Related Experiment Videos
Postanaesthetic nausea in children
E Karlsson1, L E Larsson, K Nilsson
1Department of Paediatric Anaesthesia and Intensive Care, Gothenburg University, Ostra Sjukhuset, Göteborg, Sweden.
Insights
Postoperative nausea and vomiting (PONV) occurred in 25% of children. Incidence varied by age and surgery type, with younger children and specific procedures showing lower risks.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Anesthesiology
- Postoperative Care
- Clinical Research
Background:
- Postoperative nausea and vomiting (PONV) is a common complication in children following anesthesia.
- Understanding risk factors is crucial for optimizing pediatric anesthetic management and patient outcomes.
Purpose of the Study:
- To prospectively investigate the incidence of emetic episodes in children aged 0-16 years within 24 hours of anesthesia.
- To identify factors influencing PONV, including age, premedication, anesthetic techniques, and surgical procedures.
Main Methods:
- Prospective study of 485 children (0-16 years) undergoing various surgical procedures.
- Data collected on age, premedication, induction and maintenance of anesthesia, surgery type, and postoperative analgesics.
- Incidence of emetic episodes (nausea and vomiting) recorded and analyzed.
Main Results:
- Overall incidence of emetic episodes was 25%, with most occurring post-recovery.
- Vomiting was significantly lower in children under 2 years (5%).
- Squint surgery had the highest incidence (75%), while endoscopies had the lowest (17%).
- Premedication with diazepam and induction methods did not affect nausea incidence.
- Halothane maintenance anesthesia showed lower nausea rates than fentanyl-pancuronium for similar surgeries.
Conclusions:
- PONV incidence in children is multifactorial, influenced by age and surgical type.
- Anesthetic maintenance technique may impact PONV rates.
- Further research can refine PONV prevention strategies in pediatric populations.
Abstract:
The incidence of emetic episodes during the first 24 h after anaesthesia was studied prospectively in 485 children aged 0-16 years in relation to age, premedication, type of induction, type and duration of anaesthesia, type of surgery and use of postoperative analgesics. The incidence of emetic episodes was 25% in the whole material. The majority of the emetic episodes were recorded after the immediate recovery period. In children under 2 years of age, vomiting was only recorded in 5%. Nausea and vomiting was most common after squint surgery (75%) and least common after endoscopies (17%). Neither premedication with diazepam nor the method of induction (thiopentone, i.v., thiopentone rectally, inhalation with halothane) influenced the incidence of nausea. For the same type of surgery, maintenance of anaesthesia with halothane resulted in a lower incidence of nausea than anaesthesia with fentanyl-pancuronium.