Nausea and Vomiting After Laparoscopic Cholecystectomy: Analysis of Predictive Factors.

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to identify the factors predictive of postoperative nausea and vomiting (PONV) after laparoscopic cholecystectomy.

DESIGN

This is a descriptive, cross-sectional study.

METHODS

In total, 172 patients completed the study. "The Questionnaire Form," "Visual Analog Scale," "Nausea Scale," and "Anxiety Specific to Surgery Questionnaire" created by the researchers were used for data collection.

FINDINGS: At the second postoperative hour, 55.8% of the patients had nausea, 20.3% had vomiting and 75% had severe pain. The severity of nausea, vomiting, and pain decreased with time. Age, gender, smoking, motion sickness, postoperative pain, opioid use, preoperative fasting time, time of first postoperative fluid intake and preoperative anxiety score were found to be among the factors predictive of PONV (P < .05).

CONCLUSIONS

High rates of postoperative nausea and vomiting were recorded.  The factors predictive of PONV can be evaluated in the preoperative period, and PONV can be controlled with early interventions and treatment of patients in the risk group.