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Postoperative vomiting (POV) in the paediatric outpatient general surgical population
1Department of Anaesthesia & Intensive Care, Tan Tock Seng Hospital, Singapore.
Insights
The incidence of postoperative vomiting (POV) in children undergoing outpatient surgery was 8.5%. Longer anesthesia duration increased POV risk, but it did not lead to unplanned admissions in this pediatric surgical population.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Surgery
- Anesthesiology
- Surgical Outcomes
Background:
- Postoperative vomiting (POV) is a common concern in pediatric surgical patients.
- Understanding the incidence and contributing factors of POV is crucial for optimizing day surgery protocols.
- Minimizing unplanned admissions due to POV enhances patient recovery and healthcare efficiency.
Purpose of the Study:
- To determine the incidence of postoperative vomiting (POV) in pediatric outpatients undergoing general surgery.
- To identify factors associated with POV in this population.
- To assess the contribution of POV to unplanned admissions.
Main Methods:
- Prospective study of 199 children under 13 undergoing elective outpatient general surgery.
- Data collected included patient demographics, anesthetic details (induction, maintenance agents, duration), and surgical procedure type.
- Statistical analysis involved chi-squared tests, multivariate logistic regression, and stepwise variable selection.
Main Results:
- The overall incidence of postoperative vomiting was 8.5%.
- General anesthesia lasting longer than one hour was significantly associated with a higher incidence of POV.
- Postoperative emesis did not result in any unplanned admissions among the day surgical patients.
Conclusions:
- The incidence of POV in pediatric outpatient general surgery is relatively low.
- Anesthesia duration is a key factor influencing the risk of POV.
- Current day surgery protocols appear effective in preventing unplanned admissions related to POV in this cohort.
Aim:
To determine the incidence of postoperative vomiting (POV) in the paediatric outpatient general surgical population, the factors affecting POV and the incidence of unplanned admissions contributed by POV.
Method:
One hundred and ninety-nine children below 13 yeas of age undergoing elective outpatient general surgical procedures were enrolled into this prospective study. Anaesthesia was induced either intravenously or via the inhalational route. It was then maintained with nitrous oxide, oxygen and isoflurane or halothane. The age, sex, body weight, duration of fasting, administration of trimeprazine, type of general surgical procedure, maintenance technique for general anaesthesia, duration of general anaesthesia, the administration of opiods or local anaesthetics and the incidence of POV were noted. The results were analysed initially with chi-squared test and subsequently subjected to multivariate logistic regression analysis and stepwise variable selection method.
Results:
The incidence of POV was 8.5%. Duration of general anaesthesia greater than one hour was associated with a significantly higher incidence of POV. Postoperative emesis did not contribute to unplanned admissions in these day surgical patients.