Background: In order to reduce the incidence of postoperative nausea and vomiting (PONV) a standard operating procedure (SOP) was developed in our department. This consists basically in the administration of one antiemetic intervention for moderate risk (2 risk factors), two interventions for high risk (3-4 risk factors) and no prophylaxis in patients who have no or only one risk factor. The aim of this study was to find out whether PONV prophylaxis according to our SOP was followed and led to a lower incidence of PONV.
Method and patients: A total of 2,729 patients were examined in a prospective observational study with post-ad hoc analysis in our department. Inclusion criteria were age over 14 years after general anesthesia and postoperative care in the recovery room. This group was examined in relation to compliance with the SOP.
Results: A total of 725 (26.6%), 1050 (38.5%) and 954 (35.0%) patients were grouped according to risk classification into groups with low, medium and high risks, respectively. An SOP compliant regime occurred in 668 patients (92.1%) of the low risk groups, in 373 patients (35.6%) of the moderate risk group and 177 patients (18.6%) of patients at high risk for PONV. In the high risk group 565 patients (59.2%) received at least one antiemetic medication. Patients with PONV were on average cared for 12 min longer in the recovery room (p=0.048).
Conclusion: Patients with medium and high risk have a lower incidence of PONV than expected per risk calculation by complying with the SOP. However, the recommended risk-adapted approach was inadequately implemented. Considering this there is room for improvement. Moreover taking into account these implementation issues a general PONV prophylaxis may be beneficial.