Predictors of nausea and vomiting risk factors and its relation to anesthesia in a teaching hospital

Purpose: This study was conducted to estimate the incidence of postoperative nausea and vomiting (PONV) and to explore the risk factors that increase the development of PONV. Methods: A prospective study design was used to observe nausea and vomiting 24 hours postoperatively, over a 6-month period. The study sample was composed of 2,398 patients aged between 1 and 87 years. Chi-square and logistic regression were used to identify the risk factors for predicting PONV. Results: A total of 747 patients (31.2%) suffered from nausea, and 268 patients (11.2%), suffered from vomiting. Female patients and who received anesthesia more than 60 minutes, nauseated more in the recovery room and 24 hours after surgery. Female patients vomited more in the recovery and later during 24 hours; and those who received anesthesia more than 60 minutes, and who received postoperative opioids have vomited more during 24 hours after surgery. Female gender, postoperative opioids and anesthesia duration more than 60 minutes are predictive risk factors for nausea; while female gender and duration of anesthesia more than 60 minutes are predictive risk factors for vomiting. Conclusions: Female gender, use of postoperative opioids and duration of anesthesia are the most important predictive risk factors for PONV. Nonsmoking status, previous history of PONV and type of anesthesia were not found as risk factors for PONV. *Correspondence to: Muayyad Ahmad, Department of Clinical Nursing, School of Nursing, University of Jordan, 11942, Jordan, Tel: 962799313745; Fax: 96265300244; E-mail: mma4@ju.edu.jo/mma4jo@yahoo.com