Severity Of Postoperative Nausea And Vomiting Research Articles

Effect of Supplemental Perioperative Oxygen 80% in Postoperative Nausea and Vomiting in Patients Undergoing Cataract Surgery

Background: Postoperative nausea and vomiting (PONV) leads to an increase in intraocular pressure (IOP) and its side effects, which should be controlled using the least complicated method. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of 80% supplemental perioperative oxygen on PONV in patients undergoing cataract surgery. Methods: The present double-blind clinical trial was conducted on 201 patients undergoing cataract surgery. The subjects were selected by convenience sampling method and randomly divided into two groups of oxygen 30% administration and oxygen 80% administration. The operation of patients was performed with the same surgical procedure and team. After the operation, the incidence rate of PONV was recorded in both groups and compared along with other variables by SPSS software using descriptive statistics and chi-square. Results: There was no significant difference in age and sex between the two groups. The incidence rate of PONV was high in both groups, with statistically significant higher value in the group with 30% supplemental oxygen compared to the group with 80% supplemental oxygen (p=0.000). Conclusion: The use of 80% perioperative oxygen concentration could reduce the PONV severity

Efficacy of Three Different Prophylactic Treatments for Postoperative Nausea and Vomiting after Vitrectomy: A Randomized Clinical Trial.

Postoperative nausea and vomiting (PONV) after vitreoretinal surgery may potentially be associated with severe complications, such as suprachoroidal hemorrhage. The purpose of the present multicenter clinical trial (NCT02386059) was to assess the efficacy of three different prophylactic treatments for PONV after vitrectomy under local anesthesia. Patients undergoing primary vitrectomy were randomized to the control arm or to one of the treatment arms (4 mg ondansetron, 4 mg dexamethasone, combination of the two drugs). The primary outcome measure was the proportion of complete response (no nausea, no vomiting, no retching, and no use of antiemetic rescue medication) during 24 h after vitrectomy. Secondary outcomes included the severity standardized score of PONV, postoperative pain standardized score, and rate of ocular and non-ocular adverse events. Baseline demographics of the 1287 patients were comparable between the four arms. The combined therapy group showed a statistically significant lower incidence of PONV compared to the placebo and monotherapy (p < 0.001). PONV severity was also reduced in the combination group compared to the others (p < 0.001). Postoperative pain scores and adverse events were comparable among the four groups. Combined therapy with dexamethasone and ondansetron was the most effective treatment for reducing the incidence and severity of PONV in patients undergoing vitrectomy under local anesthesia.

Effect of Intravenous Oxycodone Versus Sufentanil on the Incidence of Postoperative Nausea and Vomiting in Patients Undergoing Gynecological Laparoscopic Surgery.

More than 30% of patients who undergo surgery will experience postoperative nausea and vomiting (PONV) if no prophylactic treatments are used. Although numerous studies have been performed to investigate the factors related to PONV, the effect of perioperative intravenous oxycodone on the incidence of PONV has not been well investigated. In this study, gynecological patients (grade I-II, aged 18-65 years, scheduled to undergo elective gynecological laparoscopic surgery under general anesthesia) were randomized to the oxycodone group or the sufentanil group. In the oxycodone group, patients received intravenous oxycodone for the induction and maintenance of anesthesia, as well as postoperative analgesia, while sufentanil was used in the sufentanil group. The primary outcome variable was the incidence of PONV. As secondary outcomes, time to first PONV, the rating of the most severe PONV, postoperative pain scores at different time points, hemodynamics, and side effects were evaluated. We found that, compared with sufentanil, oxycodone decreased the incidence of PONV by 13.5% (P = .041). The time to first vomiting was longer in the oxycodone group than in the sufentanil group. Postoperative pain scores at different time points and hemodynamics were comparable between the oxycodone and sufentanil groups. We concluded that the incidence of PONV in gynecological patients who underwent laparoscopic surgery was lower when using intravenous oxycodone for anesthesia induction, anesthesia maintenance, and postoperative analgesia than when using intravenous sufentanil. However, oxycodone and sufentanil provided the same stable hemodynamics during surgery and satisfactory postoperative analgesia.

Scheduled injection of ramosetron for prevention of nausea and vomiting following single-port access total laparoscopic hysterectomy: a prospective randomized study.

ObjectiveThe purpose of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of scheduled ramosetron injections for controlling postoperative nausea and vomiting (PONV) after single-port access total laparoscopic hysterectomy (SPA-TLH).MethodsNinety patients who underwent SPA-TLH at the Korean National Health Insurance Service Ilsan Hospital between June 2013 and July 2014 were enrolled in this prospective, randomized, double-blinded, placebo-controlled study. The patients were divided into 2 groups as follows: the ramosetron group (0.3 mg intravenously [IV]; n=45) and the placebo group (normal saline IV; n=45). Both groups received their respective injections 12 and 24 hours post surgery. The incidence and severity of PONV (numerical rating scale, 0–10), and the use of rescue antiemetics post surgery were evaluated.ResultsDemographic and perioperative statistically significant differences were not observed between the 2 groups. The incidence of PONV in the ramosetron and placebo groups was 46.7% and 51.1%, respectively (P=0.51). We found significant differences in the severity of PONV between the 24- to 48-hour postoperative periods in both groups (ramosetron group, P=0.04 and placebo group, P=0.03). The use of rescue antiemetics was significantly lower in the ramosetron group than in the placebo group (P=0.02).ConclusionAfter general anesthesia, scheduled injections of ramosetron 12 and 24 hours after SPA-TLH reduced the severity of PONV and the use of rescue antiemetics. Administration of ramosetron can be considered not only immediately after SPA-TLH but also during the first 24-hour recovery period.Trial RegistrationClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT 02011659

Comparing the efficacy of aprepitant and ondansetron for the prevention of postoperative nausea and vomiting (PONV): A double blinded, randomised control trial in patients undergoing breast and thyroid surgeries.

Background and Aims:Aprepitant, a Neurokinin-1 receptor antagonist, has been evaluated in abdominal and neurosurgeries, but its effect is less clear in breast and thyroid surgeries, which are also known to be high risk for post-operative nausea and vomiting (PONV). This study was done to compare the antiemetic efficacy of ondansetron and aprepitant in women undergoing mastectomy and thyroidectomy.Methods:One hundred and twenty-five ASA I and II, female patients, aged between 18 and 65 years were randomly assigned into Group I (ondansetron group, n = 62) or Group II (aprepitant group, n = 63), by computer-generated random sequencing. Per protocol analysis was done to assess the incidence and severity of PONV, use of rescue antiemetics, and patient satisfaction with PONV control between the two groups, till 24 h post-surgery.Results:In the immediate postoperative period, 79.7% of patients in Group I and 85.2% in Group II were free of emesis (P value: 0.49). In Group I, the first episode of vomiting occurred within a median duration 90 min (IQR 2575: 45-147) postoperatively, whereas the median duration in Group II was 160 min (IQR 25-75: 26-490), with request for rescue antiemetic at 60 min in Group I (IQR 25-75: 27-360) and 147 min in Group II (IQR 25-75: 11-457).Conclusion:A single dose of oral aprepitant has comparable effects to injection ondansetron administered eighth hourly in preventing PONV, the severity of nausea, number of rescue antiemetics, and the time to first emetic episode in the 24-h postoperative period.CTRI Reg No:REF/2017/06/014637.

Cost-effectiveness and efficacy of combined dexamethasone–metoclopramide versus ondansetron in the prevention of postoperative nausea and vomiting in women undergoing myomectomy under spinal anesthesia

Background: Postoperative nausea and vomiting (PONV) is a common complication following surgery under spinal anesthesia. The aim of this study was to compare the efficacy and cost-effectiveness of metoclopramide–dexamethasone combination with ondansetron as prophylaxis against PONV in the routine gynecological surgeries amenable to subarachnoid block (SAB). Materials and Methods: Following institutional ethical approval, patients were randomly assigned to receive either ondansetron 4 mg or metoclopramide 10 mg plus dexamethasone 8 mg. All patients had a SAB with 3 ml of 0.5% hyperbaric bupivacaine plus 25 μg of fentanyl. The primary outcome was proportion of patients in both groups with PONV within 24 h from institution of the SAB. Secondary outcome included comparison of severity of PONV between the two study groups, incidence of side effects related to the study drugs (i.e., sedation, headaches, and movement disorder), and cost implication of the study drugs in both groups. Results: One hundred patients were recruited in this study. The overall incidence of PONV for the 24-h period was 10% (n = 5) and 12% (n = 6) for the ondansetron group and the combination group, respectively. Side effects of the study drugs were minimal and comparable in both groups. The cost-effectiveness ratio, evaluated based on the number of women completely free of nausea and vomiting in each group, was higher at ₦ 177.78 for group ondansetron compared to ₦ 113.63 for metoclopramide and dexamethasone combination group. Conclusion: Combined dexamethasone–metoclopramide had comparable clinical effectiveness with lower cost-effectiveness compared to ondansetron for the prevention of PONV in women undergoing myomectomy under SAB.

Prospective Assessment of Postoperative Nausea Early After Bariatric Surgery.

The most common reason for readmission after bariatric surgery is postoperative nausea and vomiting (PONV). The aim of this study was to compare the incidence and severity of PONV between patients undergoing laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy (SG) and gastric bypass (GB). This was a prospective observational cohort study that evaluated all patients who underwent non-revisional isolated SG or GB at a tertiary care center. Patients were asked to grade their nausea on a 10-point Likert scale at 2h postoperatively and the morning of each postoperative day (POD). There were 65 patients that matched the inclusion criteria, of which 29 underwent SG and 36 underwent GB. There were no significant differences in age (p = 0.198), BMI (p = 0.294), American Society of Anesthesiology classification (p = 0.380), or male gender (p = 0.164) when comparing SG and GB patients. Perioperative PONV prophylaxis was similar. There were no differences in LOS (2.6 ± 1.3 vs 2.3 ± 0.5days, p = 0.919) or readmission/visit to the emergency department due to PONV (10.3% vs 13.9%, p = 0.665) between the two groups. Prolonged LOS due to PONV occurred in 20.7% of SG patients and 19.4% of GB patients (p = 0.901). The severity and incidence of PONV are similar following SG and GB. Importantly, there was no difference in hospital utilization due to PONV between SG and GB.

Effects of Intraoperative Dexamethasone and Ondansetron on Postoperative Nausea and Vomiting in Microvascular Decompression Surgery: A Randomized Controlled Study.

Background Postoperative nausea and vomiting (PONV) is a common problem and may lead to catastrophic complications, especially in neurosurgical cases. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of dexamethasone and ondansetron for preventing PONV in patients who underwent microvascular decompression (MVD) surgery. Methods A prospective, double-blinded, randomized control trial was conducted with 54 patients who underwent MVD. Patients were allocated into two groups. The study group (Gr. D) received intraoperative dexamethasone 4 mg iv and ondansetron 4 mg iv, whereas the control group (Gr. N) received placebo (0.9% normal saline 1 ml iv and 0.9% normal saline 2 ml iv). The incidence and severity of PONV were observed at 1, 2, 4, and 24 hr postsurgery. Results At 1, 2, 4, and 24 hr postsurgery, Gr. D had a lower incidence (7.4%, 11.1%, 29.6%, and 66.7%) and lower severity of PONV than Gr. N (18.5%, 29.6%, 37.0%, and 81.5% at 1, 2, 4, and 24 hr; p > 0.05). The requirement for antiemetic drugs was not significantly different between the groups (p > 0.05). Conclusion Administration of dexamethasone and ondansetron 4 mg seemed to decrease the incidence of PONV in the first 24 hours but not significantly. Therefore, further studies are to be carried out by escalating either dexamethasone dose or the dose of ondansetron or both.

The Effect of Preoperative Zintoma Capsule on Postoperative Nausea and Vomiting After Laparoscopic Cholecystectomy.

BackgroundPostoperative nausea and vomiting (PONV), as one of the complications after laparoscopic cholecystectomy, occurs in over 40% - 77% of cases. Considering the numerous complications of synthetic drugs, there is a growing tendency towards the use of herbal medicines due to their unique features. Ginger root is one of the herbal compounds effective on nausea and vomiting.ObjectivesThe aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of preoperative Zintoma capsules on PONV after laparoscopic cholecystectomy.MethodsIn this quasi-experimental study, 130 eligible patients were randomly assigned to intervention (n = 65) and control (n = 65) groups using the four-block method. The intervention group received two capsules of 500 mg and one of 250 mg Zintoma. The control group received three placebo capsules. The severity of patients’ PONV was recorded at 0, 2, 6, 12, and 24 hours after surgery using a checklist and a standard VAS instrument. Data were analyzed using t-test, Chi-square test, and LSD Post Hoc test (ANOVA) in SPSS 19.ResultsThe severity of PONV and vomiting was significantly different between the two groups (P = 0.001) at the above time points. The mean severity of nausea (by VAS) changed in the intervention group from 7.92 ± 1.28 to 0.33 ± 0.67 and in the control group from 8.00 ± 1.20 to 2.11 ± 1.55. The postoperative vomiting was less frequent in the group receiving the Zintoma capsules. The postoperative use of chemical anti-vomiting and nausea drugs was significantly lower in the intervention group than in the placebo group (P = 0.001).ConclusionsZintoma capsules can be used as a supportive treatment in the prevention of nausea and vomiting by reducing the incidence rate of PONV.

Ginger (Zingiber officinale): An alternative for the prevention of postoperative nausea and vomiting. A meta-analysis

BackgroundPostoperative nausea and vomiting (PONV) is a distressing outcome related to surgeries. Traditionally, ginger has been used in the treatment of nausea and vomiting for thousands of years. Recently, several randomized, placebo-controlled clinical trials (RCTs) have been conducted to evaluate the efficacy of ginger in PONV. PurposeTo systematically evaluate the efficacy of ginger on postoperative nausea and vomiting (PONV) compared to placebo, based on RCTs. Study designThe meta-analysis was reported following the PRISMA guidelines using the PICO format, and it was registered with the PROSPERO register. MethodsPubMed, Embase, the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials and Web of Science were searched for relevant studies. Human, placebo-controlled clinical studies of patients undergoing any types of surgery, receiving pharmacological doses of ginger per os were included. Only clinical trials with explicit description of the ginger preparation used were analysed. No language or publication year restrictions was applied. ResultsTen randomized trials including a total of 918 patients were pooled for the statistical analysis. The present meta-analysis supports that ginger has a significant effect on the severity of PONV based on visual analogue scale (VAS) results: in a fixed effects model the pooled standardized mean difference (SMD) was –0.247 (favouring ginger; [LL]: –0.455, [UL]: –0.040, p-value: 0.019). Moreover, our results suggest that ginger reduces the incidence of postoperative nausea and vomiting, as well antiemetic drug demand; however, these effects are not statistically significant compared to placebo, which may be explained by underdosing. ConclusionsAccording to our thorough meta-analysis ginger is safe and well tolerated, and decreases the severity of PONV, and may lower the incidence of postoperative nausea and vomiting, which in turn may reduce antiemetic drug demand, suggesting that ginger may be a useful alternative to antiemetic medications to alleviate PONV.

Effects of palonosetron for prophylaxis of postoperative nausea and vomiting in high-risk patients undergoing total knee arthroplasty: A prospective, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study.

BackgroundThe preemptive multimodal pain protocols used in total knee arthroplasty (TKA) often cause emesis postoperatively. We investigated whether palonosetron prophylaxis reduces postoperative nausea and vomiting (PONV) in high-risk patients after TKA.MethodsWe randomized 120 female patients undergoing TKA to receive either palonosetron (0.075 mg, intravenous) or no antiemetic prophylaxis (0.9% saline, control group). All patients were given spinal anesthesia, a continuous femoral nerve block, and fentanyl-based intravenous patient controlled analgesia. Patients undergoing staged bilateral TKA were assigned to one group for the first knee and the other group for the second knee. The overall incidence of PONV, the incidences of both nausea and vomiting, severity of nausea, complete response, requirement for rescue antiemetics, pain level, opioid consumption, and satisfaction scores were evaluated during three periods: 0–2, 2–24, and 24–48 h postoperatively. We also compared PONV and pain between the first and second TKA.ResultsThe incidence of PONV during the first 48 h was lower in the palonosetron group compared with the controls (22 vs. 41%, p = 0.028), especially 2–24 h after surgery, as was the nausea and vomiting respectively. The severity of nausea was lower in the palonosetron group (p = 0.010). The complete response rate (93 vs. 73%, p = 0.016) and satisfaction score (84 ± 12 vs. 79 ± 15, p = 0.032) were higher in the palonosetron group during 2–24 h after surgery. Patients who underwent a second operation complained of more severe pain, and consumed more opioids than those of the first operation. There was no difference in the incidence of PONV between the first and second operations.ConclusionsPalonosetron prophylaxis reduced the incidence and severity of PONV in high-risk patients managed with multimodal pain protocol for 48 h, notably 2–24 h after TKA.

Impact of combining dexmedetomidine to ondansetron and dexamethasone for prophylaxis against postoperative nausea and vomiting after laparoscopic bariatric surgery

Background Postoperative nausea and vomiting (PONV) are common and highly distressing following laparoscopic bariatric surgery. However, there is inadequate evidence regarding the impact of combining dexmedetomidine to dexamethasone and ondansetron. We aimed to study the impact of combining dexmedetomidine to dexamethasone and ondansetron in the prevention of PONV. Patients and methods Seventy-two adult patients scheduled for laparoscopic bariatric surgery were randomized in this double-blind study to receive either single dose of dexmedetomidine 1 µg/kg; ondansetron 4 mg; dexamethasone 8 mg (group D, n=36) or ondansetron 4 mg and dexamethasone 8 mg (group B, n=36), after induction of anaesthesia. Anaesthesia administration was performed similarly for both groups using a standard protocol. During the first 24 h postoperatively, the primary outcomes were the incidence of PONV. The severity of PONV and use of rescue antiemetic were the secondary outcomes. χ 2-Test and Student's t-test were utilized to evaluate significant differences in categorical and continuous variables. Results The incidence of PONV was significantly reduced in group D (13.9 vs. 52.8%, P&lt;0.001). The severity of PONV was significantly lower in group D (34.22±10.48 vs. 62.50±13.34, P=0.03). Ondansetron consumption was reduced significantly during 24 h in group D (2.33±2.93 vs. 3.58±2.68, P=0.03). Conclusion Addition of dexmedetomidine to ondansetron and dexamethasone was efficacious in decreasing incidence, severity of PONV, and the total analgesic consumption during the first 24 h after laparoscopic bariatric surgery.

Oral gabapentin premedication for post-tonsillectomy nausea, vomiting, and recovery

Background Gabapentin is a second-generation anticonvulsant that is successful in the management of chronic neuropathic pain. It was not previously known to be useful in acute perioperative conditions, but recently it has been used for acute perioperative conditions. However, evidence-based medicine suggests that perioperative administration is useful for postoperative analgesia, preoperative anxiolysis, attenuation of the hemodynamic response to laryngoscopy and intubation, and preventing chronic postsurgical pain, postoperative nausea and vomiting (PONV), and delirium. This article reviews the clinical trial data to describe the efficacy and safety of gabapentin for perioperative anesthetic management. Aim The aim of the study was to evaluate and update the effect of preoperative gabapentin on the incidence of postoperative vomiting and on analgesic requirements after adenotonsillectomy in pediatrics. Materials and methods This randomized, double-blind study was designed to explore the possible effects of oral gabapentin as a premedication on the incidence and severity of PONV and on the early recovery profile of pediatric patients undergoing adenotonsillectomy under sevoflurane anesthesia. Results The incidence of PONV in the gabapentin group was significantly lower than in the gabapentin group. However, the numbers of rescue ondansetron doses and the PONV severity score were comparable in the two groups. Conclusion The use of gabapentin as premedication in pediatric patients undergoing adenotonsillectomies under sevoflurane anesthesia reduces the incidence of PONV and emergence agitation in the early postoperative period. However, gabapentin did not reduce pain and analgesic consumption after surgery.

Efficacy of Nalbuphine with Flurbiprofen on Multimodal Analgesia with Transverse Abdominis Plane Block in Elderly Patients Undergoing Open Gastrointestinal Surgery: A Randomized, Controlled, Double-Blinded Trial.

Objective To assess different doses of nalbuphine with flurbiprofen compared to sufentanil with flurbiprofen in multimodal analgesia efficacy for elderly patients undergoing gastrointestinal surgery with a transverse abdominis plane block (TAPB). Methods 158 elderly patients scheduling for elective open gastrointestinal surgery under general anesthesia and TAPB were randomly assigned to four groups according to different doses of nalbuphine with flurbiprofen in postoperative intravenous analgesia (PCIA). Postoperative pain intensity, effective pressing numbers of PCIA, and adverse effects were recorded at 6, 12, 24, and 48 hours after surgery. Results Postoperative pain intensity, effective pressing numbers, and the incidence of postoperative nausea and vomiting (PONV) were similar among the four groups after surgery, while the severity of PONV was decreased in Group L compared with Group S at 6, 12, and 48 h after surgery. No individual experienced pruritus, respiratory depression, or hypotension. Conclusions Low dose of nalbuphine (15 μg·kg−1·ml−1) combined with flurbiprofen is superior for elderly patients undergoing elective open gastrointestinal surgery with TAPB in terms of the efficient postoperative analgesia and decreased severity of PONV. This trial is registered with NCT02984865.

Effects of preoperative administration of ginger (Zingiber officinale Roscoe) on postoperative nausea and vomiting after laparoscopic cholecystectomy

One of the most common postoperative problems is nausea and vomiting. Although using some anesthetic materials has been considered as the mainstay of this phenomenon, the exact factors are not known. Because of several morbidities associated with postoperative nausea and vomiting (PONV), its prevention and treatment has been a challenge for physicians, so several drugs have been recommended for this purpose. Based on the documented antiemetic specificity of ginger, we evaluated and compared the effects of preoperative administration of ginger on PONV with ondansetron administration as the standard medication. The participants included 100 patients with cholelitiasis who were candidate for laparoscopic cholecystectomy. Patients were divided into two groups: group A comprised 50 patients who received 500 mg oral ginger 1 h before surgery, and group B included 50 patients who received 4 mg intravenous ondansetron before completion of surgery. Antiemetic efficacy was assessed by visual analogue scale scores of nausea intensity at 0, 4, 8, 16, and 24 h after surgery and frequency of vomiting during the evaluation period. Although multifactor analysis showed that nausea severity was significantly lower in the ginger group, the data indicated that except 16 h after operation, the differences between two groups in the frequency of vomiting was not significant. In conclusion, though complementary studies are needed to have a strong suggestion, based on this study, we recommend administration of oral ginger 1 h before operation to control the severity of PONV in patients undergoing laparoscopic cholecystectomy.

Effects of Electroacupuncture Administered 24 hours Prior to Surgery on Postoperative Nausea and Vomiting and Pain in Patients Undergoing Gynecologic Laparoscopic Surgery: A Feasibility Study

Our study aimed to investigate the feasibility and effectiveness of preoperative electroacupuncture (EA), delivered 24hours before surgery, on postoperative nausea and vomiting (PONV) and postoperative pain in patients undergoing gynecologic laparoscopic surgery. In this randomized controlled trial, 40 patients scheduled for elective gynecologic laparoscopic surgery were randomly assigned to the usual care (UC) group and the EA group (n = 20 each). Both groups received the routine treatment consisting of intravenous dexamethasone (5mg) after induction of anesthesia and intravenous tropisetron (5mg) before the end of the operation. The patients in the EA group received EA at bilateral neiguan (PC6) and zusanli (ST36) within 24hours prior to the surgery. The incidence and severity of PONV and pain were recorded at 6hours, 12hours, and 24hours after the operation. Time to first flatus passage was also recorded. Bonferroni-corrected independent sample t-tests were used to analyze the data. In the first six hours after surgery, 15% and 20% of the patients experienced postoperative nausea in the EA and the UC groups, respectively. The incidences of postoperative vomiting were 5% for the EA group and 20% for the UC group. PONV reduced to zero over 12hours in both groups and there was no statistically significant difference in PONV between the two groups at any time point. The EA group rated their postoperative pain statistically significantly lower than the UC group did at six hours postoperative (EA: 1.9 ± .8; UC: 2.9 ± .9, P = .001). The two groups did not differ in pain at 12 and 24hours. The EA group had a shorter time to pass first flatus than the UC group did (EA: 20.3hours ± 6.1; UC: 26.4 ± 5.2, P = .002). The common EA-related adverse effects were minor, and did not require medical attention. The patients tolerated the EA treatment well. It is feasible and safe to deliver one-session EA treatment within 24hours preoperatively to preempt postoperative pain. One-session preoperative EA may also accelerate motility of the gastrointestinal track. Properly powered studies are needed to further test the effectiveness of preoperative EA on PONV.

A study to assess the effects of a single preoperative dose of steroid on thyroidectomy

Background: On thyroidectomy, incidence of postoperative nausea and vomiting, severe pain with local inflammation and voice impairment was very common. These effects can be manipulated by the use of steroids. Hence the present study, was conducted with the objective to evaluate the effects of a single preoperative dose of dexamethasone on thyroidectomy in terms of postoperative nausea and vomiting (PONV), pain and voice improvement.Methods: The present study was conducted between October 2010 and March 2011 at the Department of General Surgery, Government Medical College, Kottayam, Kerala, India. A total of 72 patients were included in the study after meeting requirements of inclusion criteria. They were divided into two groups. 37 were under Group C and received normal saline and remaining 35 served as Group D and received 8 mg/2 mL of dexamethasone preoperatively. Post-operative incidences of nausea and vomiting, pain scores, and the improvement of vocal function were compared in both groups.Results: Out of 72 patients, most of the patients participated were under the age group of 40-50 years (30.6%). Of them 9 were males and 63 were females. The incidence and severity of PONV and pain was significantly reduced in Group D compared to Group C with P values of 0.001 and 0.056 respectively. Significant protection of dexamethasone towards vocal function was not observed in the study (p =0.245).Conclusions: From the results obtained in the study, it was concluded that preoperative single dose administration of dexamethasone seemed to be safe in healthy patients undergoing thyroidectomy.

Effects of hypercapnia on postoperative nausea and vomiting after laparoscopic surgery: a double-blind randomized controlled study.

Laparoscopic surgery is associated with a high incidence of postoperative nausea and vomiting (PONV). The use of CO2 pneumoperitoneum has been proposed as a potential cause of high PONV incidence. However, intraoperative hypercarbia may be related to enhanced perfusion to the main effector sites for PONV, including the brain and gastrointestinal tract. In this study, we investigated whether an increase in intraoperative CO2 partial pressure in arterial blood (PaCO2) reduces the incidence of PONV. This study enrolled 400 female patients aged 20-60years who were undergoing laparoscopic gynecologic surgery. The patients were allocated randomly to one of three groups with the following intraoperative PaCO2 levels: 36-40mmHg (Group 1), 41-45mmHg (Group 2), or 46-50mmHg (Group 3). The anesthetic regimen used a standardized total intravenous anesthesia consisting of propofol and remifentanil for all patients. The arterial blood gas analysis was performed to identify the difference in CO2 partial pressure between arterial blood and end-tidal gas. The PONV incidence was evaluated for the periods of 0-2, 2-6, and 6-24h after anesthesia. The incidence and severity of PONV and the administration of rescue antiemetics were recorded. The three groups were comparable for the patient, anesthesia, and surgical characteristics. The average PaCO2 level during surgery was 38-39, 43-44, and 47-48mmHg in Groups 1, 2, and 3, respectively. The incidence and severity of PONV and use of rescue antiemetics were not significantly different among the groups. The overall incidence of nausea during the first 24-h postoperative period was 54, 48, and 50% in Groups 1, 2, and 3, respectively (P=0.593). Our data suggest that mild to moderate intraoperative hypercapnia did not decrease the incidence and severity of PONV or the requirement for rescue antiemetics after gynecologic laparoscopic surgery.

Post-operative nausea and vomiting in bariatric surgery patients: an observational study.

The risk of post-operative nausea and vomiting (PONV) in patients undergoing bariatric surgery is unclear. The aim of the study was to investigate the risk of PONV and the use and effectiveness of PONV prophylaxis. This prospective observational study included 74 patients undergoing bariatric surgery with total intravenous anaesthesia. Patients were given PONV prophylaxis based on published guidelines and a simplified PONV risk score. Perioperative data were collected and a questionnaire was used at 2, 4, 6, 24, 48 and 72h after the operation to evaluate PONV. Data are presented as risk (%) with the 95% confidence interval. Sixty five per cent (54-75) of the patients experienced PONV in the first 24 post-operative hours and the risk increased with the number of risk factors for PONV. PONV occurred in 78% (66-87) of women and 26% (12-49) of men during the first 24h. In relation to the guidelines, one patient received suboptimal PONV prophylaxis, 23% received optimal prophylaxis and 76% supra-optimal prophylaxis. The risk of PONV was 82% (59-94) with optimal prophylaxis and 59% (46-71) with supra-optimal prophylaxis. Of all patients, 34% (24-45) experienced severe PONV in the first 24h that limited their activity. The incidence of PONV in bariatric surgery patients was high despite a PONV prophylaxis regime following current guidelines. These results cast doubt as to the effectiveness of the usual PONV prophylaxis in this patient group and point to the need for further investigation of PONV prophylaxis and treatment in bariatric surgery patients.

Cervical plexus anesthesia versus general anesthesia for anterior cervical discectomy and fusion surgery: A randomized clinical trial.

Both general anesthesia (GA) and cervical plexus anesthesia (CPA) can be used for anterior cervical discectomy and fusion (ACDF) surgery. The aim of this study was to evaluate the influence of anesthetic techniques on perioperative mortality and morbidity in patients undergoing cervical surgery.From January 2008 to December 2015, 356 patients who underwent 1-level ACDF for cervical spinal myelopathy were prospectively reviewed. They were assigned to receive GA (group A) and CPA (group B). The analgesic efficacy of the block was assessed by anesthesia preparation time, the maximum heart rate, and mean arterial blood pressure changes compared with the baseline, time of postoperative revival, and duration of recovery stay. Duration of surgery, blood loss, and anesthesia medical cost were also recorded. Numerical rating scale (NRS) was used to evaluate pain at different time points. Postoperative nausea and vomiting (PONV) was assessed, and postoperative average administered dosages of meperidine and metoclopramide were also recorded. The spinal surgeon satisfaction, anesthetist satisfaction, and patient satisfaction were assessed.Both the anesthesia induction time and postoperative revival time were longer in group A than that in group B; both the duration of surgery and recovery stay were also longer in group A than that in group B, whereas there was no difference in blood loss between the 2 groups. The average dosage of both meperidine and metoclopramide was more in group A than that in group B, and the anesthesia medical cost was greater in group A than that in group B. There were no significant differences in baseline data of systolic blood pressure, diastolic blood pressure, and heart rate between the 2 groups. But the intraoperative data of systolic blood pressure, diastolic blood pressure, and heart rate were higher/larger in group B than that in group A. In group A, there was no complaint of pain in the surgery procedure, but the pain increased after GA, with highest degree at 8 hours postoperation; then the pain degree decreased, and the NRS was 1 at 24 hours postoperation. In group B, intraoperative pain was NRS 4, and pain degree decreased from 4 hours postoperation; the NRS was 2 at 24 hours postoperation. The incidence of severe PONV was higher in group A than that in group B. There was no significant difference in the spinal surgeon satisfaction and anesthetist satisfaction for the anesthetic techniques. There was significant difference in patient satisfaction between the 2 groups, with high satisfaction for GA.General anesthesia is superior to CPA in maintaining better intraoperative hemodynamic stability and providing high patient satisfaction with no intraoperative pain for patients receiving ACDF, but it entails longer surgery and anesthesia time, and requires more postoperative analgesic and anesthesia cost.