patients undergoing laparoscopic abdominal surgery under general anesthesia.Settings and Design:Eighty patients who were comparable in all aspects were considered for this study. After their consent, they participated in this prospective, randomized, double-blinded, comparative study.Materials and Methods:In this observational study, 80 patients of either gender who were undergoing laparoscopic abdominal surgery under general anesthesia were enrolled in the study. Based on computer randomization, these patients were divided equally into two groups of 40 patients each in double-blinded manner. The treatments were given intravenously 5 min before induction of anesthesia. The episodes of PONV, severity of nausea/vomiting, and side effects were observed during the first 48 h after surgery.Statistical Tests:At the end of study, results were compiled and SPSS® statistical package version 18.0 (SPSS Inc., Chicago, IL, USA). Two independent samples t-test was used for quantitative data, and Chi-square or Fisher's exact test was used for qualitative data. P < 0.05 was considered significant.Results:The incidence of PONV during 0–2 h in the postoperative period was 15% with palonosetron and 27.5% with granisetron; the incidence during 2–24 h postoperatively was 20% with palonosetron and 30% with granisetron. Both palonosetron and granisetron had comparable effectiveness as antiemetic during the early postoperative periods (0–24 h). During 24–48 h, the incidence was 17.5% and 37.5%, respectively (P = 0.04). Safety profile was similar in both the groups (P = 0.6).Conclusion:There were no significant differences in the overall incidence of PONV and complete responders for palonosetron and granisetron group in the early recovery period. However, due to its prolonged duration of action, palonosetron was more effective than granisetron for long-term prevention of PONV after laparoscopic abdominal surgery.

The Role of Aprepitant in Prevention of Postoperative Nausea and Vomiting After Bariatric Surgery.

Postoperative nausea and vomiting (PONV) is common with bariatric surgery. We examined the PONV rate in bariatric surgical patients who received triple antiemetic prophylaxis (dexamethasone, droperidol, and ondansetron) with and without antiemetic aprepitant. Medical records of female patients undergoing laparoscopic bariatric surgery from January 1, 2014, to July 28, 2016, were reviewed for PONV episodes during 48 postoperative hours. In total, 338 patients received triple antiemetic, of whom 172 (51%) also received aprepitant. Rates of PONV in the postanesthesia care unit (PACU) among patients with and without aprepitant therapy were 11 vs 17% (P=.09). Within 1h after PACU discharge, fewer patients in the aprepitant group had PONV (19 vs 31%; odds ratio [OR] [95% CI], 0.5 [0.30-0.80]; P=.007). During the first 48 postoperative hours, PONV rates were similar between the groups (68 and 66%; P=.73), but fewer emesis episodes occurred in the aprepitant group (6 vs 13%; OR [95% CI], 0.45 [0.21-0.95]; P=.04). Analyses were also performed with a subset of patients matched on propensity for receiving aprepitant. In this subset, OR estimates quantifying aprepitant effect on PONV were similar to those obtained from multivariable regression analyses. Addition of aprepitant to a multimodal antiemetic prophylactic regimen may be associated with significant reduction of PONV during early recovery and potentially with reduced incidence of vomiting during the first 48 postoperative hours. The high PONV rate in the first 48 postoperative hours is suggestive that introduction of scheduled anti-PONV prophylactic treatment may be desirable.

Paravertebral block for management of acute postoperative pain and intercostobrachial neuralgia in major breast surgery

Several locoregional techniques have been described for the management of acute and chronic pain after breast surgery. The optimal technique should be easy to perform, reproducible, with little discomfort to the patient, little complications, allowing good control of acute pain and a decreased incidence of chronic pain, namely intercostobrachial neuralgia for being the most frequent entity. The aim of this study was to evaluate the paravertebral block with preoperative single needle prick for major breast surgery and assess initially the control of postoperative nausea and vomiting (PONV) and acute pain in the first 24hours and secondly the incidence of neuropathic pain in the intercostobrachial nerve region six months after surgery. The study included 80 female patients, ASA I-II, aged 18-70 years, undergoing major breast surgery, under general anesthesia, stratified into 2 groups: general anesthesia (inhalation anesthesia with opioids, according to hemodynamic response) and paravertebral (paravertebral block with single needle prick in T4 with 0.5% ropivacaine + adrenaline 3μg/mL with a volume of 0.3mL/kg preoperatively and subsequent induction and maintenance with general inhalational anesthesia). In the early postoperative period, patient-controlled analgesia (PCA) was placed with morphine set for bolus on demand for 24hours. Intraoperative fentanyl, postoperative morphine consumption, technique-related complications, pain at rest and during movement were recorded at 0h, 1h, 6h and 24h, as well as episodes of PONV. All variables identified as factors contributing to pain chronicity age, type of surgery, anxiety according to the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS), preoperative pain, monitoring at home; body mass index (BMI) and adjuvant chemotherapy/radiation therapy were analyzed, checking the homogeneity of the samples. Six months after surgery, the incidence of neuropathic pain in the intercostobrachial nerve was assessed using the DN4 scale. The Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) values of paravertebral group at rest were lower throughout the 24hours of study 0h 1.90 (± 2.59) versus 0.88 (± 1.5) 1h 2.23 (± 2.2) versus 1.53 (± 1.8) 6h 1.15 (± 1.3) versus 0.35 (± 0.8); 24h 0.55 (± 0.9) versus 0.25 (± 0.8) with statistical significance at 0h and 6h. Regarding movement, paravertebral group had VAS values lower and statistically significant in all four time points: 0h 2.95 (± 3.1) versus 1.55 (± 2.1); 1h 3.90 (± 2.7) versus 2.43 (± 1.9) 6h 2.75 (± 2.2) versus 1.68 (± 1.5); 24h 2.43 (± 2.4) versus 1.00 (± 1.4). The paravertebral group consumed less postoperative fentanyl (2.38±0.81μg/kg versus 3.51±0.81μg/kg) and morphine (3.5mg±3.4 versus 7mg±6.4) with statistically significant difference. Chronic pain evaluation of at 6 months of paravertebral group found fewer cases of neuropathic pain in the intercostobrachial nerve region (3 cases versus 7 cases), although not statistically significant. Single-injection paravertebral block allows proper control of acute pain with less intraoperative and postoperative consumption of opioids but apparently it cannot prevent pain chronicity. Further studies are needed to clarify the role of paravertebral block in pain chronicity in major breast surgery.

Paravertebral block for management of acute postoperative pain and intercostobrachial neuralgia in major breast surgery

BackgroundSeveral locoregional techniques have been described for the management of acute and chronic pain after breast surgery. The optimal technique should be easy to perform, reproducible, with little discomfort to the patient, little complications, allowing good control of acute pain and a decreased incidence of chronic pain, namely intercostobrachial neuralgia for being the most frequent entity. ObjectivesThe aim of this study was to evaluate the paravertebral block with preoperative single needle prick for major breast surgery and assess initially the control of postoperative nausea and vomiting (PONV) and acute pain in the first 24h and secondly the incidence of neuropathic pain in the intercostobrachial nerve region six months after surgery. MethodsThe study included 80 female patients, ASA I-II, aged 18–70 years, undergoing major breast surgery, under general anesthesia, stratified into 2 groups: general anesthesia (inhalation anesthesia with opioids, according to hemodynamic response) and paravertebral (paravertebral block with single needle prick in T4 with 0.5% ropivacaine+adrenaline 3μgmL−1 with a volume of 0.3mLkg−1 preoperatively and subsequent induction and maintenance with general inhalational anesthesia). In the early postoperative period, patient-controlled analgesia (PCA) was placed with morphine set for bolus on demand for 24h. Intraoperative fentanyl, postoperative morphine consumption, technique-related complications, pain at rest and during movement were recorded at 0h, 1h, 6h and 24h, as well as episodes of PONV. All variables identified as factors contributing to pain chronicity age, type of surgery, anxiety according to the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS), preoperative pain, monitoring at home; body mass index (BMI) and adjuvant chemotherapy/radiation therapy were analyzed, checking the homogeneity of the samples. Six months after surgery, the incidence of neuropathic pain in the intercostobrachial nerve was assessed using the DN4 scale. ResultsThe Visual Analog Scale (VAS) values of paravertebral group at rest were lower throughout the 24h of study 0h 1.90 (±2.59) versus 0.88 (±1.5) 1h 2.23 (±2.2) versus 1.53 (±1.8) 6h 1.15 (±1.3) versus 0.35 (±0.8); 24h 0.55 (±0.9) versus 0.25 (±0.8) with statistical significance at 0h and 6h. Regarding movement, paravertebral group had VAS values lower and statistically significant in all four time points: 0h 2.95 (±3.1) versus 1.55 (±2.1); 1h 3.90 (±2.7) versus 2.43 (±1.9) 6h 2.75 (±2.2) versus 1.68 (±1.5); 24h 2.43 (±2.4) versus 1.00 (±1.4). The paravertebral group consumed less postoperative fentanyl (2.38±0.81μgkg−1 versus 3.51±0.81μgkg−1) and morphine (3.5mg±3.4 versus 7mg±6.4) with statistically significant difference. Chronic pain evaluation of at 6 months of paravertebral group found fewer cases of neuropathic pain in the intercostobrachial nerve region (3 cases versus 7 cases), although not statistically significant. ConclusionsSingle-injection paravertebral block allows proper control of acute pain with less intraoperative and postoperative consumption of opioids but apparently it cannot prevent pain chronicity. Further studies are needed to clarify the role of paravertebral block in pain chronicity in major breast surgery.

Effects of palonosetron and dexamethasone on postoperative nausea and vomiting in adult patients undergoing laparoscopic abdominal surgery: a randomized, double-blind, clinical trial at a tertiary care hospital

Background: Post-operative nausea and vomiting (PONV) is one of the common problems after laparoscopic abdominal surgery. It hampers the postoperative recovery in spite of the availability of many antiemetic drugs and regimens for its prevention. We evaluated the effectiveness of intravenous (IV) palonosetron in counteracting PONV during the first 48hrs following laparoscopic abdominal surgery, using dexamethasone as the comparator drug. Methods: In this study a single pre-induction IV doses of palonosetron (75mcg) or dexamethasone (8mg) were administered to adult patients of either sex undergoing elective laparoscopic abdominal surgery. There were 40 subjects per group. The pre-anesthetic regimen, anesthesia procedure and laparoscopic technique were uniform. The primary effectiveness measure was total number of PONV episodes in the 48 hours period following end of surgery. The frequencies of individual nausea, retching and vomiting episodes, visual analog scale (VAS) score for nausea at 2, 6, 12, 24 and 48 hours, use of rescue antiemetic (metoclopramide), number of complete responders (no PONV or use of rescue in 48 hours) and adverse events were secondary measures. SPSS software version 16 was employed to using student’s t-test, chi-square test or fisher’s exact tests. Value of P < 0.05 was considered significant. Results: The incidence of nausea and vomiting was maximal during the first six hours postoperatively. The complete control of postoperative nausea and vomiting for first 24 hours was achieved in 80% patients of palonosetron group and 60% patients of dexamethasone group. During 24-48 hours the incidence of PONV was 17.5% and 22.5% respectively in palonosetron group and dexamethasone group. The use of rescue medication is about 50% less in the use of palonosetron as antiemetic than dexamethasone. Safety profile was similar in both the groups. Conclusions: Palonosetron is comparatively highly effective to prevent the PONV after anaesthesia in elective laparoscopic abdominal surgery when administered as single pre-induction dose due to its prolonged duration of action than dexamethasone.

Aprepitant: A New Modality for the Prevention of Postoperative Nausea and Vomiting: An Evidence-Based Review.

Postoperative nausea and vomiting (PONV) affects as many as 30% of surgical patients. Aprepitant, an antagonist of the neurokinin-1 receptor with a 40% half-life, may be effective for prophylaxis for PONV. This review describes the evidence of adding aprepitant to antiemetic therapy for PONV prophylaxis. A literature search was conducted to answer the population-intervention-comparison-outcome-time (PICOT) question: In adult patients undergoing general anesthesia (P), does aprepitant (I) decrease PONV (O) postoperatively (T) as compared to patients receiving other antiemetic therapy or a placebo (C)? Eight randomized controlled trials, one prognostic study, and one post hoc analysis were appraised. Perioperatively, aprepitant decreased the severity and number of episodes of PONV. Aprepitant appears to be more effective in decreasing the incidence of PONV postoperatively as compared with ondansetron. It is recommended that aprepitant is used to treat patients at risk for PONV and for whom PONV could lead to catastrophic adverse outcomes.

Postoperative nausea and vomiting at a tertiary care hospital in north-western Tanzania

Background: Postoperative nausea and vomiting is one of the most distressing morbidities associated with surgery. This descriptive prospective study was conducted to determine the incidence, predictors and management of postoperative nausea and vomiting among patients attending a tertiary hospital in north-western Tanzania.Methods: The study was conducted in the surgical wards and intensive care unit of Bugando Medical Centre in Mwanza, Tanzania between January 2013 and December 2013. The study population included adult patients aged ≥18 years, classified as ASA I and who were scheduled for elective surgeries under general or region anaesthesia. Patients were assessed preoperatively, intraoperatively and postoperatively. A questionnaire was administered to each patient in order to collect the information on demographic characteristics, estimated patient’s body mass index, smoking status, prior history of motion sickness or post-operative nausea and vomiting (PONV), type and duration of surgery/anaesthesia, intraoperative pethidine use, postoperative pain and timing of oral intake.Results: A total of 348 patients (age=18-76 years) were included in the study. The male to female ratio was 1.4: 1. The incidence of postoperative nausea and vomiting was 41.4%. Age group 21-30, female gender, history of PONV, general anaesthesia and intraoperative pethidine were the main predictors of PONV (p &lt; 0.001). Only forty-five (31.3%) out of the 144 patients who reported their episodes of PONV received any medications.Conclusion: The incidence of PONV among surgical patients at Bugando Medical Centre is unacceptably high and the predictors of postoperative nausea and vomiting within 24 hours included being a young adult, female, having history of PONV, been under general anaesthesia and intraoperative pethidine. It is recommended that patients with increased likelihood of developing postoperative nausea and vomiting should be given anti-emetic prophylaxis and other preventive measures.

Prevention of postoperative nausea and vomiting with a subhypnotic dose of Propofol in patients undergoing lower abdominal surgery: A prospective, randomized, double-blind study.

Background:Postoperative nausea and vomiting (PONV) is a common complication after general anesthesia in patients undergoing elective lower abdominal surgery. We aimed to compare the effect of a sub hypnotic dose of Propofol in the prevention of PONV after lower abdominal surgery with that of the conventional antiemetic drug Metoclopramide.Materials and Methods:In this prospective, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study, 104 patients with American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) class I or II status, aged 18–65 years, and undergoing elective lower abdominal surgery were randomized to one of four groups (n = 26 each). The patients in the four groups were administered intravenously Propofol 20 mg (G1), Propofol 30 mg (G2), Metoclopramide 10 mg (G3), and placebo (G4), 15 min before skin closure. All episodes of PONV during the first 24 h after anesthesia were recorded by an investigator who was blinded to treatment assignment.Results:There were no significant differences between the treatment groups with regard to their gender, age, ASA class, duration of surgery, duration of recovery time and hospital stay, and also body mass index (BMI) (P > 0.05). The prevalence of PONV 0-6 h after anesthesia was 23.08% with Propofol 20 mg (P = 0.005), 15.38% with Propofol 30 mg (P = 0.016), 15.38% with Metoclopramide 10 mg (P = 0.016), compared to 30.77% with placebo (P = 0.005).Conclusions:Administration of a subhypnotic dose of Propofol (30 mg) was found to be as effective as 10 mg Metoclopramide in reducing the incidence and severity of PONV in adult patients undergoing elective lower abdominal surgeries under Isoflurane-based anesthesia in the early postoperative period.

Effective Dose of Ramosetron for Prophylaxis of Postoperative Nausea and Vomiting in High-Risk Patients

Background. Postoperative nausea and vomiting (PONV) are common adverse events with an incidence of up to 80% in high-risk patients. Ramosetron, a selective 5-HT3 receptor antagonist, is widely used to prevent PONV. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effective dose of ramosetron for the prevention of PONV in high-risk patients. Methods. Fifty-one patients were randomly allocated to 3 groups and were administered ramosetron 0.3 mg (group A), 0.45 mg (group B), or 0.6 mg (group C), at the end of their surgery. The episodes of PONV were assessed 1, 6, 24, and 48 hours after the injection and all the adverse events were observed. Results. The complete response rate in the postoperative period 6–24 hours after the anesthesia was higher in group C than in group A: 93% versus 44%. Group C's experience score of Rhodes index was lower than group A's: 0.81 ± 2.56 versus 3.94 ± 5.25. No adverse drug reaction could be observed in all groups. Conclusions. The effective dose of ramosetron to be injected for the near-complete prophylaxis of PONV 6 to 24 hours after surgery in high-risk patients is a 0.6 mg bolus injection at the end of the surgery.

“A comparison of ondansetron and palonosetron for prevention of post-operative nausea and vomiting in patients undergoing elective abdominal surgeries under general anaesthesia” A randomized double blind study

Background: Post-operative nausea and vomiting (PONV) is commonly seen in female patients undergoing abdominal surgeries under general anaesthesia. In this randomized double blind prospective study, efficacy of ondansetron and palonosetron for prevention of PONV following abdominal surgeries under general anaesthesia was compared. Methods: 60 female patients undergoing elective abdominal surgery were randomly allocated to one of the two groups of 30 patients each. Group O patients received injection Ondansetron 4mg and Group P patients received injection Palonosetron 75mcg intravenously 15 minutes before induction. All episodes of PONV within 72 hours after induction of anaesthesia were recorded. Statistical Analysis: Statistical analysis was done using two sample t test. Results: The incidence of complete response (no PONV, no rescue medication required) during 0-6 hours in post-operative period was 93.33% in patients of group O and 86.67% in patients of group P. But the incidence of complete response during 624 hrs of post-operative period was only 73.33% in patients of group O while it was 93.33% in patients of group P. During 2448 hours in postoperative period incidence of complete response was only 66.67% in group O while it was 96.67 % in group P. And during 48-72 hrs in postoperative period incidence of complete response was 86.67% in patients of group O and 96.67% in patients of group P. Rescue antiemetic in the form of inj. Metoclopramide was given in the patients who had vomiting. Conclusion: Single dose of Palonosetron was more effective for prevention of nausea and vomiting in comparison to Ondansetron after 6 hrs in post-operative period in abdominal surgeries.

The efficacy of ginger added to ondansetron for preventing postoperative nausea and vomiting in ambulatory surgery.

Background:Post-operative nausea and vomiting (PONV) frequently hampers implementation of ambulatory surgery in spite of so many costly antiemetic drugs and regimens.Objective:The study was carried out to compare the efficacy of ginger (Zingiber officinale) added to Ondansetron in preventing PONV after ambulatory surgery.Materials and Methods:It was a prospective, double blinded, and randomized controlled study. From March 2008 to July 2010, 100 adult patients of either sex, aged 20-45, of ASA physical status I and II, scheduled for day care surgery, were randomly allocated into Group A[(n = 50) receiving (IV) Ondansetron (4 mg) and two capsules of placebo] and Group B[(n = 50) receiving IV Ondansetron (4 mg) and two capsules of ginger] simultaneously one hour prior to induction of general anaesthesia (GA) in a double-blind manner. One ginger capsule contains 0.5 gm of ginger powder. Episodes of PONV were noted at 0.5h, 1h, 2h, 4h, 6h, 12h and 18h post- operatively.Statistical Analysis and Results:Statistically significant difference between groups A and B (P < 0.05), was found showing that ginger ondansetron combination was superior to plain Ondansetron as antiemetic regimen for both regarding frequency and severity.Conclusion:Prophylactic administration of ginger and ondansetron significantly reduced the incidence of postoperative nausea and vomiting compared to ondansetron alone in patients undergoing day care surgery under general anaesthesia.

Postoperative nausea and vomiting prophylaxis: A comparative study of ondansetron, granisetron and granisetron and dexamethasone combination after modified radical mastectomy.

Background:Post-operative nausea and vomiting (PONV) is commonly seen after modified radical mastectomy (MRM). In this randomized double-blind prospective study we compared the efficacy of ondansetron, granisetron and granisetron and dexamethasone combination for prevention of PONV following MRM in female patients.Materials and Methods:A total of 75 patients (20-60 years of age) undergoing elective MRM were randomly allocated to one of the three groups of 25 patients each. Group O received ondansetron 4 mg, Group G received granisetron 40 mcg/kg and group granisetron and dexamethasone (G + D) received granisetron 40 mcg/kg + dexamethasone 8 mg prior to induction. All episodes of PONV within 24 h after induction of anesthesia were recorded.Statistical Analysis:Statistical analysis was done using Kruskal-Wallis test (nonparametric ANOVA).Results:The incidence of complete response (no PONV, no rescue medication) was 96% with G+D, as compared with 86% with granisetron and 4% with ondansetron during 0-3h after surgery which was clinically significant (P < 0.05). Similarly clinically significant response was seen during 3-6, 6-9, 9-12 and 12-24 h of surgery.Conclusion:Granisetron and dexamethasone combination is more effective for prevention of PONV in comparison to individual ondansetron and granisetron in MRM.

PONV in Ambulatory surgery: A comparison between Ramosetron and Ondansetron: a prospective, double-blinded, and randomized controlled study.

Background:postoperative nausea and vomiting (PONV) frequently hampers implementation of ambulatory surgery in spite of so many antiemetic drugs and regimens.Aims:the study was carried out to compare the efficacy of Ramosetron and Ondansetron in preventing PONV after ambulatory surgery.Setting and Design:it was a prospective, double blinded, and randomized controlled study.Methods:124 adult patients of either sex, aged 25-55, of ASA physical status I and II, scheduled for day care surgery, were randomly allocated into Group A [(n=62) receiving (IV) Ondansetron (4 mg)] and Group B [(n=62) receiving IV Ramosetron (0.3 mg)] prior to the induction of general anesthesia in a double-blind manner. Episodes of PONV were noted at 0.5, 1, 2, 4 h, 6, 12, and 18 h postoperatively.Statistical Analysis and Results:statistically significant difference between Groups A and B (P <0.05) was found showing that Ramosetron was superior to Ondansetron as antiemetic both regarding frequency and severity.Conclusion:it was evident that preoperative prophylactic administration of single dose IV Ramosetron (0.3 mg) has better efficacy than single dose IV Ondansetron (4 mg) in reducing the episodes of PONV over 18 h postoperatively in patients undergoing day-care surgery under general anesthesia.