Postoperative nausea and vomiting in korle bu teaching hospital

Postoperative nausea and vomiting (PONV) is one of the most distressing morbidities associated with surgery. Even though the incidence can be as high as 30% elsewhere no work has been done to assess the incidence in any health facility in Ghana. This study was carried out to find out the incidence, risk factors and the management of PONV in a tertiary healthcare facility.

This was a prospective study.

The study was carried out in Korle Bu Teaching Hospital (KBTH).

All patients above the age of 18 years who had surgery including general surgery were included in the study. Information obtained using a questionnaire included demographic data, the type of anaesthesia, the incidence of PONV and its management.

Three hundred and six (306) completed forms out of 322 questionnaires were analyzed. One hundred and six patients (34%) had episodes of PONV of whom 82 (77.4%) had intra-operative opioids. Of the other factors only age was found to be a risk factor with patients in the 20-49 age group constituting 71.8% (p=0.007). Eleven out of 93 patients who reported the episode to a health worker received medication for their PONV. Drugs used included promethazine and anti-malaria.

Thirty-four percent of patients in the study had PONV indicating that the problem is not uncommon among post-surgical patients in KBTH. Awareness of the problem should be highlighted and adequate management should be given to all patients. Patients at risk should be identified and appropriate management instituted.