Nitrous oxide does not increase nausea and vomiting following gynaecological laparoscopy

The effect of three different anaesthetic techniques on the incidence and severity of postoperative emesis (nausea, retching and vomiting) was studied in 150 patients undergoing gynaecological laparoscopy. Patients were anaesthetized with isoflurane in nitrous oxide and oxygen (Group A), enflurane in nitrous oxide and oxygen (Group B) or with isoflurane in air and oxygen (Group C). Groups had been predetermined by date of birth. During the first 24 hours after the operation no difference was found at any time in the incidence or severity of emesis among the groups. The overall incidence of emesis during the first 24 hours postoperatively was 54, 48 and 52 per cent, in groups A, B and C, respectively. It is concluded that nitrous oxide does not increase the incidence of emesis after isoflurane anaesthesia and that isoflurane and enflurane anaesthesia are associated with similar incidences of nausea and vomiting after gynaecological laparoscopy.