Is nicotine an antiemetic?

Daniela Ionescu¹, Cristina Bădescu², I. Acalovschi¹
1- Catedra Anestezie Terapie Intensivă- UMF „Iuliu Haţieganu” Cluj-Napoca.
2- Medic rezident Anestezie Terapie Intensivă

Abstract

Background. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the influence of the nicotine patch (Nicorette) on the incidence of postoperative nausea and vomiting (PONV) in patients undergoing laparoscopic cholecistectomy.

Methods. 57 patients who underwent laparoscopic cholecistectomy under general anesthesia were divided in three groups: group 1 NS (n=20) of non smokers, group 2 N (n=17) who received a l6.6mg Nicorette-patch for 16 hrs and group 3 S (n=20) of patients with a history of smoking. Postoperatively, nausea, vomiting and the degree of pain (on VAS) were assessed for 24 hours.

Results. PONV occured in 16 patients (80%) of the group NS, in 3 patients (17.6%) of the group N and in 5 patients (25%) of the group S (p1:2<0.05, p1:3<0.05). The difference between group N and S was not significant (p2:3>0.05).
The degree of postoperative pain was significantly lower in the smoker and nicotine groups, compared with the non smokers group. As side effects, we recorded in group N only 1 case with dizziness which ceased after the nicorette-patch was removed.

Conclusions. We conclude that nicotine significantly reduced the incidence of PONV in patients undergoing laparoscopic cholecystectomy. Nicotine also significantly reduced the intensity of postoperative pain
(on VAS).
No major side effects were recorded in relation with nicotine administration.

Key words: nausea, vomiting, analgesia, nicotine, smoking, laparoscopic cholecystectomy

Jurnalul Român de Anestezie Terapie intensivă 2003 Vol.10 Nr.1, 7-10

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Este nicotina un antiemetic?