Slower intravenous tramadol administration can prevent nausea and vomiting and predict postoperative nausea and vomiting: a randomized controlled trial

Abstract

Objective: Nausea and vomiting are the most common complications in patients who use tramadol for analgesia. This study evaluated the risk of nausea and vomiting related to intravenous tramadol administration. Methods: In this study, 315 patients who received pre-analgesia before elective surgery were selected, and participants were divided into groups based on the Apfel risk assessment of nausea and vomiting, as follows: high risk (Apfel=4), medium risk (Apfel=2–3), and low-risk (Apfel=1). Tramadol (1.5 mg/kg) was administered intravenously over a duration of 1 min, 2 min, or 3 min before anaesthesia induction to observe preoperative nausea and vomiting reactions within 10 min. Results: In the low-risk group, the numeric rating scale for postoperative nausea scores and the incidence of nausea and vomiting were significantly lower in the 3-min group than those in the 1-min group, and the incidence of preoperative nausea and vomiting after intravenous administration of tramadol in the 1-min and 3-min groups were significantly related to the incidence of postoperative nausea and vomiting. The incidence of nausea and vomiting during pre-administration in the 1-min and 3-min groups was identified as an independent risk factor for postoperative nausea and vomiting. Conclusions: In the clinical treatment of pain with tramadol, the slow intravenous application of tramadol within 3 min is worthy of being adopted and promoted by clinicians in their daily work.