Postoperative nausea and vomiting: the influence of smoking

Abstract

Background: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the influence of smoking on the incidence of postoperative nausea and vomiting (PONV) in patients undergoing laparoscopic cholecystectomy.

Methods. 71 patients who underwent laparoscopic cholecystectomy under general anesthesia were divided in two groups: group 1 (n=40) of nonsmokers (NS) and group 2 (n=31) of patients with a history of smoking (S). In each group, the induction agent was propofol for half of the patients and thiopentone for the other half. Postoperatively, nausea, vomiting, and the degree of pain (on VAS) were assessed for 24 hours.

Results. PONV occurred in 31 patients (77.5%) in group NS compared with 12 patients (38.7%) in group S (p<0.05). The degree of pain was significantly lower in the smokers group (group S) as compared with the nonsmokers (group NS), (p=0.0013).

Conclusions. We conclude that the history of smoking significantly reduced PONV in patients undergoing laparoscopic cholecystectomy. Moreover smoking reduced the degree of postoperative pain. Despite a better postoperative evolution of the patients with smoking, we would like to emphasize that our study is not an advertisement for smoking.

Key words: Nausea, vomiting, analgesia, smoking, laparoscopic cholecystectomy

Jurnalul Român de Anestezie Terapie intensivă 2002 Vol.9 Nr.1, 27-30

Greţuri şi vărsături postoperatorii. Influenţa fumatului