Supplemental oxygen does not reduce postoperative nausea and vomiting after thyroidectomy

Background. Supplemental intra-operative oxygen 80% halves theincidence of nausea and vomiting after open and laparoscopicabdominal surgery, perhaps by ameliorating intestinal ischaemiaassociated with abdominal surgery. It is unlikely that thyroidsurgery compromises intestinal perfusion. We therefore testedthe hypothesis that supplemental perioperative oxygen does notreduce the risk of postoperative nausea and vomiting (PONV)after thyroidectomy. Methods. One hundred and fifty patients undergoing thyroidectomywere given sevoflurane anaesthesia. After induction, patientswere randomly assigned to the following treatments: (i) 30%oxygen, (ii) 80% oxygen, or (iii) 30% oxygen with droperidol0.625 mg. Results. The overall incidence of nausea during the first 24 hafter surgery was 48% in the patients given oxygen 30%, 46%in those given oxygen 80%, and 22% in those given droperidol(P=0.004). There were no significant differences between theoxygen 30% and 80% groups in incidence or severity of PONV,the need for rescue antiemetics, or patient satisfaction. Droperidolsignificantly shortened the time to first meal. Conclusions. Supplemental oxygen was ineffective in preventingnausea and vomiting after thyroidectomy, but droperidol reducedthe incidence. Br J Anaesth 2003; 91: 857–61