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Motion sickness as a predictor of postoperative vomiting in children aged 1-16 years

Mark Thomas1, Greg Woodhead, Nadia Masood

  • 1Department of Anaesthesia, Great Ormond Street Hospital, London, UK. thomam@gosh.nhs.uk

Paediatric Anaesthesia
|December 23, 2006
PubMed

Insights

Children with a history of motion sickness (MS) are more likely to experience postoperative vomiting (POV). While MS is linked to POV, its predictive value in pediatric surgical patients is relatively low.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatric Anesthesiology
  • Surgical Outcomes Research
  • Gastroenterology

Background:

  • Postoperative vomiting (POV) is a common concern in pediatric surgery.
  • The potential link between motion sickness (MS) and POV requires further investigation in pediatric populations.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To determine if a history of motion sickness (MS) is an independent predictor of postoperative vomiting (POV) in children undergoing elective surgery.

Main Methods:

  • A cohort of 70 pediatric patients (ages 1-16) undergoing elective surgery was studied.
  • Patients were assessed for a history of MS and observed for the development of POV.
  • Statistical analysis was performed to evaluate the predictive value of MS for POV.

Main Results:

  • The overall incidence of POV was 29%.
  • Children with a history of MS (20% of the sample) showed a significantly higher likelihood of POV (P < 0.01).
  • MS demonstrated a sensitivity of 45% and specificity of 90% for predicting POV.

Conclusions:

  • A history of motion sickness is associated with postoperative vomiting in pediatric patients.
  • However, the positive predictive value of MS for POV in this cohort is moderate, suggesting it is not a sole determinant.
Abstract

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