Volatile anaesthetics were the leading cause of early postoperative vomiting. The pro-emetic effect was larger than other risk factors. In patients at high risk for PONV, it would therefore make better sense to avoid inhalational anaesthesia rather than simply to add an antiemetic, which may still be needed to prevent or treat delayed vomiting.

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The data suggest that the probability of PV following ENT surgery under inhalational anaesthesia with low-dose opioids can be predicted by a score mainly based upon patient-related risk factors.

No abstract