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Psychological adjunct to perioperative antiemesis
G R Lauder1, P J McQuillan, R M Pickering
1Department of Anaesthetics, Southampton General Hospital.
British Journal of Anaesthesia
|March 1, 1995
Summary
Positive suggestion before surgery significantly reduced antiemetic drug use in patients. While not affecting nausea or vomiting directly, this psychological approach offers a novel strategy for managing postoperative emetic sequelae.
Area of Science:
- Anesthesiology
- Psychology
- Patient Care
Background:
- Postoperative nausea and vomiting (PONV) are common complications following anesthesia and surgery.
- Effective management of PONV is crucial for patient comfort and recovery.
- Psychological interventions are increasingly explored for their potential to influence physiological outcomes.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the impact of preoperative and preinduction positive suggestion on postoperative emetic sequelae.
- To determine if psychological suggestion can alter the incidence of nausea, vomiting, retching, or the need for antiemetic medication.
Main Methods:
- A prospective, randomized study involving 226 patients.
- Patients were randomly assigned to either a positive suggestion group or a control group.
- The positive suggestion group received information about reduced emetic sequelae due to antiemetics; the control group did not.
Main Results:
- Antiemetic administration was 16.5% lower in the positive suggestion group compared to the control group (P = 0.03).
- No significant difference was observed between the groups regarding the incidence of nausea, vomiting, or retching.
- This suggests a potential benefit in reducing medication use without altering the subjective experience of emesis.
Conclusions:
- Preoperative and preinduction positive suggestion can lead to a significant reduction in the administration of antiemetic drugs postoperatively.
- Psychological interventions may play a role in optimizing perioperative care by influencing medication utilization.
- Further research is warranted to explore the mechanisms and broader applications of suggestion in managing postoperative outcomes.