Jo-Ann V Sawatzky1, Michaele Rivet2, Robert E Ariano3, Brett Hiebert4, Rakesh C Arora5. 1. Faculty of Nursing, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, MB, Canada; Cardiac Sciences Program, St. Boniface Hospital, Winnipeg, MB, Canada. Electronic address: joanne.sawatzky@umanitoba.ca. 2. St. Boniface Hospital, Winnipeg, MB, Canada. 3. Department of Pharmacy, St. Boniface Hospital, Winnipeg, MB, Canada; Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, MB, Canada. 4. Asper Clinical Research Institute, Winnipeg, MB, Canada. 5. Cardiac Sciences Program, Winnipeg, MB, Canada; Departments of Surgery, Anaesthesia, & Physiology, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, MB, Canada.
Abstract
OBJECTIVES: Post-operative nausea and vomiting (PONV) is a common and distressing complication following cardiac surgery. Therefore, our primary objective was to explore the predictors of severe PONV in the cardiac surgery population. METHODS: A retrospective study was completed on cardiac surgery patients (N = 150). A modified preoperative PONV risk assessment tool was utilized to identify patients at high and low risk for PONV. RESULTS: 54% of the high-risk group versus 13% of the low-risk group experienced ≥2 nausea events in the early post-operative period (p < 0.0001). The high-risk group had a uniquely elevated and sustained number of PONV events post-operatively. History of PONV (p = 0.03) and female gender (p = 0.01) emerged as significant predictors of any nausea event. CONCLUSIONS: A specific PONV risk assessment tool may be useful for predicting those at highest risk following cardiac surgery. Further research is required to identify strategies to reduce PONV.
OBJECTIVES: Post-operative nausea and vomiting (PONV) is a common and distressing complication following cardiac surgery. Therefore, our primary objective was to explore the predictors of severe PONV in the cardiac surgery population. METHODS: A retrospective study was completed on cardiac surgery patients (N = 150). A modified preoperative PONV risk assessment tool was utilized to identify patients at high and low risk for PONV. RESULTS: 54% of the high-risk group versus 13% of the low-risk group experienced ≥2 nausea events in the early post-operative period (p < 0.0001). The high-risk group had a uniquely elevated and sustained number of PONV events post-operatively. History of PONV (p = 0.03) and female gender (p = 0.01) emerged as significant predictors of any nausea event. CONCLUSIONS: A specific PONV risk assessment tool may be useful for predicting those at highest risk following cardiac surgery. Further research is required to identify strategies to reduce PONV.