The experience of the person ventilating the lungs does influence postoperative nausea and vomiting

Abstract

One hundred and ninety-eight patients undergoing elective abdominal hysterectomy were anaesthetized with isoflurane in nitrous oxide and oxygen. Ventilation before endotracheal intubation was carried out either by an experienced senior or by an inexperienced junior member of the anaesthetic team. The incidence and severity of emesis (none, nausea, retching or vomiting) were assessed five times during the first 24 h after operation. Patients whose lungs had been ventilated by experienced members of staff had significantly less (P less than 0.05 to 0.01) postoperative emesis in the recovery room (incidence of emesis 35%) and 2-6 h after operation (incidence 27%) when compared to patients whose lungs had been ventilated by inexperienced members of staff (incidence of emesis 54% and 40% in the recovery room and after 2 to 6 h, respectively). The results suggest that the experience of the person ventilating the lungs is associated with postoperative nausea and vomiting.