Postoperative Nausea Research Articles

EP33 - Nil by mouth in GI surgery: are we starving our patients longer than we need to?

Abstract Aim Fluid intake preoperatively reduces postoperative nausea, vomiting and headache, and oral intake allows the patient to be metabolically active to respond better to surgery. However, a known risk to oral intake preoperatively is aspiration. Current guidelines state that a patient should be fasted from 6 hours preoperatively and should take clear fluids up to 2 hours preoperatively. We assessed how long GI patients admitted to the Surgical Assessment Unit (SAU) remained nil by mouth (NBM). Method Data was collected throughout November from SAU. Inclusion criteria was GI surgical patients and exclusion criteria was patients on home leave. We used electronic and paper notes to determine how long patients were kept NBM and their surgical outcome. We assumed that a patient was kept NBM from their admission (as per local protocol), until either noted to no longer be NBM, having surgery or being discharged. Results 50 patients were identified. We found that only 20% of patients kept nil by mouth went on to have surgery. Of the remaining 80%, 60% were kept nil by mouth for >6 hours, with no surgical procedures. Conclusions Many patients are kept NBM unnecessarily. We need to reduce this as well as the time patients are starved. Furthermore, clearer documentation is needed for commencing patients NBM, and when they can resume eating. We can move away from the culture of prolonged fasting in surgical patients by improving organisation and planning as well as increasing education on preoperative fasting.

Spinal Anesthesia for Awake Spine Surgery: A Paradigm Shift for Enhanced Recovery after Surgery.

Awake surgery has been applied for various surgical procedures with positive outcomes; however, in neurosurgery, the technique has traditionally been reserved for cranial surgery. Awake surgery for the spine (ASFS) is an alternative to general anesthesia (GA). As early studies report promising results, ASFS is progressively gaining more interest from spine surgeons. The history defining the range of adverse events facing patients undergoing GA has been well described. Adverse reactions resulting from GA can include postoperative nausea and vomiting, hemodynamic instability and cardiac complications, acute kidney injury or renal insufficiency, atelectasis, pulmonary emboli, postoperative cognitive dysfunction, or malignant hyperthermia and other direct drug reactions. For this reason, many high-risk populations who have typically been poor candidates under classifications for GA could benefit from the many advantages of ASFS. This narrative review will discuss the significant historical components related to ASFS, pertinent mechanisms of action, protocol overview, and the current trajectory of spine surgery with ASFS.

Effect of a comfort scale compared with a pain numerical rate scale on opioids consumption in postanaesthesia care unit: the COMFORT study

BackgroundThe way that pain is assessed in the PACU could impact on postoperative pain and analgesic consumption. However, there is currently no evidence to support this speculation. The authors hypothesised that using a comfort scale reduces postoperative opioid consumption when compared with a standard numerical rating scale (NRS) to evaluate pain in the PACU. MethodsIn this cluster-randomised trial, patients were assessed using either a comfort scale (comfort group) or a pain NRS (NRS group). The primary outcome was the opioid consumption in the PACU. The main secondary outcomes were postoperative pain, nausea and vomiting, length of stay in the PACU, and satisfaction. ResultsOf 885 randomised patients, 860 were included in the analysis. Opioid consumption in the PACU was comparable in the comfort and NRS groups (median [interquartile range [IQR] 0 (0–5) vs 0 (0–6); P=0.2436), irrespective of the type of surgical procedure. The majority of patients did not need any postoperative opioid (59% in the comfort group and 56% in the NRS group, P=0.2260). There was no difference in postoperative pain, nausea and vomiting, time to reach an Aldrete score ≥9 after extubation, and global satisfaction. ConclusionsUsing a comfort scale to assess pain in the PACU did not spare any opioid compared with use of a standard NRS. Further studies focusing on patients at risk of increased postoperative opioid consumption are necessary. Clinical trial registrationNCT05234216.

Comparative Analysis of Oral Clonidine Versus Oral Gabapentin on Subarachnoid Block Duration and Postoperative Analgesic Needs.

Pain, an inherently subjective experience, plays a pivotal role in the body's defence mechanism by signalling tissue damage or potential harm. Thus, optimal postoperative pain management is a cornerstone of modern surgical practice, essential for improving recovery outcomes and overall patient well-being. In this study, a total of 60 patients were randomly assigned to two groups of 30 each: Group C (clonidine) and Group G (gabapentin). Group C received oral clonidine 100 mcg and Group G received oral gabapentin600 mg one hour prior to the subarachnoid block. Duration of sensory and motor block, hemodynamic parameters, Visual Analog Scale (VAS) scores, time to rescue analgesia and any side effect of both drugs were assessed in both groups. The duration of motor and sensory blockade, as well as intraoperative hemodynamics and respiratory rates, were comparable between the two groups. Group G exhibited significantly lower VAS scores from 150 minutes postoperatively up to 12 hours (p < 0.001). Additionally, Group G experienced longer duration of postoperative analgesia (16.8±3.9 hours) compared to Group C (9.27±1.7 hours). About 26.6% of the patients in Group C and 6.7% of the patients in Group G presented with postoperative nausea and vomiting (PONV). Oral gabapentin at a dosage of 600 mg demonstrates superior efficacy as a premedication compared to oral clonidine 100 mcg for patients undergoing lower abdominal and lower limb surgeries under spinal anesthesia. Group G demonstrated extended postoperative analgesia, lower VASscores, and a reduced incidence of PONV, indicating its superiority over clonidine as an analgesic adjunct.

Efficacy and Safety of Different Preemptive Analgesia Measures in Pain Management after Laparoscopic Cholecystectomy: A Systematic Review and Network Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials.

The purpose of this systematic review and network meta-analysis was to evaluate the efficacy and safety of different preemptive analgesia measures given before laparoscopic cholecystectomy (LC) for postoperative pain in patients. We conducted a comprehensive search in databases including PubMed, Web of Science, Embase, and the Cochrane Library up to March 2024, and collected relevant research data on the 26 preemptive analgesia measures defined in this article in LC surgery. Outcomes included postoperative Visual Analogue Scores (VAS) at different times (2, 6, 12, and 24h), opioid consumption within 24h post-operation, time to first rescue analgesia, incidence of postoperative nausea and vomiting (PONV), and incidence of postoperative headache or dizziness. Forty-nine articles involving 5987 patients were included. The network meta-analysis revealed that multimodal analgesia, nerve blocks, pregabalin, and gabapentin significantly reduced postoperative pain scores at all postoperative time points and postoperative opioid consumption compared to placebo. Tramadol, pregabalin, and gabapentin significantly extended the time to first rescue analgesia. Ibuprofen was the best intervention for reducing PONV incidence. Tramadol significantly reduced the incidence of postoperative headache or dizziness. Subgroup analysis of different doses of pregabalin and gabapentin showed that compared to placebo, pregabalin (300mg, 150mg) and gabapentin (600mg, 300mg, and 20mg/kg) were all more effective without significant differences in efficacy between these doses. Higher doses increased the incidence of PONV and postoperative headache and dizziness, with gabapentin 300mg having a lower adverse drug reaction (ADR) incidence. Preemptive analgesia significantly reduced postoperative pain intensity, opioid consumption, extended the time to first rescue analgesia, and decreased the incidence of PONV and postoperative headache and dizziness. Multimodal analgesia, nerve blocks, pregabalin, and gabapentin all showed good efficacy. Gabapentin 300mg given preoperatively significantly reduced postoperative pain and ADR incidence, recommended for preemptive analgesia in LC. PROSPERO CRD42024522185.

The electronic health record: does it enhance or distract from patient safety?

The electronic health record (EHR) is an invaluable tool that may be used to improve patient safety. With a variety of different features, such as clinical decision support and computerized physician order entry, it has enabled improvement of patient care throughout medicine. EHR allows for built-in reminders for such items as antibiotic dosing and venous thromboembolism prophylaxis. In anesthesiology, EHR often improves patient safety by eliminating the need for reliance on manual documentation, by facilitating information transfer and incorporating predictive models for such items as postoperative nausea and vomiting. The use of EHR has been shown to improve patient safety in specific metrics such as using checklists or information transfer amongst clinicians; however, limited data supports that it reduces morbidity and mortality. There are numerous potential pitfalls associated with EHR use to improve patient safety, as well as great potential for future improvement.

Effectiveness of tranexamic acid on intra- and postoperative bleeding in Bimaxillary osteotomies: a retrospective study.

Perioperative bleeding is a serious concern during orthognathic surgery. Tranexamic acid (TXA), a synthetic lysine analog with antifibrinolytic properties, reduces blood loss across various surgical fields. This study aimed to investigate the effectiveness of preoperative TXA administration in reducing intraoperative and postoperative blood loss following combined Le Fort I and sagittal split ramus osteotomies at our hospital. This single-center, retrospective cohort study included patients who underwent combined Le Fort I and sagittal split ramus osteotomies between November 2017 and October 2022. The primary outcome was the volume of intraoperative blood loss. Among 1,329 eligible patients, 87 were included in the analysis (32 in the TXA group and 55 in the control group, where no TXA was administered). The median (interquartile range) intraoperative blood loss was 200.0 (157.5-237.5) mL in the TXA group and 260.0 (180.0-350.0) mL in the control group, showing a significant difference between the groups (p = 0.0365). However, postoperative blood drainage within 24h and 24-48h did not differ significantly between the two groups. A single intravenous administration of TXA was associated with a decrease in intraoperative bleeding without severe adverse events during combined Le Fort I and sagittal split ramus osteotomies. However, postoperative blood loss, nausea, vomiting, and autologous blood transfusion were not significantly associated with this administration.

Ultra-low-impact laparoscopy: a new concept for a minimally invasive surgery.

Minimally invasive surgery is considered the gold standard for the treatment of gynecological diseases. Our study aims to assess the effectiveness of the new concept of ultra-low-impact laparoscopy as a combination of low-impact laparoscopy, consisting in the use of miniaturized instruments through 3-5mm ports and low-pressure pneumoperitoneum, with regional anesthesia to evaluate the perioperative outcomes. A cross-sectional study was performed from May 2023 to December 2023, to enroll 26 women affected by benign gynecological disease and threated by mini-invasive surgical approach. The surgical procedures were performed following the low-impact laparoscopy protocol and the regional anesthesia protocol. The postoperative pain, nausea, and vomiting and the antiemetic/analgesic intake were evaluated. Postoperative surgical and anesthesiological variables were analyzed. Operative time was within 90 min (41.1 ± 17.1 mean ± standard deviation (SD)) and no conversion to laparotomy or general anesthesia was required. According to VAS score, the postoperative pain during the whole observation time was less than 3 (mean). Faster resumption of bowel motility (6.5 ± 2.1 mean ± SD) and women's mobilization (3.1 ± 0.7 mean ± SD) were observed as well as low incidence of post-operative nausea and vomit. Early discharge and patient's approval were recorded. Intraoperatively pain score was assessedon Likert scale during all stages. Ultra-low-impact laparoscopy showed to provide a satisfying recovery experience for patients in terms of short hospital stays, cosmetic result, and pain relief, without compromising surgical outcomes. The encouraging results lead us to recruit a greater number of patients to validate our technique as a future well-established produce.

Acustimulation combined with pharmacological prophylaxis versus pharmacological prophylaxis alone in postoperative nausea and vomiting (PONV) prophylaxis among patients undergoing laparoscopy abdominal surgery: a research protocol for a randomised controlled trial

IntroductionThis study evaluates the efficacy of integrating percutaneous electrical nerve stimulation at the pericardium 6 (PC6) acupuncture point through a wearable acustimulation device with standard pharmacological prophylaxis to prevent postoperative...

Magnesium sulfate infusion for emergence agitation in adult patients after general anesthesia: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.

Emergence agitation following general anesthesia poses significant risks to both patients and medical staff. While extensive research has explored the efficacy of magnesium sulfate (MgSO4) in managing pediatric emergence agitation, its effectiveness in adults remains uncertain. Therefore, this meta-analysis seeks to evaluate the efficacy of MgSO4 in mitigating emergence agitation following general anesthesia in adult populations. A systematic search was conducted across PubMed, Embase, Cochrane Library, and Web of Science databases to identify randomized controlled trials (RCTs) comparing MgSO4 or placebo infusion during surgical procedures involving adult patients under general anesthesia. Key outcomes assessed included the incidence of emergence agitation, agitation severity scores, extubation duration, and postoperative nausea and vomiting (PONV). Statistical analyses were conducted using Review Manager 5.4.1 (Cochrane, London, UK), with heterogeneity evaluated using I2 statistics. Significance was defined at P<0.05 for Odds Ratios (OR), mean differences (MD), and standard mean differences (SMD). Five RCTs encompassing 605 participants were included. MgSO4 resulted in a lower emergence agitation incidence (OR=0.29 [95% CI: 0.12;0.72]; P=0.007). There were no significant differences between groups for patient's agitation severity scores (SMD=-0.69 [95% CI: -1.82; 0.44]; P=0.23), extubation time (MD=1.16 [95% CI: -1.06; 3.37]; P=0.30), or PONV incidence (OR=0.52 [95% CI: 0.15-1.76]; P=0.29). Magnesium sulfate infusion during general anesthesia was associated with lower incidence of emergence agitation in adults. However, no significant differences were observed regarding emergence agitation severity scores, PONV, or extubation time.

Sphenopalatine ganglion block for pain control after septoplasty: a systematic review and meta-analysis with trial sequential analysis.

Septoplasty corrects a deviated nasal septum (DNS) and improves nasal obstruction. Sphenopalatine ganglion block (SPGB) effectively reduces postoperative pain after septoplasty, but conclusive evidence is still lacking. This systematic review and meta-analysis aim to comprehensively evaluate the analgesic efficacy of SPGB in septoplasty patients. We systematically searched PubMed/Medline, Scopus, Web of Science, Embase, and CENTRAL from inception to April 10th, 2024. Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) were assessed using the RoB-2 tool. The primary outcomes were postoperative pain scores, analgesic consumption, surgery duration, postoperative nausea and vomiting (PONV), and patient satisfaction. Continuous data were pooled as mean difference (MD), and dichotomous data as risk ratio (RR) with a 95% confidence interval (CI) using STATA software. Additionally, trial sequential analysis (TSA) was conducted. Three RCTs with 180 patients were included. Two RCTs had a 'low risk' of bias, while one RCT had 'some concerns'. The SPGB group had significantly lower postoperative pain within 24 hours compared to controls, particularly after particularly after 1-2 hours (MD = -1.85), 4-6 hours (MD = -2.02), 12 hours (MD = -2.14), and 24 hours (MD = -2.36) TSA confirmed the conclusive evidence. Analgesic use was significantly reduced in the SPGB group. No significant differences were observed in surgery duration or PONV rates between groups. Patient satisfaction was significantly higher in the SPGB group. SPGB demonstrates efficacy and safety in managing postoperative pain in patients undergoing septoplasty for DNS.

Opioid-free anesthesia improves postoperative recovery quality of small and medium-sized surgery: a prospective, randomized controlled study.

Opioid anesthesia (OA) is currently the predominant anesthetic method. However, its associated side effects, such as nausea and vomiting, coupled with the principle of enhanced recovery after surgery (ERAS), have spurred the adoption of opioid-free anesthesia (OFA) in select surgical procedures. For small and medium-sized operations, ERAS is particularly important. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of OFA, utilizing esketamine in combination with dexmedetomidine and sevoflurane, on postoperative recovery quality following small and medium-sized surgical interventions. A total of 120 patients who underwent various small and medium-sized operations were randomly allocated to OFA and OA groups. The OA group received sufentanyl and sevoflurane, while the OFA group received esketamine, dexmedetomidine, and sevoflurane. The primary outcome measure was the postoperative quality of recovery-40 scores (QoR-40) 24 hours after surgery. Secondary outcomes included hemodynamic changes at different time intervals, the incidences of adverse events were recorded. Patients in the OFA group exhibited a higher QoR-40 score of 184.0 (182.0, 186.2) compared to 182.0 (180.0, 184.0) in the OA group (P<0.001). The disparities were particularly noble in terms of Physical comfort and Emotional status. Multivariable analysis identified postoperative nausea and vomiting (PONV) as a significant independent factor impacting QoR-40 (β=-4.49 [-6.1, -2.87], P<0.001). Hemodynamic stability was more pronounced in the OFA than in the OA group. The incidence of PONV was substantially lower in the OFA group (one [1.6%] vs. 14 [25%], P<0.001), with a reduced need for vasoactive drugs (five [7.8%] vs. 15 [26.8%], P=0.005), and a lower incidence of respiratory depression (0 [0%] vs. six [10.7%], P=0.009). OFA improves the postoperative recovery quality in small and medium-sized surgical procedures, potentially attributed to decreased incidence of PONV. Additionally, OFA facilitates the maintenance of more stable hemodynamics throughout the operation.

The comparison of erector spinae plane block and caudal block for postoperative analgesia in paediatric surgery - meta-analysis

&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;&amp;lt;strong&amp;gt;Aim &amp;lt;/strong&amp;gt;To assess the efficacy of Erector Spinae Plane Block (ESPB) compared to caudal block in reducing postoperative pain in paediatric surgery.&amp;lt;br /&amp;gt;&amp;lt;strong&amp;gt;Methods &amp;lt;/strong&amp;gt;An electronic literature search was conducted using the Cochrane Library, PubMed, and Google Scholar databases, with data collected from January 2018 until September 2023. This meta-analysis includes English-language randomized controlled trials (RCTs) studies contrasting ESPB with caudal block in paediatric patients. The primary outcome was the 24-hour postoperative pain scores. The secondary outcome included the time to rescue analgesia, the number of patients requiring rescue analgesia, and the occurrence of postoperative nausea and vomiting (PONV) and urinary retention.&amp;lt;br /&amp;gt;&amp;lt;strong&amp;gt;Results &amp;lt;/strong&amp;gt;Five RCTs with 295 samples were included. The results showed no significant difference between ESPB and caudal block in postoperative pain scores at 1st hour SMD (standardized mean difference) &amp;amp;nbsp;of &amp;amp;nbsp;-0.17 (95% CI -0.70, 0.36; I2=76%; p= 0.53), 2nd hour of SMD: -0.50 (95% CI -1.21, 0.21; I2=88%; p=0.17), 6th hour SMD -1.09 (95% CI -2.21, 0.03; I2=95%; p = 0.06), 12th hour SMD -0.77 (95% CI -1.75, 0.21; I2=93%; p=0.12), and the 24th hour SMD -0.13 (95% CI -0.39, 0.12;, I2=2%; p=0.30) were found. Furthermore, there was no significant difference in the time first to rescue analgesia, the number of patients requiring analgesia rescue, PONV occurrence, and urinary retention.&amp;lt;br /&amp;gt;&amp;lt;strong&amp;gt;Conclusion &amp;lt;/strong&amp;gt;ESPB and caudal block showed equivalent analgesia efficacy and safety in paediatric&amp;amp;nbsp;surgery.&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;

Comparison of the effects of Aprepitant and Granisetron in preventing postoperative nausea and vomiting (PONV) in patients undergoing Laparoscopic Cholecystectomy: A double-blind, randomized, controlled study

Background: Postoperative nausea and vomiting (PONV) is one of the most common findings in the first 24 hours after surgery, occurring in 30% of all patients and up to 80% of high-risk patients. We compared aprepitant (a neurokinin-1 receptor antagonist) and granisetron in preventing PONV in patients who underwent laparoscopic cholecystectomy (LC). Methods: Sixty-one patients (aged 18-90) and the American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) I-II class who underwent LC under general anesthesia were enrolled in the study. Our study aimed to compare the incidence of PONV between 0-6, 6-12, and 6-24 hours postoperatively and the need for additional antiemetic requirements primarily and, secondly, detecting VAS scores and additional analgesic requirements for aprepitant and granisetron. Results: Our study observed similar PONV changes in both groups at 0-6 hours. A significantly lower VDS was observed in group A at 30-60 minutes compared to group G (p=0.10). There was no significant difference between groups at other intervals until the 120th minute. Between 6 and 12 hours, Group A had a lower VDS (Verbal Descriptive Scale) than Group G, but there was no statistically significant difference (P&gt;0.05). There was no significant difference between the groups regarding VAS scores, additional analgesic requirements, and adverse effects on patients (p&gt;0.05). Conclusion: We observed that aprepitant may be more effective than granisetron in preventing PONV and can be used safely in patients undergoing LC.

Comparison of Hemodynamic and Recovery Profile Between Segmental Thoracic Spinal and General Anesthesia in Upper Abdominal and Breast Surgeries: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

Segmental thoracic spinal anesthesia (STSA) has been described primarily as case reports for performing upper abdominal and thoracic surgeries in significant respiratory comorbid patients. A few comparative studies have recently evaluated the technique as an advantageous alternative to general anesthesia (GA). However, there is no systematic evaluation and comparison of the techniques. The present systematic review evaluated the hemodynamic, comfort, and satisfaction of patients undergoing abdominal and thoracic surgeries under STSA and GA. PubMed, CENTRAL, Google Scholar Advanced, and citation tracking were performed to find suitable articles that compared STSA and GA. The primary objective-related data were hypotension and bradycardia. The secondary objective-related data in the context of postoperative nausea vomiting (PONV), pain, rescue analgesics, sedation requirement, satisfaction, and comfort were assessed. Meta-analysis was performed for dichotomous data on hypotension, bradycardia, and PONV; odds ratio (OR) and 95% confidence interval (CI) were reported. Data of 394 patients from six studies were evaluated. Patients undergoing upper abdominal and breast surgeries under STSA had significantly higher odds of hypotension (Fixed-Effect Model OR 12.23, 95% CI 2.81-53.28; I2 =0%, and the Random Effects Model OR 12.01, 95% CI 2.75-52.52; I2 =0%) and bradycardia (Fixed-Effect Model OR 10.95, 95% CI 2.94-40.74, I2 =0%, and the Random Effects Model OR 9.97, 95% CI 2.61-38.08; I2 =0%) but lower odds of PONV (Fixed-Effect Model OR 0.24, 95% CI 0.13-0.43; I2 =0%, and the Random Effects Model OR 0.24, 95% CI 0.13-0.45; I2 =0%). Most of the patients undergoing STSA were given intravenous sedation to overcome anxiety and discomfort. Overall, patient satisfaction was on par with GA. However, few surgeons were unenthusiastic about the technique while performing axillary clearances due to bothering twitches from cautery. STSA led to early post-anesthesia care unit (PACU) discharge and provided better pain control, lowering the need for rescue analgesics and opioid consumption in the first 24-hour postoperative period. STSA is associated with very high odds of hypotension and bradycardia as compared to GA. On the other hand, STSA demonstrated superior pain control, reduced opioid requirements, shorter PACU stays, and significantly reduced risk of PONV. Nevertheless, STSA patients mostly require sedation to make the patient comfortable.

Erector spinae plane block reduces postoperative nausea and vomiting in liver surgery.

Erector spinae plane block reduces postoperative nausea and vomiting in liver surgery.

Does tranexamic acid administration reduce postoperative nausea and vomiting after orthognathic surgery?

Does tranexamic acid administration reduce postoperative nausea and vomiting after orthognathic surgery?

Perioperative Systemic Corticosteroids in Modern Total Hip and Knee Arthroplasty: A Primer for Clinical Practice.

» Perioperative corticosteroids are strongly recommended for reducing the incidence and severity of postoperative nausea and vomiting following elective total hip or total knee arthroplasty.» Corticosteroids may reduce postoperative pain and opioid requirements. Similarly, corticosteroids appear to have a neutral-to-positive effect on length of stay, venous thromboembolism, mobility, delirium, acute kidney injury, and bone cement implantation syndrome (i.e., decreased length of stay).» Perioperative corticosteroids may induce hyperglycemia among both diabetic and nondiabetic patients; however, there is no strong evidence indicating that these transient corticosteroid-induced glycemic derangements may increase the risk of postoperative infectious complications.» The dosage and frequency of perioperative corticosteroid administration play a critical role in optimizing postoperative outcomes, with higher doses showing promise in reducing opioid consumption, postoperative pain, and length of stay.» The optimal dosage and frequency of corticosteroids remain unclear; however, the perioperative administration of 8 to 16 mg dexamethasone, or equivalent steroid, appears reasonable and safe in most cases.

A comparison of ondansetron in preventing postoperative nausea and vomiting for patients with or without preoperative anxiety with painless egg retrieval: a prospective, randomized, controlled trial.

Patients undergoing painless egg retrieval are prone to preoperative anxiety, and whether preoperative anxiety induces postoperative nausea and vomiting (PONV) is debated. The primary objective of this prospective, randomized, controlled study was to compare the clinical effect of ondansetron in preventing PONV for patients with and without preoperative anxiety. The secondary objective was to investigate whether preoperative anxiety was associated with PONV. The self-rating anxiety scale (SAS) was used to assess the anxiety patients undergoing painless egg retrieval. Patients with a SAS standard score of 50-60 were selected to the anxiety group (n=105); and patients with a SAS standard score of 25-35 were assigned to the non-anxiety group (n=104). Venous blood samples of both groups of patients were obtained during admission and 1 hour after surgery, and all serotonin (5-HT) levels were tested using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. The anxiety group was then randomly assigned into two subgroups: ondansetron (AO group, n=53) and placebo saline (AS group, n=52). Similarly, patients in the non-anxiety group were also randomly assigned to one of two subgroups: ondansetron (NO group, n=51) and placebo saline (NS group, n=53). The AO and NO groups received 8 mg (4 mL) of intravenous ondansetron 15 minutes before surgery, while the AS and NS groups received an equivalent volume (4 mL) of normal saline. We then analyzed the vital signs, risk factors for nausea and vomiting, intraoperative anesthetic doses, incidences of nausea and vomiting in 24 hours after surgery, serum 5-HT level before and after surgery, other adverse responses, pain scores, and satisfaction. A total of 200 patients eventually completed this study. The serum 5-HT values in the anxiety group were higher before and after surgery than in the non-anxiety group (P<0.05), but there was no significant difference in serum 5-HT before and after surgery in the same group (P>0.05). The incidence of PONV was more significant in the AS group than in the NS group (P<0.05). The incidence of PONV was also higher in the AS group than in the AO group (P<0.05). Still, there was no statistically significant difference between the NO and NS groups (P>0.05). There were no significant differences between the four groups in vital signs, risk factors for nausea and vomiting, intraoperative anesthetic doses, other adverse responses and pain scores (P>0.05). Patients in the AS group had lower satisfaction scores than those in the other three groups (P<0.05). Patients experiencing preoperative anxiety have a greater risk of PONV following painless egg retrieval compared to those without preoperative anxiety. Ondansetron can reduce the occurrence of PONV in patients with preoperative anxiety, but it has no discernible preventative effect in non-anxious patients. Chinese Clinical Trial Registry ChiCTR2400079504.

Anaesthesia and climate change: time to wake up? A rapid qualitative appraisal exploring the views of anaesthetic practitioners regarding the transition to TIVA and the reduction of desflurane

BackgroundThe National Health Service (NHS) has pledged to reach carbon net-zero by 2040. In alignment with this goal, a London hospital’s anaesthesia department is actively reducing desflurane use and transitioning towards total intravenous anaesthesia (TIVA) as a sustainable alternative, contributing to environmentally responsible practices within the healthcare sector.MethodsWe conducted a rapid qualitative appraisal through online interviews with 17 anaesthetic practitioners to explore their perspectives regarding this climate change mitigation strategy. Data analysis was undertaken through the use of rapid appraisal sheets and a framework analysis method.ResultsParticipants highlighted the disadvantages of TIVA, including the increased effort, heightened monitoring requirements, operational challenges, and a lack of clinical confidence associated with its use. Despite these reservations, participants acknowledged TIVA’s potential to reduce postoperative nausea. There were perceptions that senior staff members might resist this change due to habits and scepticism over its impact on climate change. To facilitate greater TIVA adoption, participants recommended enhanced training, the implementation of a dashboard to raise awareness of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, and the presence of strong climate change leadership within the department. Participants believed that a shift to TIVA should be followed by specific measures such as addressing waste management which is crucial for GHG reduction, emphasising the perceived link between waste and emissions.ConclusionsThe evaluation examines stakeholder attitudes, perceptions, and behaviours, focusing on transitioning from desflurane to TIVA. The study highlights the importance of staff engagement, organisational support, and underscores the crucial role that healthcare practitioners and leadership play in fostering sustainability within the healthcare sector.