Background
Postoperative nausea and vomiting is among the most common postoperative complications, despite modern anesthetics and surgical techniques. It can occur during the operation and persisting in the postoperative period cause reduces patient comfort, delayed discharge from the hospital and an increase in costs. The risk factors that affect the incidence of post-operative nausea and vomiting are multifactorial in origin and occur in 20 to 30% of all patients and can extend up to 60–70% in high-risk patients. The objective of this study was to determine the incidence and associated risk factors of postoperative nausea and vomiting.
Methods
An institution-based, cross-sectional study was conducted from March to August 2019 in Wolaita Sodo University teaching referral hospital (WSUTRH). A total of 371 adult elective patients who operated during this period were included in the study. Data were collected by interviewing patients and reviewing their cards then entered and analyzed using SPSS version 25. Variables with P value less than < 0.2 in the bivariate analysis were fitted into the multivariable logistic regression analysis to identify factors associated with postoperative nausea and vomiting and a P value of < 0.05 was considered statistically significant.
Results
The incidence of postoperative nausea and vomiting 24hour after surgery was 29.1%. In multivariable analysis, previous history of PONV (AOR = 5.1, 95%CI = 4.00-6.58), use of opioids (AOR = 4.91, 95%CI = 3.08–10.37), use of inhalational anesthetic agent (AOR = 2.38, 95%CI = 1.45–5.30), and long duration of surgery AOR = 6.65, 95%CI = 5.52–8.30) were significantly associated with the incidence of postoperative nausea and vomiting.
Conclusions
The incidence of postoperative nausea and vomiting was high compared to other studies done in different settings. Previous history of PONV, use of opioids, use of inhalational anesthetic agents and long duration of surgery are predictors of postoperative nausea and vomiting. We recommend routine preoperative PONV risk evaluation and give antiemetic premedication for those high-risk patients.