Nausea and Vomiting after VIMA with Sevoflurane in Pediatric Patients

Shin, Won Ho; Jang, Young Ho; Kim, Ae Ra; Kim, Jin Mo

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Postoperative nausea and vomiting (PONV) is one of the most common complications after general anesthesia. Sevoflurane is a newer inhalational anesthetic agent and is commonly used in general anesthesia, especially in pediatric patients and outpatients. However, the incidence of PONV after volatile induction and maintenance of anesthesia (VIMA) with sevoflurane in pediatric patients has not been reported in Korea. In this study, the incidence of PONV after VIMA with sevoflurane in pediatric patients was evaluated.
METHODS
A total of 251 pediatric patients, scheduled for inguinal surgery, extremity operation and perianal surgery, were selected for the study. None of the pediatric patients was given premedicants, opioids or reversal agents during VIMA.
RESULTS
The incidence of PONV after VIMA with sevoflurane in pediatric patients was 9.2%. There were no significant differences in PONV incidence according to the sex or age. PONV commonly occurred immediately after anesthesia, with the incidence of 4.9% in the operating room and 3.2% in the recovery room, respectively.
CONCLUSIONS
The VIMA technique with sevoflurane for brief operations could reduce the incidence of PONV but not to zero incidence. Therefore, anesthesiologists should pay attention to the possibility of PONV, and should consider not only the anesthetic methods and agents but also the use of antiemetics, especially in high risk patients.