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Anesthesiology22 papers

Postoperative vomiting

Last edited: 4/15/2026

Overview

Postoperative vomiting (POV) is a common complication following surgical procedures, particularly in pediatric patients, often impacting recovery and necessitating additional medical interventions. 12

Diagnosis

  • Key Diagnostic Criteria: Presence of vomiting following surgery.
  • Recommended Tests: Hemogram parameters including platelet count (PLT), mean platelet volume (MPV), and MPV/PLT ratio may aid in predicting risk in pediatric patients 1.
  • Grading: No specific grading system mentioned; clinical assessment and patient history are crucial.
  • Management

  • First-Line Treatments: Regional analgesia techniques, particularly ilio-inguinal block, can reduce POV incidence 2.
  • Adjunctive Treatments:
  • - Intravenous (i.v.) anaesthesia with ketamine and propofol showed decreased POV compared to inhalation anaesthesia with sevoflurane 2. - Antiemetic drugs are commonly used but specific drug classes and doses are not detailed in the provided abstracts.

    Special Populations

  • Pediatrics: Platelet count, MPV, and MPV/PLT ratio can predict POV risk in children undergoing deep sedation 1. Intravenous anaesthesia techniques may be more effective in reducing POV compared to inhalation methods 2.
  • Comorbidities: No specific guidance provided for other special populations like the elderly or those with comorbidities within the given abstracts.
  • Key Recommendations

  • Utilize hemogram parameters, including MPV and MPV/PLT ratio, to assess the risk of postoperative vomiting in pediatric patients undergoing deep sedation (Evidence: Moderate 1).
  • Consider intravenous anaesthesia techniques with agents like ketamine and propofol over inhalation anaesthesia with sevoflurane to reduce the incidence of postoperative vomiting in children at risk 2 (Evidence: Moderate).
  • Implement regional analgesia methods, such as ilio-inguinal block, to decrease the likelihood of postoperative vomiting in susceptible pediatric patients 2 (Evidence: Moderate).
  • References

    1 Canpolat DG, Dogruel F, Gönen ZB, Yılmaz C, Zararsız G, Alkan A. The role of platelet count, mean platelet volume, and the mean platelet volume/platelet count ratio in predicting postoperative vomiting in children after deep sedation. Saudi medical journal 2016. link 2 Sarti A, Busoni P, Dell'Oste C, Bussolin L. Incidence of vomiting in susceptible children under regional analgesia with two different anaesthetic techniques. Paediatric anaesthesia 2004. link

    Original source

    1. [1]
    2. [2]
      Incidence of vomiting in susceptible children under regional analgesia with two different anaesthetic techniques.Sarti A, Busoni P, Dell'Oste C, Bussolin L Paediatric anaesthesia (2004)

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