Nausea and vomiting, like pain, are the patient’s most common complaints during the period of hospitalisation during surgery¹. The overall incidence of postoperative nausea and vomiting (PONV) is difficult to evaluate, but, with all patient populations and types of surgery combined, the incidence of PONV can be estimated at around 25-30% of patients who undergo surgery.

Several factors are responsible for PONV:
Patient-related factors: age, sex (dominance of PONV in women), a previous history of PONV, motion sickness, etc.
Surgical factors related to the surgical site (laparoscopy, ENT surgery, eye surgery, abdominal or gynaecologic surgery) and the duration of the procedure.

Anaesthesia-related factors (use of premedications, nitrous oxide, etc.).

1. Kovac A. L. Prevention and treatment of postoperative nausea and vomiting. Drugs 2000 ; 59 : 213-243.

2. Gan T, Meyer T, Apfel C, Chung F, Davis P, Eubanks S, Kovac A, Philip B, Sessler D, Temo J, Tramer M, Watcha M. Consensus Guidelines for managing postoperative nausea and vomiting. Anesth Analg 2003; 97: 62-71.