Effect of intraoperative intravenous crystalloid infusion on postoperative nausea and vomiting after gynaecological laparoscopy: comparison of 30 and 10 ml kg−1

Background. I.V. fluid administration has been shown to reduce postoperative nausea and vomiting (PONV). The optimum dose is unknown. We tested the hypothesis that administration of i.v. crystalloid of 30 ml kg −1 would reduce the incidence of PONV compared with 10 ml kg −1 of the same fluid. Methods. A total of 141 ASA I female patients undergoing elective gynaecological laparoscopy were randomized, in double-blind fashion, to receive either 10 ml kg −1 ( n =71; CSL-10 group) or 30 ml kg −1 ( n =70; CSL-30 group) of i.v. compound sodium lactate (CSL). Results. In the first 48 h after anaesthesia, the incidence of vomiting was lower in the CSL-30 group than in the CSL-10 group (8.6% vs 25.7%, P =0.01). Anti-emetic use was less in the CSL-30 group at 0.5 h (2.9% vs 14.3%, P =0.04). The incidence of severe nausea was significantly reduced in the treatment group at awakening (2.9% vs 15.7%, P =0.02), 2 h (0.0% vs 8.6%, P =0.04) and cumulatively (5.7% vs 27.1%, P =0.001). The numbers needed to treat to prevent vomiting, severe nausea and antiemetic use in the first 48 h were 6, 5 and 6, respectively. Conclusion. I.V. administration of CSL 30 ml kg −1 to healthy women undergoing day-case gynaecological laparoscopy reduced the incidence of vomiting, nausea and anti-emetic use when compared with CSL 10 ml kg −1 .