Preoperative Aprepitant Decreases Postoperative Nausea After Laparoscopic Sleeve Gastrectomy

Area of Science:

• Bariatric Surgery
• Gastrointestinal Surgery
• Anesthesiology

Background:

• Postoperative nausea is a frequent complication after bariatric procedures.
• Enhanced recovery protocols have not fully eliminated this issue.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess the prevalence of postoperative nausea in sleeve gastrectomy patients.
• To evaluate the impact of preoperative aprepitant on nausea following laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy.

Main Methods:

• A retrospective cohort study compared patients who received aprepitant with those who did not.
• Aprepitant was added to a standard antiemetic regimen including scopolamine, dexamethasone, and ondansetron.
• Nausea and vomiting were assessed qualitatively and by the number of additional antiemetic doses required.

Main Results:

• The aprepitant group showed a 41.6% reduction in reported postoperative nausea.
• A 30.5% decrease in the need for additional antiemetic doses was observed with aprepitant.
• Patient demographics and length of stay were similar between groups.

Conclusions:

• Preoperative aprepitant, as part of a multimodal approach, effectively reduces nausea after laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy.
• This strategy can enhance patient outcomes in bariatric surgery recovery.