Intra-operative suggestions reduce incidence of post hysterectomy emesis

The influence of therapeutic intraoperative auditory suggestions on the incidence and severity of emetic episodes was investigated in 50 adults ASA I and II patients undergoing elective abdominal hysterectomy. The patients were randomly divided into two groups, each consisting of 25 patients. In group I, a blank tape was played and in group II, positive suggestion was played via headphones throughout the anaesthetic period. It was observed that there was statistically significant difference (P < 0.05) between the incidence of vomiting in group I (60%) and group II (36%). The number of vomiting episodes per patient in group I was 3.1 +/- 1.2 as compared to 1.7 +/- 0.6 in group II. This difference was statistically significant. The patients requiring rescue antiemetic was significantly higher (P < 0.05) in group I (66.6%) as compared to group II (22.2%). It is concluded that positive therapeutic suggestion may be considered as an alternative to antiemetic therapy.