Prevalence and Factors Associated with Postoperative Nausea and Vomiting in an Ethiopian Comprehensive Specialized Hospital

Abstract

Background. Postoperative nausea and vomiting (PONV) is a common and uncomfortable anesthetic and surgical consequences. It may cause severe distress to the patient and may cause the recovery process to be delayed. Identifying the reasons may aid in reducing the magnitude and problems. The purpose of this study was to determine the prevalence and risk factors for PONV after general anesthesia in an Ethiopian hospital. Methods. From March 1 to May 30, 2019, a cross-sectional study was designed. A patient interview was used to obtain data on the occurrence of PONV, and a chart review was used to collect data on other demographic and clinical variables. To identify associated factors, variables with a P-value of 0.2 in binary logistic regression were transformed into a multivariable logistic regression. The strength of the association and level of significance waswere demonstrated using crude and adjusted odds ratios with 95% confidence intervals and P-values of 0.05. Results. The study included 162 participants, with a remarkable 100% response rate. Within 24 hr after surgery, 51.2% of patients had nausea and vomiting. When compared to their counterparts, female patients, patients who received perioperative opioid medication, patients with a history of PONV, and patients with a history of motion sickness reported a statistically significant difference (higher incidence) in PONV. Conclusion. This study only comprised ASA physical classes 1 and 2 patients who did not receive preventive antiemetics. In the research area, the total prevalence of vomiting and nausea was 51.2%. Female sex, perioperative opioid usage, a history of nausea and vomiting, and a history of motion sickness were discovered to be statistically significantly associated with a higher incidence of PONV.