We compared the incidence of postoperative nausea and vomiting (PONV) after total intravenous anesthesia (TIVA) using propofol–air to inhalational anesthesia with isoflurane–nitrous oxide in day care patients at a tertiary care academic institution.

We randomized 60 patients and assigned to either group I (inhalational anesthesia with isoflurane– nitrous oxide) or group II (TIVA with propofol–air). Incidence of PONV, use of anti-emetics, and duration of stay in the recovery were recorded for 72 hours by blinded observers.

Total intravenous anesthesia reduced the PONV up to 72 hours by 27% among our patients (from 37 to 10%, p < 0.001). This effect was seen more in the early postoperative period. Overall, 13.3% of patients in the group I received antiemetic compared to 40% in group II. In our study, patients without PONV were discharged from the recovery room 15 minutes earlier after TIVA than after isoflurane and N₂O anesthesia.

Total intravenous anesthesia with propofol and air resulted in a reduction of PONV compared with iso-flurane–nitrous oxide anesthesia. Overall, patients in group I required less rescue antiemetic, compared to group II. Total intravenous anesthesia resulted in shorter stay in the postoperative anesthetic care unit compared to isoflurane–N₂O group.

Sandhya A, Mamatha R, Banerjee A, Sahajananda H. Postoperative Nausea and Vomiting in Day Care Patients: A Comparative Randomized Controlled Trial of Total Intravenous Anesthesia with Propofol, Air, and Oxygen vs Inhalation Anesthesia with Isoflurane and Nitrous Oxide. J Med Sci 2015;1(4):63-68.

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