The Assessment of Risk Factors for Postoperative Nausea and Vomiting

Objective: To determine the risk factors for postoperative nausea and vomiting. Study Design: Quasi-experimental study with prospective data collection. Place and Duration of Study: The study was conducted at Dow Medical College University and Civil Hospital, Karachi from January to December 2004. Patients and Methods: Data on patients’ characteristic, anesthesia, surgery and postoperative nausea and vomiting was collected in operating theatre, postanesthesia care unit and wards. Results: During postoperative 24 hours period, 60 out of a total of 200 patients experienced nausea and vomiting. The factors associated with an increased risk of Postoperative Nausea and Vomiting (PONV) were gender (female odds ratio 3), patients with previous history of nausea and vomiting or motion sickness (odds ratio 4), laparoscopic cholecystectomy (odds ratio 3.5) and eye surgery (odds ratio 3.9), all of these were statistically significant (p < 0.05). No statistically significant difference was found between the other parameters. Conclusion: The incidence of PONV was found significantly higher in female gender, patients with previous history of nausea and vomiting or motion sickness, patient undergoing laparoscopic cholecystectomy and eye surgery.