Intravenous fluid and postoperative nausea and vomiting after day-case termination of pregnancy

Deprivation of oral fluid before minor surgery has been alleged to cause postoperative nausea. We examined the effect of intraoperative fluid load on postoperative nausea and vomiting over 3 d after day-case termination of pregnancy.

In a randomized study, 100 patients were allocated into one of two groups; receiving 1000 ml of compound sodium lactate solution during surgery or no intraoperative fluid. Propofol and alfentanil was used to induce and maintain anaesthesia with nitrous oxide (67%) and oxygen (33%). Visual analogue scores for nausea and pain, the time and frequency of emetic episodes, analgesic and antiemetic consumption were recorded for 3 d postoperatively.

The scores of nausea were significantly lower in the fluid group (P < 0.05) compared with the control group at 1, 2, 4 h and during 24-48 h following surgery. The incidence of emesis was lower (P < 0.01) after discharge, and the time to first oral fluid was shorter (P < 0.05) in the fluid group. There was no difference in pain score or analgesic consumption between the groups. Five patients (10%) in the control group requested antiemetic medication compared with none in the fluid group.

Intraoperative fluid administration may offer some benefit in decreasing the incidence of postoperative nausea and vomiting following day-case surgery.