Postoperative emesis in vitreoretinal surgical patients.

We studied, prospectively, the incidence of emesis in 64 consecutive patients undergoing retinal and vitreous surgery performed either under local or general anesthesia. Of these patients 19% had at least one episode of emesis within 12 h after surgery. 30% of the patients who underwent general anesthesia had emesis, whereas only 4% of the patients with local anesthesia vomited. These results were statistically significant. Unless special attention is paid to minimize emesis, we recommend the use of local anesthesia, especially in patients with unstable metabolic disorders such as diabetes mellitus. Emesis and its potential ocular and systemic complications add to the postoperative malaise of general anesthesia.