THE EFFECT OF OXYGEN THERAPY ON POSTOPERATIVE NAUSEA AND VOMITING

Postoperative nausea and vomiting (PONV) are the most common
complications after surgery which could cause complications and problems for many patients and
healthcare systems. This study was performed to evaluate the effect of oxygen therapy on
postoperative nausea and vomiting after general surgical operations.
Materials & Methods: This experimental study was performed on 46 patients undergoing general
surgery in Kashan Shahid Beheshti Hospital. Patients were randomly divided into two groups.
Anesthesia and drugs in intraoperative and postoperative periods were the same in the two groups. All
patients received 50% oxygen during surgery. In intraoperative period all patients inhaled 50% oxygen
balanced with N2O. The first group received 80% oxygen in postoperative period (study group), and
the second group received routine care of %30 oxygen in recovery room and no oxygen on surgical
ward (control group). SPO2 and PONV were recorded in recovery and surgical wards. The results
were analyzed using chi-square and t test.
Results: The rate of nausea and vomiting in intervention and control group patients in the recovery
room did not show any significant difference (P>0.05). The rate of nausea in both groups in surgery
ward showed no significant difference (P>0.05). The frequency of vomiting among intervention group
patients was lower than controls patients and the difference was statistically significant (P=0.01).
Conclusion: The results showed that oxygen therapy has no effect on postoperative nausea and
vomiting in short-term, but after several hours after surgery it could reduce vomiting in patients.