Postoperative Nausea and Vomiting: Cause, Prevention, and Treatment

Abstract

Postoperative nausea and vomiting (PONV) occur in an average of 20-40% of patients. There are many drugs and combinations of drugs for the prevention and treatment of PONV. Prophylactic antiemetics should be considered in the high-risk patient (prior history of motion sickness, past history of PONV, certain surgical procedures such as strabismus surgery and middle ear surgery). Avoid perioperative opioids, which are known to cause PONV, when possible by substituting a drug such as Stadol. Female nonsmokers have a higher risk for PONV than other groups, but there probably would not be an indication to use prophylactic agents in such patients unless another risk factor is also present. 87